Stray is worth playing if you want a short, atmospheric adventure where exploring a neon-lit cybercity as a cat is the main attraction. It is a weaker fit if you want deep combat or complex puzzles. The strongest critical review we cite praises the cat’s animation, the mood and the environmental storytelling. It also calls the systems simple and the combat repetitive. This article covers both sides, who the game suits, how long it runs and what to check before buying. It is based on official store pages, a developer post and a published review, not on our own playtesting.
What Stray is
Stray is a third-person adventure from BlueTwelve Studio, published by Annapurna Interactive. According to the official PlayStation listing, you play a cat separated from its family who must escape a decaying cybercity. Along the way the cat befriends B-12, a small flying drone. Swann Martin-Raget, producer at BlueTwelve, describes the same premise in a PlayStation.Blog post dated July 29, 2021: a cat falls into a mysterious city and wants to get back to its family.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Stray | $68.25 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Terminator: Resistance Enhanced (PS5) | $28.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Port Royale Extended Edition (PS5) | $29.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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The Last of Us Part I – PlayStation 5 | $37.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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In that post he says, “At its core, Stray is an adventure game.” Exploration and environmental detail are central. Some playful interactions help solve puzzles, and others are there just for fun. B-12 translates the machines’ language and stores items you find. Action, fast sequences, hostile creatures called Zurks, agility and stealth round out the experience.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Pros
A convincing cat
PC Gamer reviewer Jon Bailes praises the fidelity of the cat’s animation and calls the movement loop satisfying. Moving, climbing and poking around as a cat is the core pleasure, so this matters more than any single mechanic.
#1 Best Overall
- Untangle an ancient mystery to escape a long-forgotten cybercity in Stray
- Physical edition comes with 6 Full-Colour Art Cards
- Don't miss out on this one-of -a-kind third-person cat adventure game developed by BlueTwelve Studio for PlayStation 5
- Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the international version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions.
Atmosphere and environmental storytelling
The review singles out the robot settlement as atmospheric and credits the game with telling its story through its surroundings. If you like to wander, look around and absorb a place, this is the main draw. The official listing’s emphasis on neon-lit alleys and mysteries points the same way.
Adventure-game logic that fits a cat
Bailes notes that ordinary adventure-game interactions make sense from a cat’s perspective. Objectives are clear, and there is room to enjoy the world without feeling lost.
A compact length
PC Gamer estimates a run time of 6–8 hours. That is the reviewer’s approximate range, not a completion guarantee. Exploring and chasing optional objectives can change your own time. It suits players who prefer a focused adventure to a long commitment.
Rank #2
- Run and gun or sneak and hack through Skynet's defences!
- Interact with a motley group of survivors and change their fates!
- Get under the skin of the iconic T-800 series Infiltrator and strike out against Resistance forces with the new INFILTRATOR MODE.
- Improved framerates, graphical fidelity, faster load times, and the new hardware features of the DualSense controller
Strong player reception on PlayStation
The PlayStation Store showed a global player rating of 4.71 out of 5 from 78,061 ratings when checked on October 5, 2026. This is a live figure and will change. It reflects player opinion on that store, not a critical score.
Cons
Simple systems
The PC Gamer review says the systems can feel too simple, and some sequences stay in low gear. If you want puzzles that stretch you or mechanics that deepen over time, expect less here.
Repetitive Zurk combat
The same review finds combat against Zurks repetitive. The developer describes danger, fast sequences and stealth as part of the game. Those moments are a change of pace, not the main appeal.
Rank #3
- Choose from four colonial powerhouses: England, France, Spain and the Netherlands, each providing different benefits.
- Take on four extensive single player campaigns following each nation on their path to supremacy.
- Appoint a leader for your adventure from four different character classes.
- The explorer, the merchant, buccaneer and the pirates - each providing their own advantages and disadvantages.
- Establish and manage trade with 60 Caribbean cities in a huge 3D game world..Steer clear of cliffs, shallow waters and stormy weather regions to optimize your trade routes..Select from 50 buildings, including 25 production sites, to produce goods like rum or luxurious..Construct buildings with neighbourhood Effect to optimize productivity and manage the overall happiness of citizens..Eight historically authentic ship types from the late 16th and 17th centuries.
Occasional visual glitches
The review also mentions occasional visual glitches. It does not say how common they are or how they vary by platform, and we have no platform-by-platform comparison to offer.
The Tool Desk
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This is our reading of the sources, not a measured finding. A short, guided adventure with approachable movement and puzzles tends to offer less challenge and less reason to replay than a longer or more systemic game.
Who will like it
| If you want… | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere, mood and a distinctive protagonist | Strong | The review’s top praise is for the cat, the movement and the settlement. |
| A short adventure you can finish | Strong | The reviewer estimates 6–8 hours. |
| Free-form exploration | Good | The developer stresses exploration and interactions, though progress is story-led. |
| Deep combat | Weak | Zurk combat is called repetitive. |
| Complex puzzles or high challenge | Weak | The systems are described as simple and some sequences as low gear. |
Platforms and what to check before buying
The PlayStation Store lists PS4 and PS5, with a release date of July 19, 2022. Xbox lists Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, with a release date of August 10, 2023. Xbox’s listing also shows PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming and handheld play among its supported options.
Rank #4
- Enhanced visuals: Completely rebuilt from the ground up using Naughty Dog’s latest PS5 engine technology to improve every visual detail, The Last of Us experience has been faithfully enhanced with more realistic lighting and atmosphere, more intricate environments and creative reimaginings of familiar spaces.
- Fast loading: Initial loading times are near instant, and seamless after the first instance thanks to the PS5 console’s SSD – so you can pick up where you left off in the story and load specific encounters and chapters more quickly.
- Haptic feedback: DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback support for every weapon elevates combat encounters, and environments are brought to life through DualSense wireless controller haptic sensations of subtle falling rain, the crunch of stepping on snow and more.
- Adaptive triggers: All The Last of Us iconic weapons, including Joel’s revolver and Ellie’s bow, now deliver dynamic DualSense wireless controller trigger resistance and kickback on firing for deeper combat immersion.
- 3D Audio: Designed to make use of the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech, Naughty Dog’s newly upgraded audio engine delivers richer soundscapes, bigger explosive moments and more visceral gameplay through compatible stereo headphones (analogue or USB) or TV speakers.
Before you buy, check these against your own region’s store:
- Platform compatibility and the exact edition.
- Current price, which varies and can change.
- Digital or physical format.
- Regional availability and any subscription access.
The Bottom Line
Play Stray for the cat, the setting and the mood, not for challenge. If those appeal to you, its simple systems and repetitive combat are a small price for a compact adventure.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
