A lost cat, neon-lit alleys, and this urge to sniff at everything with the tip of your paws.

On gut instinct, when the community picks without thinking, Stray lands right in the middle of the pack, neither ahead nor behind the crowd. But the game's real face is elsewhere. It is a title you dream of experiencing fresh again, ahead of 91% of the rest, and whose art style leaves a strong mark, though that last figure rests on few votes and is still to confirm. On the flip side, attachment, fun and the feel of the controller all sit below average. That is the tension: you want to relive it new, but it doesn't really cling to you once you put the pad down.

Against the big open worlds, Stray plays a different tune. Short, contemplative, carried by one strong idea more than by its mechanics. It is an experience, not a loop you restart endlessly.

So, for who? For you if you love an atmosphere that wraps around you and an adventure you cross in one sitting, like a dream. Much less so if you want gameplay that holds your hands for dozens of hours.