Welcome to our weekend segment, where we showcase recent or upcoming Japanese indie games that share a specific theme. Given the popularity of the household cat, it was only a matter of time before we covered this topic. So even if you’re allergic to them, chances are you’ll find one feline title on this list that will melt your heart.
Campfire with Cat
A work companion title, Campfire with Cat runs in the background while you are busy with other tasks. Mouse clicks and keystrokes fan the flames of an in-game campfire, which emanates realistic crackling sounds and flickering flames. The flames will grow smaller and eventually die out if you stop working, which adds a sense of urgency and helps you focus on your deliverables.
As the fire burns, several types of cats will join in to warm their cold bones. They occasionally chime in with their meows, but will otherwise not disturb you. Keeping the campfire lit will cause the cats to occasionally give messages of appreciation, as well as reward you with treasure chests that hold unique items like campfire colors.
Campfire with Cat requires very little interaction. Your total inputs and campfire burn time are tallied at the end of the day, whereupon you receive all your rewards. Despite having a few cosmetics, there are no plans for avatar customization or room editing, as they could distract you from your work.
Developed and published by Rirmor, Campfire with Cat is available on Windows (Steam).
Rural Cat Trails
If you’re looking for something more interactive, Rural Cat Trails has you controlling an adventurous cat that explores the fictional Japanese town of Nanoha in the middle of cherry blossom season. In this action-adventure game, you’ll be wall jumping, digging, swiping, and dashing your way across town to visit the shrine of your deceased owner atop a steep cliff.
There are no traditional enemies. Instead, you’ll be navigating tight gaps, digging holes, and dashing through walls for treasures and Cat Cans, the latter of which increase your overall stamina and allow you to perform more actions in rapid succession. While some Cat Cans can be bought in stores, many of them are found through exploration.
As you explore Nanoha Town, you’ll meet residents who will ask for your help (there must not be a local handyman around). Completing their requests will reward you with items that you can use on your journey.
While there are some platforming challenges to be found, Rural Cat Trails is more about enjoying life as a cat in a rural Japanese setting. Developed and published by the husband-wife indie studio Hibikai Games, it is set to release this year for Windows (Steam).
Come out, cat
A little on the sadder side, Come out, cat is about a chonky blue kitty who is too shy to show themselves. By combining two separate word cards, one verb card and one subject card, you can call out to the cat.
Of course, saying something as nonsensical as “Come out, hospital” is not going to work. By carefully observing how the cat reacts to the words you say, you’ll be able to decipher the right phrase needed to coax it out of hiding. You only have a limited number of tries, however, so choosing the correct words is key if you don’t want the cat to remain sad forever. Thankfully, playing through this game requires only about ten minutes of your time.
Unlike other titles on this list, Come out, cat is totally free for Windows and macOS (Steam). It was developed and published by Japanese YouTuber shu3, who is also known for making several Minecraft mods.
Ninja Cats: Tactics
A cat-training/battling RPG, Ninja Cats: Tactics has you raising 16 unique ninja felines and pitting them against other dangerous kitties. While you navigate the top-down battles using your mouse and keyboard, you’ll need to use your actual voice to train your cats into fighting shape.
Training works by choosing a cat and encouraging it with your voice. Saying the right words increases its stats and allows it to learn new abilities, while saying the wrong words will not be received well. Since each of the 16 cats has their own personality, not every word will work the same way for each of them.
You can also talk to your cats in their Hako-Niwa, a customizable space where they gather together between training and battles. Conversations with your cats can influence their individual skills and collective teamwork, which further adds to the fantasy of creating your own fighting feline family. It should be noted that the game uses AI for voice recognition and defining cat emotions based on your microphone’s input.
Once you’ve built up a strong team of cats, it’s time to head into battle. Ninja Cats: Tactics features turn-based combat with up to five cats at a time. Using their unique abilities and the level’s terrain to your advantage, you must defeat the enemy ninja team to claim victory. In addition to the Story Mode, where you must fight against teams of NPC cats to rise to the top of the Ninja Cat Battle hierarchy, the game will also include online PVP.
Developed by Pit-Step, Ninja Cats: Tactics is set to release in the first quarter of 2026 for Windows (Steam).
nyanjet
A precision platformer similar to titles like Jump King, Super Meat Boy, and Celeste, nyanjet tasks you with controlling a tiny cat strapped to a jetpack. With only a limited amount of fuel per thrust, you must carefully manage your resources as you make your way to the top.
There are no power-ups or traditional checkpoints in nyanjet. True to the genre, it is a difficult game that auto-saves every successful climb and demoralizing fall. As the jetpack will leave you temporarily suspended in mid-air after each thrust, getting used to its unique mechanics is integral to making seemingly impossible jumps.
Developed and published by jyona, nyanjet is set to release on March 13 for Windows (Steam). A free demo is also available.
Those were five feline games that will hopefully give you your cat fix (it varies depending on your love for the animals). Unlike real cats, you can rest easy knowing that you can play these titles without any pesky allergies acting up.
