A Planet Full of Cats Review: Devcats hits the mark with cats, puzzles & twists

Official game synopsis: A Planet Full of Cats is a hidden object adventure with Metroidvania-style exploration in the best Devcats tradition. Explore diverse biomes, unlock new powers, and discover ancient secrets!

Technical Specifications

Release Date: April 9, 2026

Developer: Devcats

Publisher: Devcats

Genre: Hidden Object, Metroidvania, Casual, Puzzle, Cozy.

About Devcats

Their profile states the following: "We're 6 rescued cats makin' biscuits and cat-themed games, while raising awareness for adoption and rescue. ♥"

It is great to talk about the developers because they are cats. That is to say, they show a clear effort in talking about the project and animal rescue.

In fact, their love for kittens is displayed at all times in their games, which are all within the feline theme:

Additionally, there are even some free games, and the paid ones are very affordable. From my research, the first game released by Devcats on Steam dates back to 2022. Since then, they have consistently released new games while listening to player feedback and improving gameplay whenever possible.

A Planet Full of Cats is their latest release, following reports that many players wanted a longer experience. This is exactly what they delivered in A Planet Full of Cats, which features more gameplay hours, more levels, and new mechanics.

Starting the Game

The home screen immediately offers satisfying colors and a very pleasant aesthetic, accompanied by ambient space music in the background. Upon entering the game, we are faced with several calls and missions to complete, all featuring cute kitten names and distinct personalities for each cat.

Our main character is named Judy, a black and white kitten equipped with a spacesuit.

Initially, we need to find cats (and some special items as the game progresses), cats, and even more cats. There are also some puzzles, which we will discuss later.

The game features many different colors and tones in certain levels, with kittens well-camouflaged within the scenery.

There are many hidden cats. Some I have already found are highlighted in orange, but they are usually the same color as the background until you click on them.

The only reservation I have regarding the color variations (there are several different palettes later, such as orange and yellow scenarios) is that some screens can be quite straining on the eyes.

Since it is necessary to focus intently on the screen while searching for cats, sometimes even forgetting to blink, the more vivid scenarios can be quite tiring. Of course, staring at a screen for several hours would be tiring anyway, but some levels cause more fatigue than others.

However, this is just a minor observation. Most screens have pleasant, softer colors, and the cute kittens and environmental details make every look worth it.

Game Features

A great feature the game offers is the target/magnifying glass located in the top menu next to the cat counter. When you click it, it points out a cat that hasn't been found yet and starts a countdown before you can use the feature again.

It might seem like a simple addition, but it really helps a lot. In most levels, I would find 98% of the cats, leaving only 1 or 2 felines missing, making it feel like an impossible mission to find the rest. In those moments, the magnifying glass made all the difference.

Another feature is the X-ray visor, acquired as you progress, which allows you to see inside the ship and find "fungi" to eliminate. This adds another layer to the levels because, in addition to what is visible, there are now more things to find with the X-ray (including in levels where you had already found all the kittens) to save the population from a virus of unknown origin.

Different Types of Puzzles

When playing a hidden object game, we usually expect to just find things (in this case, kittens). But A Planet Full of Cats goes beyond searching for kittens to include other items (like fungi and cat outfits) and different puzzles to access new areas, complete missions, or even gain more powers to help the ship.

I found this very interesting because I expected a quick game of finding cats and that was it. Instead, I faced various challenges and puzzles that diversified the experience and made it more fun.

Searching for kittens in colorful scenarios is great and relaxing, but after a few hours, your eyes might hurt a bit. Varying the activities within the game provides a break and a different way of thinking.

The rooms in the image below are found using a power acquired early in the game, which involves breaking certain walls (you must find a wall with a specific symbol and click it).

I found this solution very interesting for providing character development while staying within the "hidden object + puzzle" style. The sense of progress is rewarding after locating the room and finding the symbols indicated on the statuette. After finding 3 symbols, we acquire something that helps us progress in the game in some way.

Boss Battles

Yes, it is possible to fight bosses in a hidden object game! How? I won't say too much so I don't spoil your experience.

I found the idea very exciting; it is truly something I didn't expect in this genre. It is simple yet well-executed. It fits the game and its premise perfectly, staying true to the art style and consistent gameplay.

I will not provide too many details since the story is simple, yet it is incredibly cute and filled with care from the developers.

Essentially, we are trying to help the ship's crew solve various problems. More and more events unfold as we progress, and we meet other crew members who are all full of charisma.

The story is packed with dialogue and conversations between the kittens, featuring several jokes and lines that make perfect sense coming from a cat. I found this characterization amazing, and I often found myself laughing at a cute or funny remark.

This is a game that entertains not just through its aesthetics and the relaxing nature of finding kittens, but also through special details and dialogue that show an immense amount of love from the development team, especially for cat lovers.

Furthermore, I initially thought the entire story would take place on the main ship, but from the middle to the end of the game, several different settings emerge, such as a massive ship full of injured kittens!

The ship is enormous and features multiple environments within the same screen, making it the largest area encountered in the game so far.

Without giving away too many plot details or new maps, I should point out that the game expands beyond what is expected. We encounter new scenarios, buildings, outdoor areas, and tunnels. Many surprising things happen as the game unfolds.

At one point in the game, we even move around in a "car" to reach another location. It is fantastic to have this much mobility in a game that could have been very basic. There is a clear effort to bring innovation to the visuals, gameplay, and environments.

Yes, there are plot twists in the story, even if it is simple. Yes, it is worth playing for the story, the aesthetics, and the obvious care put into the project.

One difficulty I faced as the game progressed was that I sometimes didn't quite know what the next step was, where a specific item was located, or which room held the cat I needed to speak with.

The game does not have a "quest menu" specifically pointing out where to go. However, since it is a hidden object game, I would search through the screens until I found something related to previous dialogues, eventually finding the next step.

I later noticed that the map showed some location arrows for where I should go, but they were occasionally in an area I hadn't discovered yet. This forced me to figure out how to "unlock" that scenario to proceed. Ultimately, I managed to finish the game using my own hands and eyes!

This is a capture of my loading screen right after finishing the game. I logged 9 hours of gameplay over a few days, and I am only 3 Achievements away from reaching 100% on Steam.

I didn't go out of my way to hunt for Achievements; they came naturally as I progressed. I always wanted to find every cat, fungus, and object possible in every screen out of pure completionism, but I didn't linger longer than necessary.

I confess I expected about 5 hours of gameplay at most, as this genre usually doesn't last very long. It was a pleasant surprise to have more hours of play and to see the story expand instead of ending abruptly.

However, now that I have finished the game, I am having real trouble finding one of the last 3 achievements. I haven't found a concrete answer even after searching the internet, which is a bit frustrating. It might just be a game detail I haven't discovered yet. The achievement in question is "Stone Map."

Pros

- Cats.

- Cute cats, cats in outfits, and little injured cats in need of help.

- Beautifully designed environments.

- Plenty of details and easter eggs.

- Interesting story, especially for cat enthusiasts.

- Puzzle systems and boss battles.

- Pleasant gameplay duration.

Cons

- Some environments had colors that were very bright and tiring.

- The soundtrack can become repetitive after a while.

- A lack of direction on what to do next at certain points.

- Difficulty in completing one specific Achievement.

I would say yes. If you like cats, definitely. If you like hidden object games, even more so. Progressing through the game is quite satisfying, and if you get tired, you can just close it and continue the next day at your own pace.

If you are sensitive to long periods of screen time or very strong colors, I recommend being mindful of your play sessions.

Score: 9.5 out of 10.

Finally, this is the screen that appears when you go to quit the game:

Very charming, isn't it? I imagine the tuxedo cat on the left is our main character, Judy!