Cat Quest III

Cat Quest 3 doesn't quite live up to the expectations that were set by its purrfectly poised predecessor, but it's still a rock solid seafaring adventure. While it falls short of Cat Quest 2 in terms of size and overall scope, this is perhaps a more focused take on the series' action RPG formula, and the game's pirate theme gives it an undeniable charm.

Cat Quest III is a familiar yet flawless action adventure with fluid and fantastic-feeling combat. Its charming story and witty writing bring life to the Purribean, one of the best-designed mini-open worlds in recent memory. That open world is packed with satisfying quests and engaging puzzles to solve that almost always throw some new idea or challenge at you. The progression here is smooth, and the entire experience is precisely paced with no performance issues at all. Some stunning animation work, accompanied by a gorgeous shanty-like pirate soundtrack tops off an excellent adventure. All of that together ensures that Cat Quest III is a pristine pirate adventure and action RPG. Quite simply, one of the best indie games of the year.

A brisk cooperative romp that feels like a sugar high that lasts just as long.

Aside from those moments when you have to grind, Cat Quest 3 is a cute, breezy experience that shows why making more of these has been a good idea. And there are hints of plenty more to come, which is exciting considering how much playing with the setting has been established. The writing remains simple but fun and silly, and the number of secrets and side activities has grown a lot. There’s a winning formula here, and so long as the series doesn’t get too ahead of itself, there’s plenty of potential for Cat Quest 3 as a springboard to even greater adventures.

Cat Quest 3 is a light but charming pirate adventure that'll make you feel like a kid again.

Ticking all the right boxes to keep one engaged, yet doing little else to stand out even in the confines of its own series, Cat Quest III provides a competent, at times charmingly so, quest for better loot and better opportunities to use it all on. How well you fair on that latter objective will depend on how detrimental you rate a kind of simplistic combat, whose only true barrier to entry are the gear numbers the game ends up dictated by. Yet even with this reliance on player levels and hidden numbers to deducw, what it may lack (or deliberately ignore) in depth, it makes up for with a sufficient loop of activities to hunt down and well-implemented visuals on top. Whether a fan of the series prior or entirely new to what The Gentlebros usually cook up, Cat Quest III still manages to make its island-hopping adventure, a curious one all the same.

Cat Quest III is everything a sequel should be, it builds on the past, expands the formula, and offers more ways to play. Whether you’re diving in solo or sharing the journey with a loved one in local co-op, it’s a joy from start to finish. It’s casual without being shallow, funny without being forced, and accessible without ever feeling watered down. So hoist your sails, sharpen your claws, and set out on one of the most delightful adventures the high seas, and the RPG genre have to offer.

Cat Quest 3 is a proposal in line with what Gentlebros had accustomed us to with the first two opuses of the license. The game loses some of the scope of the second installment. However, the call for adventure is there, reinforced by a sense of humor that wins us over. The story is short, but the ease of exploration makes you want to explore the open-world further. With two players, the pleasure is doubled. It's a pity that the legibility of combat is lost in multiplayer. Likewise, the quest system is being fine-tuned, but still needs to be consolidated to be effective. For around twenty euros, this third installment is well worth a look, if only to spend some quality time with family and friends, or even just for the pleasure of having some mindless fun with a game.

Cat Quest III is a short, fun game with simple but interesting combat that will keep you occupied for a few evenings. While largely a standalone, there are plenty of nods to the previous games in the series.

Cat Quest III is a delightful ARPG that embodies what I love about the genre: colorful themes, adventuring, and thrilling, fast-paced combat that also yields subtle depth.