🐾💡 Stray – PC Game Review (Played on RTX 3050 + i5 13th Gen)
🔍 Overview
Stray, developed by BlueTwelve Studio and published by Annapurna Interactive, is a third-person adventure game where you play as a lost cat navigating a futuristic, neon-lit cybercity inhabited by robots. With the help of a drone companion named B-12, your goal is to find your way back home while uncovering the city’s secrets.
It’s a unique blend of atmospheric storytelling, light puzzle-solving, and platforming, told entirely through the eyes (and paws) of a cat.
🖥️ Performance on My Gaming PC
Specs Used:
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GPU: RTX 3050 8GB
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CPU: Intel i5 13th Gen
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RAM: 16GB DDR4
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Storage: SSD
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Resolution: 1080p
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Settings Used: High + V-Sync ON
🎮 FPS & Stability:
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High settings @1080p: 55–70 FPS in most areas
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Performance is stable in tight environments; slight FPS dips in open alleys or chase sequences
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Game is lightweight and well-optimized for RTX 3050
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V-Sync recommended to eliminate occasional screen tearing
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Fast SSD loading ensures seamless transitions between areas
👁️ Graphics & Visuals
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Gorgeous cyberpunk-inspired visuals with neon lights, rain-soaked alleys, and decayed tech
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Atmospheric lighting and volumetrics look stunning on High settings
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Environments feel alive — robot citizens, flickering lights, climbing vines
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Cat animations are ultra-realistic: grooming, stretching, jumping, meowing, scratching walls
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RTX 3050 handles all effects smoothly at 1080p; DLSS isn’t required, but FSR can be used for extra frames if needed
🐱 Gameplay & Mechanics
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Exploration-focused — no combat (except a few chase/stealth sequences)
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Core gameplay includes:
✅ Platforming (jumping across ledges, pipes, ACs)
✅ Puzzle-solving (battery boxes, doors, switches)
✅ Stealth (avoiding sentinels or Zurks)
✅ Interacting with the environment (meowing, pushing objects, sleeping) -
Controls are tight and responsive; platforming uses a contextual jump system (no free jump)
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Pacing is calm but rewarding — it’s more about feeling the world than racing through it
📜 Story & Setting
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Set in a mysterious underground city sealed away from the surface
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The narrative unfolds through environmental storytelling, robot dialogue, and memory fragments
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Your companion drone, B-12, adds depth and functionality — hacking doors, translating, and helping piece together the past
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Themes: isolation, AI sentience, environmental decay, and hope
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Story is silent but emotionally powerful, especially in the later chapters
🎧 Sound & Music
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Beautiful, ambient soundtrack — mixes lo-fi synths with melancholic piano
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Sound design is rich: the pitter-patter of paws, meows, distant machinery
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Subtle music shifts during exploration, tension, and peaceful moments
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No voice acting — communication happens through beeps, signs, and minimal text
🔁 Replay Value
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Main story: 4.5 to 6 hours
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Completionist run: ~7–8 hours (including all memories, badges, and meow button spam 😺)
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Trophies for speedrun, napping, and scratching specific objects
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No New Game+ or major branching paths, but great for a peaceful re-experience later
👍 Pros
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Unique concept: Play as a realistic cat in a cyberpunk world
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Gorgeous visuals with great performance on RTX 3050
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Emotional, minimalist storytelling
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Relaxing exploration and platforming
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Highly detailed animations and immersive environments
👎 Cons
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Short runtime (might not justify full price for some)
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Jumping is not free-form (context-only)
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Occasional FPS drops in chase scenes
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Minimal replay value after 100% completion
✅ Final Verdict
Stray is a memorable and visually stunning adventure, told through the quiet lens of a cat exploring a forgotten world. On your RTX 3050 + i5 13th Gen, it runs smoothly at 1080p on High settings, making for a chill yet emotionally impactful experience. It’s short, yes — but every minute of it feels handcrafted and heartfelt.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
🐾 Highly recommended for fans of atmospheric indie titles, cyberpunk settings, or just... cats.
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