The Internet’s favorite animal has experienced a huge boom in the video game industry. Titles like Stray, the Cat Quest series and Umbraclaw have crept through the cracks of the latest hardware, giving us a new way to adventure with our favorite feline companions. Little Kitty, Big City, the debut film from American independent developer Double Dagger Studio, is the latest title to join this growing trend and is available now for Switch, PC and Xbox.
In Little Kitty, Big City, you play as a curious green-eyed kitten who accidentally falls out of his skyscraper apartment after a restful nap. As he spirals towards the streets below, his fall is luckily caught by a crow and he finds himself lost in the unfamiliar streets of the city. With an empty stomach and no direction, returning to your apartment is no easy task and you have to enlist the help of many stray animals that you encounter while exploring the city.
When I started playing through Little Kitty, Big City on my Nintendo Switch, I was immediately reminded of Untitled Goose Game. There are lots of fun little objectives in the open world that you can complete on a checklist, and many of them involve causing mischief. You can knock pedestrians to the ground by hitting them, you can knock flower pots and other valuables off ledges, and you can catch birds on city streets. These objectives give you a lot of fun things to do in the open world, so you always have a feeling of progress while having fun.
Also helping as a reward for exploring the stage are “Shinies,” the in-game currency that can be exchanged for adorable hats for your kitty to wear. Unlike Untitled Goose Game, Little Kitty features platforming elements where your feline protagonist can jump through the air and find hidden gems. There are 42 accessories in total, including designs inspired by fruits, flowers and animals such as sharks, pandas and rabbits.
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One thing I liked about the game is that it feels like an homage to cat culture. For example, one emote you can use is called “Big Stretch,” and there’s an achievement for jumping on crates called “If it’s convenient, I’ll sit down.” I also liked the purrs and meows in the Banjo-Kazooie style replacing dialogue and the numerous animal puns found in the script. The game constantly made me smile, and the freedom to explore and complete quests whenever I wanted made it a relaxing experience that was easy to get in and out of.
As I mentioned earlier, I played on Nintendo Switch and occasionally encountered performance issues. While jumping or climbing through the ivy, my feline friend would occasionally dart in and out of buildings, and there was a time when he would jump in and out of the same puddle of water. While it didn’t break anything, I hope Double Dagger fixes these issues soon after release.
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Other minor criticisms concern the length of the game and the navigation. The game can be completed in 2-5 hours, which is slightly shorter compared to other indie games at the same price. As for navigation, later in the story you’ll be given a map to help you navigate the rapidly expanding environment. Like games like Elden Ring and Breath of the Wild, I wished there was a way to set waypoints in the distance since I had to constantly switch the map to see where I wanted to go.
Little Kitty, Big City is an adorable indie game that animal lovers shouldn’t miss. Despite the Switch’s occasional technical issues, the game’s gameplay objectives and whimsical atmosphere make for an immersive experience. While the short length and navigation issues may put some off, the adorable cosmetics, fun emotes, and variety of missions make for a heartwarming journey for players of all ages.
