Scaredy Cat Is a Pixel Adventure for the Burned Out From the 9-5 Grind Crowd
(Giiiiiiiirl, same.)
We’re all Henny (don’t call her Henriette), the protagonist from Scaredy Cat, a pixel adventure game coming in February from aeio, a team of two based in the United States. They are “first and foremost a narrative studio, crafting original tales that resonate deeply with players,” something that becomes quite clear when you dive into the demo for their first game, Scaredy Cat, which is due this February.
Henny has been worn to the bone by a soul-sucking corporate career that has gifted her with heart problems. Swept up in a rare glimpse of emotion, she rage quits and starts pet sitting. Little does she know, her new gig will be just as horrifying as her last.
Scaredy Cat takes place in Conhaven, a city full of wonderfully eerie and just plain weird vibes. Because of the atmosphere, characters, and locations, I felt compelled to explore every inch of what was available during the demo.
Her soul-stealing corporate job has crushed her, and Henny also deals with heart problems because of it, and I related to her immediately. One day, she musters up the courage to quit to pursue another passion: pet sitting! This move seems all good on paper, but you soon realize you're quitting one soul-sucking job for another.
There are a few side quests in the demo, ranging from locating and returning a street busker’s feline companion, tracking down some copycat bakers, and sparking romance between two citizens of Conhaven. Also: Mysterious flowers! (Like I said earlier, the city is wonderfully weird.) The demo is short and sweet, but the few buildings you can visit, the number of people you can interact with, and the pet-sitting gig give great color to Henny and the world.
(Finally, if the adorable Yorkie you sit for in the demo is any indication, I can’t wait to meet the rest of the animals in the game.)
On a more personal note, the developers were highly responsive to feedback. Melissa from aeio reached out to me about playing the game last year. After playing, I mentioned how small the text was in the demo on my Steam Deck; she immediately talked about adding more options for accessibility and different devices. (I have a rather terrible astigmatism; tiny text anywhere is my nemesis. And headlights, but that’s another story.)
Scaredy Cat is coming to a PC or Xbox Series console near you for Valentine’s Day, which is a fitting date if you’ve already played the demo.
(Check out the game on Steam // Xbox )