Highlights
- Stray's gameplay focused on platforming with a cat protagonist who behaved realistically but had some obedience to players and NPCs.
- A sequel or spin-off of Stray could improve gameplay in unique ways, and it would be a shame if Annapurna didn't follow it up with a comparable game.
- Potential new animals to roleplay as in a Stray sequel include a dog, mouse/rat, bird, spider, and squid/octopus, each offering different gameplay possibilities.
Stray wore its gimmick on its sleeve of featuring a cat protagonist who actually behaved like a cat would—granted it did control how players wanted it to and listened to NPCs, which shows more obedience or compliance than a cat would ever willingly commit to. Gameplay was chiefly designed around straightforward platforming as players maneuver environments, even if it was meant to be cinematically engaging rather than interactively challenging. Now, a Stray sequel or spin-off has the opportunity to improve gameplay in exciting ways.
Stray may end up remaining a lone installment whose world is never continued or tethered to another and that would be all well and good, too. However, considering how unique it felt as an animal-centered game where the cat itself was a metaphorical fish out of water in the setting it inhabited, it would be a shame if Annapurna never followed it with a comparable game. In order to make it far more unique, though, a Stray sequel should feature a new lovely animal to roleplay as.
Dog
A dog would be the easiest choice in terms of animals fans might already find lovable and charming, but a dog would also be a bit more difficult to structure gameplay around. Stray’s adorable and immersive cat-centric interactions helped it stand out, and yet it remained engaging because of the nimble platforming the cat was able to accomplish. Dogs certainly aren’t as light on their feet and while their interactions with NPCs and the world would surely be cute, the sequel would need to find a completely unique way to orient its gameplay around activities dogs could feasibly achieve with quaint platforming not being likely.
Mouse/Rat
A mouse or rat would be great since it could take the premise of a small animal and make it even tinier, allowing fans to explore environments on a more granular level than before. Mice are extremely quick, can gain access to areas via the most narrow passageways, and could have enemies much larger than them attempting to stomp them or hunt them. This could even present a fun twist on Stray itself with a cat possibly appearing as an antagonist that players flee from. Rats are commonly perceived as diseased and unnerving, too, giving Annapurna a chance to flip that perception on its head or use it to its narrative advantage.
Bird
A bird would absolutely disregard platforming sequences, but it could still be interesting to explore areas while flying, especially if they are as dystopian and creative as Stray’s setting is. Otherwise, fans could potentially play as a bird whose wing is damaged, rendering it unable to fly for at least a period of time in the sequel. Either way, bird gameplay could afford a more thorough approach to the verticality that Stray explored, although Death’s Door might have already cornered the market on adorable bird games.
Spider
A spider would have a similar issue, then, as a bird would in a Stray sequel. Spiders are not commonly perceived as being cute, but that hasn’t stopped games from trying to subvert that perception. Webbed is an endearing indie game that lets players traverse and solve environmental puzzles with web-slinging mechanics and its leaping spider protagonist is also able to wave its legs to engage in a fun dance, for example, let alone ride a skateboard. More of the same in a Stray sequel could be fun, yet it still wouldn’t feel as unique as it could be due to how many similarities it would have with experiences that came before it.
Squid/Octopus
A squid or octopus would present something opposite to a bird by letting players explore a dystopian underwater setting. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for humans or robots to have taken refuge in the ocean where the last remaining civilization might be and exploring that environment as an animal that could freely swim through coral reefs and deep, horrifying trenches would provide an experience much more different than Stray, while still having fans play as an animal that could be considered adorable.
Stray is available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.
