Catmaze

Alesta, a young sorceress, journeys through a world of Slavic folklore in search of a way to save her mother from the world of the dead. Forests, marshes, villages, and other areas form a connected side-scrolling adventure.

Explore, fight creatures, and platform through the world as new abilities open routes to previously unreachable places. Side quests lead Alesta to the many characters she encounters, and their completion can affect how the adventure concludes.

Combat combines Alesta’s attacks and magic with summoned familiars, which have different abilities for fighting and solving obstacles. RPG-style options let players customize her characteristics, while boss battles and save points punctuate the journey.

Players who enjoy Catmaze often highlight its Slavic-mythology setting, exploration, and the gradual opening of new areas and abilities. Some also appreciate its characters, story, and pixel art. Critical reviews frequently find the controls, platforming, or combat awkward, and mention tiring backtracking or a story that fails to engage them.