Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 75 | 7 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 91 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 71% | 68 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.7, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 2,718 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 6 reviews sampled · 5 total reviews in window · weighted 2.8 up / 1.1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (12)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“A few rough edges do little to disturb the tranquillity Cattails lulls you into with its fun mechanics, cheerful writing and lovely soundtrack. Despite the conflict at its heart, you could happily while away hours frolicking in the fields, catching butterflies and chatting with your feline chums. If you’re after something light-hearted to relax with until Animal Crossing arrives next year, this fits the bill very nicely.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Cattails lives up to the high concept elevator pitch. This is really Stardew Valley but with cats, and that’s an adorable and cute experience. It might not have the longevity of that and other farming games, but it has more heart than the majority of those games. This is a chill romp through a relaxing world that is best experienced by someone who just wants to take their time and smell the catnip.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Cattails is cute. The art style is nice. The music is nice. I just don't want to play it ever again. My initial excitement about playing after simple RPGs like Cat Quest and pixel art games like Stardew Valley was basically crushed by a mediocre game. In fact, instead of this, just play one of the other games I just mentioned.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Despite the repetitiveness, Cattails does provide a lot of different things to do from romancing other cats, to starting your own community of cats. It offers something different from the usual RPG game and is well worth checking out if you are tired of the cookie cutter RPGs out there.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“There were a few lulls during my time with the game, but that just helped to highlight the times where I absolutely loved it. The visuals may be basic, but they work perfectly well for what the game tries to do. The music is delightful and a real boon to the feelings that the game evokes. Cattails is a game that you should consider adding to your library whether you are a cat lover or not.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The best parts of Cattails are when you’re just getting to take in the scenery, hunting some field mice, and then chatting with other cats. There’s so much charm in the sprite work and dialogue, so it’s all the more disappointing when you’re cast into dull combat exchanges simply because a RPG needs fighting. ”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Cattails doesn’t quite reach the heights of the titans it attempts to mimic. Despite its flaws and shortcomings, it remains a compelling enough adventure survival simulator - one that cat lovers in particular will find plenty of joy playing.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Cattails is a cute, light-hearted RPG that revolves around hunting, foraging, and trying to restore the Forest Guardian. The gameplay is easy to pick up and play at any time, but can become a bit monotonous after awhile. The game isn't very exciting, and is meant more for relaxing gaming.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you love animals and especially cats then I recommend Cattails. If you enjoy games like Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley but want a more relaxed pace then you should also get Cattails. It’s not going to be for everyone, but this is one endearing and adorable game about being a Cat making a life for itself in the great outdoors.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Cattails is a big surprise. A game that initially looks extremely simple but that deep down hides lots of mechanics, systems and high quality content that can keep us playing for dozens of hours. Despite some flaws, it’s an easy-to-recommend experience.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Cattails is a surprisingly-polished and well-made game for a little indie title. The controls are easy to use, the mechanics are solid and the visuals are bright, colorful and cute. Again, it maybe lacks some of the vibrant detail of other open-world sims, and the fighting is a bit too simple. Dialogue with other cats can be fun but more response options could be added. Overall, though, the gameplay experience is an engaging one that will easily take 20-plus hours of your life away if you let it, but hey, you’ve still got eight more. If you love Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, or just cats, you’ll find this game to be a near-purrfect choice.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Fans of felines looking for a relaxing survival exploration game for their Switch will fall in love with Cattails. Its strange world has a certain charm that I've never experienced before and I'm sure you'll agree.”
read full review ↗
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Nintendo Enthusiast
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Critical Hit
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Video ChumsPatch history
- Celebrate International Cat Day 2019!Aug 8, 2019
- v1.3 Now Available on Nintendo Switch!Feb 1, 2019
- v1.3 Is Now Available on PC and Mac!Dec 28, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Cattails Pounces Onto the Nintendo Switch™! (Plus, v1.2, a Technical Update, is available now!)Oct 23, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Cattails | Custom Colonies Update is Now Available!Mar 16, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Cattails | Custom Colonies Update is Now Available!Mar 16, 2018significant · resets scoring window