Pawbay Review (Xbox Series X|S, Switch & PC)

If I had a choice to either wreak havoc on a town as a senior citizen (we’re looking at you, Just Die Already) or a kitten, I’d opt for the latter. I’d stick with the paw and collar, not because it makes for a more creative sandbox experience, but because it scratches a lot more than a generic itch. It might not be as niche as Just Die Already or Goat Simulator, though the fact remains: cats genuinely make for more mischievous companions. The fact that they’re also flexible enough to tread upon areas that others simply cannot, really, just makes them a better choice, in general.

Pawbay isn’t all that different from other sandbox games, in that it openly acknowledges its simplicity in an effort to give players what they want: a short, to-the-point co-op experience that can be easily brushed aside in two, maybe three hours. It doesn’t fill your head with plot strands or dilemmas; it simply unlocks the door, hands you a checklist of things to do, and then allows you the freedom to tackle challenges at your own pace. And when I say challenges, I mean, cat things, like swiping glasses from tables, disrupting chess games, or perching on a bench for several hours.

In a similar fashion as Goat Simulator, the game acts as a weightless sandbox in which you can explore at your own leisure. With no overarching goals to tackle, no endgame bosses to unlock, and no paywalls for you to clamber over, it courageously hands you the keys, and it releases you from your leash in the hopes that you’ll wreak a little havoc on an otherwise ordinary town. There are collectibles, hats, and sunglasses to unlock, and of course, troves of tasks to work through.

Either alone or with a friend, you enter the vibrant world of Pawbay with a list, a condensed biome, and a plethora of climbable environments and obstacles to overcome. Regardless of how you choose to tackle the jobs, there is always something to dab your paws at, be it a flock of birds, an elderly person, a breakable object, or the ankles of a child. And that’s essentially what Pawbay is: an open sandbox that allows you the freedom to complete seemingly arbitrary tasks.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of repetition here. Given that each biomes has a similar catalog of tasks for you to complete, it can be difficult to find something fresh and exciting in this space. Usually, you have a generic checklist to comb through, with each task on the list having a specific number that need to be achieved. For example, you don’t break one glass and then move to another job; you break dozens of objects, and then scoot on over to the next biome to, well, break more. And that’s predominantly the case with all of the jobs on the checklist.

On the bright side, Pawbay does have some good little Easter Eggs and secrets. An example here would be its witch’s lair—a hidden location that houses its own magical infusions and peculiarities. Aside from its share of fairly generic chores, the world has a decent portion of mysteries available for you to take a stab at. Granted, there’s nothing here’s that’s worth doing twice, but with friends, something as simple as finding a hidden location can be made to feel rewarding.

There is a downside to all of the above, and that’s the control system. See, cats should be flexible enough to handle whatever their eye meets. Here, though, you have something of a restraint on your natural abilities. If, say, you wish to climb to another platform, then you need to find the correct spot on a ledge, angle your body in the right direction, and then search for the prompt that allows you to progress. What you can’t do is aimlessly wander and roam at your own free will. Well, you can, but within limits.

While the world itself is evidently teeming with things for you to do, there are some drawbacks to exploring it. Sadly, you can’t just ascend and descend freely, as the game doesn’t allow you to. Instead, you have to stay within the guidelines with buttons that are mostly context sensitive. In other words, you cannot simply go wherever you please, unless, of course, the chore at hand lets you off of your leash. And that’s a shame, as it often spoils the immersion and forces you to think before you act. In most cases, you would flow through the world. But here, you are told to seek out grappling points and areas that will allow you to progress.

Technical issues aside, Pawbay is a lot of fun to work through. Although a lot shorter and more condensed than you average sandbox game, it taps into the feline world incredibly well, with adorable settings, sweet animations, and fitting pastimes that authenticate a kitten’s characteristics. With a friend, it’s even better, given that you can simultaneously work on your tasks and bring a little mayhem to the world as a ragtag duo. As a solo player, however, it can feel a little dull. Well, not dull, but almost as if it’s severely lacking in camaraderie and collaborative spirit.

All in all there’s a delightful sandbox game here that, although not as refined or as meaty as your traditional Goat Simulator doppelgänger, arguably makes for a much better cat-centric experience than Big Kitty, Big City. It might not be on the same level as Stray, but it does serve its purpose as a genuinely entertaining co-op flick. To that end, I’d say that it’s worth your time and money.

Verdict

Pawbay brings cat-like reflexes and chaotic energy to a small yet intimately packed sandbox space in which generic tasks are handled with reckless disregard for human nature, all whilst simultaneously creating a comical and lovingly crafted environment for its kitten curators and ragtag collaborators alike. It’s short, sweet, yet an absolute blast to play through with a friend for two or three hours. That’s a lot more than what Just Die Already has to offer, anyway.