Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
Quick menu
A minimalist 2D platformer about a liquid cat, locked in a world she doesn't quite understand, trying to get out.
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows is a indie, adventure and 2d game
developed and published by Last Quarter Studios.
Released on July 25th 2016 is available in English on Windows, MacOS and Linux.
It has received 676 reviews of which 627 were positive and 49 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 0.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows through various videos and screenshots.
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
- Processor: 5th Generation Intel Core m3
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Storage: 120 MB available space
MacOS
- OS: Mac OS X 10.8
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Storage: 120 MB available space
Linux
- OS: Ubuntu 12.04
- Processor: 5th Generation Intel Core m3
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Storage: 120 MB available space
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
This game gives me immense nostalgia from when I was around... 8 or 9 years old? I don't regret spending money on this, despite it being free on mobile. It is genuinely a really fun game to play, and it's simple and easy to learn, even if it can be a little confusing at first.
Expand the review
Cats Are Liquid: A Light in the Shadows, developed and published by Last Quarter Studios, is a minimalist yet emotionally layered platformer that blends elegant design with quiet introspection. At first glance, it appears to be a simple puzzle-platforming game starring a cat that can turn into liquid, but beneath its smooth mechanics lies a surprisingly poignant narrative about isolation, identity, and perseverance. The game’s premise is simple but symbolic: you control a cat trapped in a series of rooms, each connected through doors that lead deeper into an unfamiliar, often claustrophobic world. The cat’s liquid form allows her to flow through gaps, cling to walls, and reshape her surroundings in subtle ways, creating a feeling of freedom inside confinement. It’s a clever metaphor wrapped in an engaging mechanical twist, where every movement feels both fluid and deliberate. The gameplay revolves around exploration and momentum, emphasizing flow over precision. The cat’s liquid transformation is more than just a gimmick—it defines how the player perceives the world. Levels are filled with narrow passageways, floating platforms, and environmental puzzles that challenge you to think differently about space and form. You are often encouraged to experiment, to find hidden paths and manipulate your physical state to overcome barriers that initially seem insurmountable. As the game progresses, the cat gains new abilities that expand the range of movement, including the power to create temporary platforms and even summon objects of light. Each new skill feels natural, as though the cat is adapting to her environment, evolving both physically and emotionally. The gradual introduction of these abilities adds variety and maintains a sense of discovery across the game’s many rooms. Visually, Cats Are Liquid embraces simplicity to powerful effect. The clean lines, soft gradients, and muted colors contribute to a dreamlike quality that perfectly complements its tone. The world feels empty but not lifeless, reflective but not sterile. Every level feels like an extension of the cat’s state of mind—calm one moment, oppressive the next. Lighting plays a critical role in shaping mood: soft glows and flickering effects create a sense of fragility, while deeper shadows hint at melancholy. The minimalist art direction allows the focus to remain on the cat’s movements, which are animated with smooth transitions that enhance the illusion of liquid physics. The overall presentation feels cohesive, with every visual element contributing to the sensation of weightlessness and solitude. It’s the kind of atmosphere that invites introspection rather than spectacle. Sound design deepens that emotional resonance. The soundtrack, consisting of delicate ambient music, ebbs and flows like the cat’s movements. It’s soothing and sad in equal measure, evoking the loneliness of being trapped in an endless labyrinth yet hinting at small moments of peace along the way. The sound effects themselves are subtle but effective—soft splashes when you move, faint echoes when you land, and gentle tones that mark transitions between rooms. The silence between these sounds is just as important; long stretches without music allow the player to sit with the emptiness of the environment, making the eventual return of melody feel meaningful. The soundscape reinforces the narrative without ever needing words, proving that emotion can be conveyed through restraint as much as through drama. The story itself unfolds quietly and abstractly, told not through dialogue but through environmental cues and the progression of levels. The more you play, the more you begin to sense that the cat’s journey is not merely physical. The rooms become symbols for memory, fear, and self-discovery. There’s a recurring sense of confinement and release, as though each door you unlock represents a small emotional breakthrough. The game never explicitly tells you why the cat is trapped, but hints suggest that she was created or abandoned by someone, possibly the same person responsible for building the world around her. This subtle narrative thread makes the experience more than just a test of skill—it becomes a quiet meditation on loneliness and resilience. The cat’s liquid nature feels symbolic of emotional adaptability, of learning to move through spaces and situations that seem impossible to escape. Despite its tranquil tone, Cats Are Liquid is not without challenge. Some levels introduce hazards that require precision timing and patience. Spikes, lasers, and collapsing platforms punctuate the calm with moments of tension, ensuring that the experience doesn’t become monotonous. However, the difficulty curve remains fair, with most challenges designed to encourage experimentation rather than punish failure. When you die, you respawn quickly, reinforcing the sense of persistence that defines the cat’s character. This forgiving design encourages exploration and allows the player to remain immersed in the game’s rhythm without frustration. There are moments of trial and error, but they serve the pacing rather than disrupt it. Each level feels handcrafted to teach you something new, whether it’s mastering a new ability or rethinking how you interact with the environment. Narrative interpretation is left deliberately open, and that ambiguity gives the game its lingering emotional impact. Some players interpret it as a story of depression and isolation, others as one of personal growth and self-acceptance. The title itself—A Light in the Shadows—hints at this duality, suggesting that even in the darkest moments, there is something gentle and luminous guiding the cat forward. The ending, subtle and bittersweet, doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, it invites reflection, leaving players to fill in the emotional blanks with their own understanding. This approach allows the game to transcend its minimalist structure, turning what could have been a small puzzle-platformer into something quietly profound. It’s rare for a game of such modest scope to feel so introspective and human, yet Cats Are Liquid achieves it through tone and suggestion rather than exposition. Technically, the game runs smoothly and makes efficient use of its simple assets. Controls are responsive, and the liquid transformation mechanics feel natural and intuitive. There are occasional quirks—some collision detection inconsistencies and minor bugs—but these never overshadow the overall polish. The pacing is tight, and at around a few hours long, it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Instead, it leaves you with the impression of having experienced a self-contained story that resonates well beyond its short runtime. It’s the kind of game that can be enjoyed in a single sitting but lingers in the mind long after completion. Cats Are Liquid: A Light in the Shadows stands as a quiet testament to the power of simplicity in game design. It proves that emotional storytelling doesn’t require complex graphics or elaborate dialogue—just thoughtful mechanics, atmosphere, and a willingness to let players find meaning for themselves. The game’s mix of graceful motion, understated beauty, and quiet melancholy gives it a rare poetic quality. It’s a journey of movement and reflection, where even the smallest acts—sliding through a gap, reaching a door, touching light—carry metaphorical weight. For players who appreciate introspective games that rely on subtlety rather than spectacle, Cats Are Liquid is an unforgettable experience, one that flows gently but leaves a deep impression once the screen fades to black. Rating: 9/10
Expand the review
The pros: Comprises enjoyable platformer mechanics and pleasing visuals, which support an intriguing storyline. The cons: Prepare to make this game a full-time job if you intend to acquire all the achievements. The unexpected: Empathy for a glowing blob. The summary: A simple game, but one that holds attention and provides an experience to ponder as well as enjoy.
Expand the review
It's a very creative and unique concept, and it also reminds me when I used to play it when I was younger on mobile. Totally try it out, and also the new version, A Better Place
Expand the review
Similar games
View all
Cats are Liquid - A Better Place
A better place. Made just for us. – A 2D platformer about a liquid cat and her friends.
The Purring Quest
Have you ever wanted to be a cat? You will be able, thanks to the aventure platformer The Purring Quest. Take on the role of Kimchi the cat and meet famous cat of the internet in a journey full of humor.
Pankapu
Pankapu is a narrative action-platformer that takes place in the dreams of Djaha’rell, a child troubled by a tragic incident. Upgrade your skills, find new competencies, switch your Aegis in real time in order to get rid of Nightmare's invasion.
StrikeForce Kitty
Comedic puzzle-adventure with strong RPG influences. Take away costumes from the foxes, create the most mad combinations of clothes, explore the world, find secrets and save the princess from the clutches of the cunning king!
The Deer God
The Deer God is a breathtaking 3D pixel art adventure that will challenge your religion and your platforming skills. It's a game about survival, reincarnation, and karma; all set in a breathtaking and unique 3D pixelized world. Feast your eyes on the beautiful lighting, day and night system, and vast landscapes.
Another Perspective
Another Perspective is a puzzle platformer following the very confusing adventure of someone looking for something. Swap minds to see the world in different ways! Where one mind sees a bottomless pit, another might not. Where one sees a locked door, another sees a key. To change perspective is to change reality!
Freedom Fall
Freedom Fall is a diabolical down-scrolling platformer set in a prison tower so tall it touches the clouds. Presented with hand painted art, its old school vibe mixes with fast-paced free falling action and a story with both dark wit and heart.
Mimpi
Explore strange new worlds and enjoy unique adventures in Mimpi! Mimpi is fantastic new adventure, puzzle, and platformer game.
The game is like a psychedelic illustration come alive.
Mimpi the dog is searching for his master in eight diverse worlds. The environment is seldom repetitive, the puzzles are always new.
Fly'N
Somewhere between a platformer, a puzzle game and a great big dollop of pure fun, Fly’N will challenge your skills through more than forty levels set in a luxuriant world. Experiment with the four Buds to save the World-Trees from Dyer, the loony hair-dryer who intends to destroy their Helys!
Offspring Fling!
Offspring Fling is a game about a poor forest creature that has misplaced all of her children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows is currently priced at 0.99€ on Steam.
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 0.99€ on Steam.
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows received 627 positive votes out of a total of 676 achieving a rating of 8.67.
😎
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows was developed and published by Last Quarter Studios.
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows is playable and fully supported on MacOS.
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows is playable and fully supported on Linux.
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows is a single-player game.
There is a DLC available for Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows. Explore additional content available for Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows on Steam.
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows does not support Steam Remote Play.
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows 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 Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows.
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 | 16 January 2026 15:19 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 26 January 2026 06:08 |
| Steam price | 29 January 2026 04:45 |
| Steam reviews | 27 January 2026 17:49 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows, 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 Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
0
Developer
Last Quarter Studios
Publisher
Last Quarter Studios
Release
25 Jul 2016
Platforms