Cat in the Box on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Cat in the Box is a horror adventure game. Help the poor girl explore the mansion and escape from unknown entities that are pursuing her. Use a variety of tools and your wits to overcome any challenges you face. At times, you'll even have to wake yourself from nightmares to survive.
Cat in the Box is a horror, rpgmaker and adventure game
developed and published by Gustav.
Released on May 01st 2020 is available only on Windows
in 7 languages: Korean, English, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Russian and Spanish - Spain.
It has received 1,373 reviews of which 1,294 were positive and 79 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 6.89€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified Cat in the Box into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
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System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10
- Processor: Any processor w/ a clock rate of 2 GHz
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: CPU-integrated or on-board graphics
- Storage: 250 MB available space
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
This is my first horror RPGMaker game, I never expected it to be so tense and creepy, yet the gameplay is surprisingly casual.
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Cat in the Box is a psychological horror experience that begins with a familiar premise but gradually transforms into something far more unsettling and introspective. Developed by Gustav, it places you in the role of a young content creator investigating an abandoned mansion tied to a mysterious cult, but what unfolds is less about uncovering external threats and more about navigating a fractured, looping reality that steadily erodes any sense of certainty. It operates within the recognizable framework of RPG Maker horror, yet distinguishes itself through its tone, narrative structure, and willingness to embrace ambiguity. The story initially presents itself in a straightforward way: you enter a decrepit mansion in search of material, expecting a conventional haunted-house scenario. However, the narrative quickly destabilizes, introducing repetitions, alternate outcomes, and distorted reflections of the protagonist. Time does not progress linearly, and events seem to loop or reset with subtle variations, creating a sense that you are trapped not just in a physical location but in a recurring psychological pattern. The game leans heavily into themes of identity, consequence, and inevitability, though it rarely explains itself directly. Instead, it asks players to interpret fragmented clues, scattered notes, and shifting environments to piece together meaning. This approach can be compelling, but it also means that clarity is often sacrificed in favor of atmosphere and interpretation. Gameplay follows the traditional structure of exploration-based horror. You move through interconnected rooms, searching for keys and items while solving environmental puzzles to unlock new areas. These puzzles are generally simple in isolation, relying on observation and basic logic rather than complex mechanics. What gives them weight is the context in which they occur. The environment is unstable, and the constant possibility of interruption—whether through chase sequences or sudden environmental changes—adds tension to otherwise straightforward tasks. The game does not rely on mechanical complexity, but rather on how those mechanics are framed within its unsettling world. Chase sequences are a recurring element, designed to inject urgency and break the slower pace of exploration. These moments force you to react quickly, navigating tight corridors and unfamiliar layouts while being pursued. While they succeed in creating bursts of intensity, their execution can feel uneven. Movement can be slightly awkward, and repeated encounters may reduce their impact over time, shifting them from moments of fear to moments of trial and error. The tension is present, but it does not always translate into satisfying gameplay, particularly when failure feels abrupt or difficult to anticipate. Where Cat in the Box excels most consistently is in its atmosphere. The visual design uses a muted, desaturated palette combined with heavy shadows and subtle distortions, creating an environment that feels oppressive and unstable. The mansion itself is not a fixed space; rooms change, layouts shift, and familiar areas become unfamiliar, reinforcing the sense that you are navigating something more psychological than physical. Sound design plays a crucial role in maintaining this unease, using ambient noise, silence, and sudden audio cues to keep you on edge. The horror is not built on spectacle, but on discomfort—the feeling that something is wrong, even when nothing is happening. The game also experiments with meta elements, occasionally breaking its own presentation through visual glitches or unexpected interruptions. These moments blur the boundary between the game and the player, adding another layer of unease. While not always fully integrated into the gameplay, they contribute to the overall tone, reinforcing the idea that the experience itself is unstable and unpredictable. Despite its strengths, the game struggles with cohesion. Its narrative ideas are intriguing, but they are not always developed in a way that feels complete. Certain elements appear briefly and are never fully explored, leaving gaps that may feel intentional to some players and unfinished to others. The gameplay, while effective in short bursts, becomes repetitive over time, particularly as puzzles and chase sequences follow similar patterns. This repetition can weaken the impact of the story, as the focus shifts from interpretation to progression. The relatively short length works in the game’s favor, preventing its mechanics from becoming overly drawn out, but it also limits how far its ideas can be developed. Multiple endings encourage replayability, offering different perspectives on the narrative, though revisiting the same sequences can make the experience feel more mechanical than mysterious. The game leaves a strong impression, but it does so through moments rather than a fully cohesive whole. Ultimately, Cat in the Box is defined by its atmosphere and its willingness to explore psychological horror through abstraction and repetition. It does not aim to provide clear answers or polished systems, but rather to create a mood and let players interpret its meaning. This approach makes it stand out within its genre, even if it occasionally feels uneven in execution. For players who appreciate narrative ambiguity and atmospheric horror, it offers a distinctive and memorable experience that lingers beyond its runtime. For those who prefer tighter mechanics or clearer storytelling, it may feel inconsistent and occasionally frustrating. It is a game that reaches for something more conceptual than mechanical, and while it does not fully realize every idea it introduces, it succeeds in creating an experience that is difficult to forget. Rating: 8/10
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I love this game so much. I watched playthroughs every now and then for years and playing it can be stressful but so much better. I will definitely play this again and again although it's depressing.
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The game is simple in many ways starting from the unadjustable settings like audio , resolution and the poor quality. The thing I liked most about the game is the main character. They give the game a sense of life, especially considering the loneliness and depression the game conveys. I also liked the monologues with the main character whenever you try to save the game, it's kind of refreshing. The endings and the plot are actually shocking and depressing however, they're still satisfying. I recommend it!!
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It's basically Outlast even down to losing a finger but you play as a cute girl instead of a loser.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Cat in the Box is currently priced at 6.89€ on Steam.
Cat in the Box is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 6.89€ on Steam.
Cat in the Box received 1,294 positive votes out of a total of 1,373 achieving a rating of 8.92.
😎
Cat in the Box was developed and published by Gustav.
Cat in the Box is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Cat in the Box is not playable on MacOS.
Cat in the Box is not playable on Linux.
Cat in the Box is a single-player game.
There is a DLC available for Cat in the Box. Explore additional content available for Cat in the Box on Steam.
Cat in the Box does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Cat in the Box does not support Steam Remote Play.
Cat in the Box is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Cat in the Box.
Data sources
The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.
Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 23 April 2026 12:04 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 29 April 2026 02:17 |
| Steam price | 30 April 2026 12:25 |
| Steam reviews | 30 April 2026 05:49 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Cat in the Box, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Cat in the Box
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Cat in the Box concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Cat in the Box compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
3
Developer
Gustav
Publisher
Gustav
Release
01 May 2020
Platforms