"Cat Quest: Pirates of the Purribean": Promises to be a cuddly adventure game to fall in love with

Without the embargo, "Cat Quest Pirates of the Purribean" would have been at the top of my Gamescom highlight list. Of all the games I played at the games fair, this 2.5D cat adventure had the biggest grin on my face.

The "Cat Quest" series consists of action role-playing games. You can play them alone or in pairs. The first two parts are set in a medieval fantasy setting. Part three is set, as the name suggests, in the Caribbean, when pirates were booming. The island world is besieged by piratesque rats (Pi-rats) who are in search of the mystical treasure called the North Star. Of course, you won't let them have it without a fight.

In the Gamescom demo, I was able to sail freely around the picturesque world for a good half hour. After all, what would a pirate game be without a pirate ship? Not only can I get from one island to the next quickly, I can also attack enemy ships. The ship is pleasantly fast to steer. I can even drift with a mixture of dash and turning manoeuvres. This allows me to elegantly dodge enemy cannonballs. The ship can be improved and customised, explains Desmond Wong, CEO of developer studio Gentlebros. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to try this out during my play session.

A world to eat up

After sending the first Pi-rats to Davy Jones on the seabed, I dock in the nearest bay. There are no quest markers or similar signposts. I let my eyes be my guide. They are slightly overwhelmed, because Gentlebros has conjured up such a stunningly beautiful world that I want to go everywhere at once. A coastal town invites you to take a stroll. A cave with hidden treasures beckons. On the horizon, I catch sight of a jagged rock formation jutting menacingly out of the haze.

There are hardly any limits to my pirate cat. However, the areas are level-based. In my eagerness, I promptly sail into a group of ships marked with a skull symbol. They are particularly hard to crack, Desmond warns me. Because I can't resist the lure of the opulent treasure chest that the pirates are guarding, I throw myself into the fight anyway. To everyone's surprise, I actually manage to sink all the ships. I have clever evasive manoeuvres and a level up to thank for this, which has repaired the ship in the meantime.

As a reward, I receive an amulet. My kitty can be equipped with various weapons and items of equipment. Amulets have special properties. If I attack with my new jewellery directly after a dodge, I perform a special attack. There are no classes in "Cat Quest 3". The equipment determines whether you are more of a ranged fighter with a pistol or a sabre-wielding melee fighter who fires lightning bolts at enemies.

More challenging than it looks

Despite its childlike appearance, the game is no walk in the park. If I'm not careful, I'm going to get hit hard. Skilful dodging and using the right magic attacks is particularly important in boss battles. I experience one of these when I try to get past a locked gate guarded by a bad-tempered wild boar. Because I can also move freely in battle, I have to be careful not to accidentally run into other smaller enemies.

The game is packed with treasures, secrets and oddball characters. I meet a magical dog who has been cast out by his peers because dogs shouldn't be able to do magic. My furry friend has no such prejudices and so I learn a new spell from him.

The adventure awaits

"Cat Quest 3" is bursting with personality. Be it when my cat jumps into the water and swims around with a swimming ring. Or when I beat up the parrot that serves as a storage location and receive a poop emoji as an item of equipment in return - don't worry, the parrot will return unharmed. I'm really looking forward to 2024, when I expect to be able to set sail. "Pirates of the Purribean" was already on my list of games to play with my children before Gamescom. Thanks to the flexible co-op mode, part three should also be a harmonious adventure for young and old alike.