"Short" Arcade Game about the life of a cat named "Zag", who desperately seeks an answer. The evil and unique gameplay is about reversing the controls on the keyboard.
Very Positive
228 Steam reviews
| LANGUAGE | AUDIO | SUBTITLES | INTERFACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | — | — | Y |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OEzA1uirAM
Psychocat: The Answer is a compact but cleverly constructed arcade experience developed and published by Chewa. Released in 2016, it represents the kind of focused indie design philosophy that builds an entire game around a single, sharply defined mechanic and then refines it into something deceptively demanding. At first glance, the premise appears almost minimalistic: guide a small cat named Zag through a vibrant, twisting tunnel filled with obstacles and survive long enough to uncover “the Answer.” Yet beneath that straightforward setup lies a game that constantly destabilizes the player’s instincts, turning reflex-based gameplay into a test of cognitive flexibility and mental endurance.
The central mechanic of Psychocat: The Answer revolves around control inversion. As Zag moves forward through the tunnel, he passes through colored zones that flip or alter directional inputs. What initially feels like a standard left-and-right dodging challenge quickly evolves into something far more disorienting. Forward may become backward; left might suddenly send you right. The game cleverly signals these changes through visual cues and Zag’s shifting colors, but in the heat of the moment—amid flashing lights and increasing speed—those cues can be difficult to process. The result is an experience that demands not only quick reflexes but also rapid mental recalibration. Muscle memory becomes unreliable, and players must consciously override instinct to adapt to constantly changing rules.
Structurally, the game is intentionally lean. There are no sprawling campaigns or multiple elaborate modes. Instead, Psychocat: The Answer centers on a survival challenge, typically framed around lasting a specific duration—most notably the 180-second benchmark that serves as a psychological milestone for players. Tutorials introduce the fundamental mechanics, ensuring that newcomers understand the inversion concept before being thrown into full-speed runs. Beyond that, the design philosophy is straightforward: survive, adapt, and improve. The game’s minimalism works to its advantage, stripping away distractions and focusing entirely on the purity of its arcade challenge.
Visually, the game embraces a psychedelic aesthetic that complements its destabilizing gameplay. Bright neon colors, rapidly shifting patterns, and a sense of constant forward motion create an almost hypnotic effect. The tunnel’s visual design reinforces the feeling of disorientation, amplifying the impact of sudden control changes. While the graphics are not technologically advanced, they are stylistically coherent and serve the gameplay purpose effectively. Sound design follows a similar philosophy—energetic and rhythmic, helping maintain intensity without overwhelming the player. Together, these elements create a cohesive audiovisual identity that enhances immersion despite the game’s simple presentation.
One of the most interesting aspects of Psychocat: The Answer is how it transforms frustration into motivation. Early runs can feel chaotic and unfair, especially when control inversions stack with visual overload. However, the game is meticulously consistent in its rules. Every failure can be traced back to a missed cue or a momentary lapse in adaptation. As players begin to internalize patterns and anticipate changes, a satisfying rhythm emerges. Success feels earned because it stems from mastering one’s own reactions rather than exploiting complex mechanics or upgrades. This emphasis on skill and adaptation gives the game a replayable quality that belies its compact scope.
Achievements and incremental milestones further reinforce progression. Although there are no RPG elements or unlockable power-ups, the simple act of surviving longer each time becomes its own reward. The pursuit of perfection—lasting the full duration without mistakes—creates a compelling loop. In many ways, the game captures the essence of classic arcade philosophy: easy to learn, brutally challenging to master, and deeply satisfying when conquered. It invites players to return repeatedly, shaving seconds off their previous failures and refining their response time.
Community reception over the years has been notably positive, with many players praising the game’s originality and tight execution. Its low price point and cross-platform availability make it accessible, while its focused design ensures that it does not overstay its welcome. Some critics have noted that its simplicity may limit long-term appeal for players seeking variety or narrative depth. Yet that very simplicity is part of its identity. Psychocat: The Answer does not attempt to be a sprawling epic; it is an arcade experiment built around a single brilliant idea, executed with clarity and confidence.
Ultimately, Psychocat: The Answer stands as an example of how a small indie project can leave a lasting impression through smart mechanical design. By centering its gameplay around the inversion of player expectations, it turns a straightforward survival challenge into a mentally engaging experience. It may not offer expansive content or cinematic storytelling, but for players who appreciate reflex-driven arcade tests infused with psychological twists, it provides a sharp, memorable, and rewarding ride through its neon tunnel of chaos.
Rating: 7/10
Funny :3
bu nasıl bir oyun midem bulandı amk
[h1]
Arcade runner. Follow the path, avoid obstacles until you find the answer.
[/h1]
I STILL DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER!
keskin renk geçişleri var baş döndürüyor arcade engellerden kaçış oyunu
You can't rebind the controls from the arrow keys or close the game without alt+F4 / tabbing out. Very basic things every game should have. I get not being able to quit is part of the rage bait, but still.
The game itself is fine... it's a trippy rage game that'll give you some fair entertainment for $0.49. I personally found it more annoying than anything else, but if you like these types of games this a decent version.
Good game. I don't remember playing this for 10 hours but apparently I did
I am 32 years old.
My ex-wife and I have a daughter together, and we adopted our son together. Both are now 4 years old.
When we were going through our separation, I felt lost and unhappy. I was self-destructive. One day, I was so angry with everything spiraling out of control that I punched a concrete wall in a moment of overwhelming emotion. This resulted in breaking my fifth metacarpal in my right hand—the hand I worked with, played games with, and used to carry my children to bed—the hand I desperately needed to ensure I could continue providing.
Upon learning the severity of the self-inflicted damage, I became almost suicidal. Keep in mind that just a few months before this, I was the happiest man, with no history of depression or anxiety. I had never experienced anger outbursts, nor was I the type to break down and cry, but I was in a tough situation that truly prevented me from seeing the light on the other side.
With nothing better to do, I looked for a game I could play WITH ONE HAND while recovering. Somehow, I stumbled upon this game and read some of the comments. I decided it was worth a try... I must admit I didn't beat the game, nor did I play as much as some of you. In fact, I may have played this game for only a day or two. That being said, after doing so, I had a new joy and hope for life. I managed to leave behind the pain and suffering that had been thrust upon me. I could experience the joy and happiness of other people. I relaxed for 5 ♥♥♥♥ minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.
After realizing this, I turned off the game and went back to work. My hand hurt a lot, but I was motivated. I stopped feeling so sorry for myself and became the father I needed to be at that moment, not the weak boy I was behaving like.
Today, I am close friends with the mother of my children. We don't fight, argue, or say hurtful things to each other. We are parents and friends.
Now I have 3 children. My third child is, wait, ALSO 4 YEARS OLD. The woman I am with was going through a very similar situation at the time of my separation, and we just unexpectedly stumbled into each other's lives. We have been dating for a year and are very happy together.
Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today. This silly little game helped me realize that.
Thank you.
Es ist ein sehr leichtes Spielprinzip, es gibt nur hoch,runter,links und rechts. Ich liebe dieses Game.
Macht schnell süchtig.
Ich werde die Antwort finden.
Irgendwann werde ich die finden.
the answer was worth all the pain.
higly recommend
нет
Very trippy gaem guys!
Dont play if u have problems with Gustavo fring
Not a bad novelty game, it's actually better than I expected. A word of caution sometimes you don't feel the negative effects of this game till after you're finished playing. I don't know if this is good or bad.
I played for over a half hour got the training achievements and the 25 second one and I didn't die or get a seizure so dunno if its dangerous. Its still a really weird visual effect tho. If you got 50 cents and want something weird its worth trying. Cards and achievements too.. Its weird, the music is zany, and its not bad.
My only recommendation to the developer PLEASE PUT A CHECKPOINT SAVE IN IT!
Its unfair to make us go all the way back to the start especially after we worked so hard to get to a checkpoint. Its a challenging game as it is so I see no reason not to have a checkpoint that remember where you were last time. Also another harder mode with no achievements attached just for replay would also be welcome after you beat it.
thank you psychocat.
I vomited
It was ok...
very funny
Really fun and addicting, kinda messes with eyes but like i can't stop playing it, anyways really fun game :)
I come back to this game every few months, maybe every year. I still haven't found the answer with all my playtime. It is fun though, a nice little game to pick up once a year and give a few attempts. Well worth the $0.99.
I didn't beat the game yet but i really like it. Sometimes it's very frustrating but when you reach a milestone it gives you some feeling like a succsses for yourself (and steam achievements). xD
Over time you will come further and further and you can look back where you died at the first 20 seconds :D
Its a very good game to pass some time and once youre getting closer to the end it can for its simplicity be quite addictive. The gameplay while at the core resembles that of an old school arcade jump and run still holds up pretty well thanks to the core mechanic which is swapping between four different control styles on the fly.
There are seven level parts in total an each one has a unique step up in difficulty.
Thats also why i'd say that its relatively easy to learn and quite hard to master.
And to conclude the soundtrack is also very atmospheric as long as your a little mad yourself.
Психоделический раннер с котиком.
[quote=Достоевский] Безумцы прокладывают пути, по которым следом пойдут рассудительные.[/quote]
this game is really calming and really good if you have epilepsy
10/10 would recommend
much trippy is
Passou brisa ou tiltei com o jogo, quero quitar.
-Do you want quit?
-Yes -No
-Do you find the answer?
- ̶y̶e̶s̶ -No
♥♥♥♥ you answer i just want quit.
TRO B1
Прекрасная игра, в течении которой вы сами найдете ответы на все интересующие вас вопросы, будь то смысл жизни или о сотворение Вселенной, не доходя до конца.
А через десять минут вы словите наркотрип.
На 1-ой минуте игры, может показаться, что она лёгкая.
На 2-ой минуте покажется, что она непроходимая.
На 3-ей ты проклинаешь разработчика этой игры.
На 4-ой более-менее привыкаешь к управлению.
На 5-ой тебя уже начинает тошнить от этого е*аного тоннеля.
На 6-ой тебе наконецто удалось пройти хотябы 25 секунд от уровня.
На 7-ой тебе хочется выйти из игры, но она буквально не выпускает тебя, пока ты не пройдёшь её, и ты следующие несколько минут пытаешься из неё выйти, а потом просто забиваешь и сворачиваешь её.
Моя оценка: 10 наркотических веществ из 10
Complete mindf*** of a game, it technically only takes 175 seconds to beat it, but if you screw up even once it's right back to the start; and you'll screw up a lot. According to steam it took me 8.0 hours in total to find the answer, and I'm sure it's gonna take even more than that for a lot of people, if they ever even find the answer.
9/10 would reccomend. Came for the trippy visuals, music and concept, stayed for the challenge and real fake sense of accomplishment that comes with making progress when playing!
I am using xanax now thanks Psychocat
i hate this game so much. i have bought it 5 times send it to literally all your friends
You can never leave.
I'm being a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ colorblind.
Il y a bien trop de choses à dire sur ce jeu, tant de choses positif, je vais donc juste me contenté de vous dire que c'est un excellent jeu qui vaut le coup lorsqu'il est soldé.
es pa poia but algo dificil
gay AF
Doesn't let you leave before you actually win the game
all i can say is 11/10
Ahorrate el disgusto y no juegues a este juego.
Los controles, la parte fundamental de este tipo de minijuegos, no responden todo lo bien que deberían, haciéndolo muy frustrante. El tono "oscuro" y misterioso que tiene el juego es una cortina de humo que demuestra que el juego no tiene nada que ofrecerte. La "respuesta" es que se cierra. Y punto. De nada por ahorrarte 0,99€. Si te gustan los matarratos y este estilo de juegos tienes muchas opciones mejores. Este ni te lo plantees.
Je to šílenost a to se mi líbí.
我吐了....
this is unreal
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[tr]
[td][h1][i]⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀♫ 1200 Micrograms - LSD ♫⠀⠀⠀⠀[/i][/h1]
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⠀▐▐ ⠀►▏ ⠀⠀──○─ 🔊 ⠀₁:₂₅ / ₃:₅₀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ᴴᴰ⚙ ❐ ⊏⊐[/td]
This game was more aggravating than fun. It also hurt my eyes and made me feel ill. Doesn't even let you quit, just asks if you've found the answer without allowing you to click yes. You have to force close it.
Wouldn't recommend it.
a sneaky gamu with toxic shxt
strrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Das Spiel ist lustig
Es fühlt sich an wie ein Anfall ,Krampf und ein Wut Ausbruch .
Aber seltsamer weiße auf eine posetiven Art und Weise .
You play this game as a cat who goes through a tunnel to find the answer. The tunnels rotate left and right. I haven't found the answer yet. It is a challenging videogame, and a true test to your hand, and eye coordination. If you've aced this test you're a super man. 10 out 10.
The option to quit doesn't exist until you find the answer.
this game changed my life forever
psychocat, i brought this game while i was baked. its meh made me have a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ weird trip.
Rebe let me know what is answer (´◓ｑ◔｀)
Nope, nope and nope!
This game could have been good, the idea is there, the kitten looks cute, but...
Geez what the heck is that?
Without mentioning the music which still fits the idea, the graphism are too shabby and not easely readible,
controls aren't optimized at all.
In a different type of game but which could still be linked to psychedelic environement, i'd recommend Rez.
Forget this game, even free it would be a waste of time you wouldn't enjoy.
Too bad.
3/20
Filling in the review gaps in my library. This one was one of those quickly uninstalled never reviewed type games.
This game is a joke that you are the butt of. The only way to get it to go away is CTRL+ALT+DELETE because it won't let you quit the game if you have not beat the game. It has a steep learning curve, which some people may enjoy. And it makes me ill when I try to play it because I get motion sickness.
All in all, it was a funny little pile of garbage but I can't recommend it to anyone ever for any reason. Get it for a friend if you want to mess with them or something.
Quite a fun tunnel runner. The right level of challenge, fitting music, great inclusion of Alt+F4.
This game is the worst. The answer is 42. Thats all. Really. I'm not kidding. 1/10
I was dizzy for a bit, but I enjoy the rage-inducing reference.
Ist halt ein Trash Game :D
Play it on acid.
Psycho love - unplayable
the game is impossible after reaching 60 normal i was confused because i actualy made the jump but it set me back so i slowed the game down to 0.25 with cheat engine and tried it again again a perfect jump but you still get kicket back to start thanks for the scam
ИГРА ДЛЯ НАРКОМАНОВ НО Я ПОИГРАЛ ТААК НОРМ НО ОЧЕЬ МНОГОО НАРКОМАНИИИ
Trippy, fun and mad game for a good price.
This game is great! (...and totally crazy.)
Карточки были недешёвые.
nice game
Game's boring, poorly done, the controls are cranky and the difficulty is quite hardcore. (Remember that cranky controls and high game difficulty = stress and frustration).
From the bias of a furry who likes felines in special, I still hated this game.
I felt it a waste of money despite such low price, unless you want to give this game to someone as an awkward, ineffective way of trolling someone.
I go even further and add: This game shouldn't be on Steam. I can admit and understand somewhat bad games on Steam, but this one crosses that line. And it's not even free!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ gay
h
Nice game . .)
障害物を避けながら丸いトンネルをひたすら進んでいくゲームです。
まず色彩がきついです。それに普通に単調なので飽きます。
避けるのは上下左右の簡単な操作ですが、どっちに避けるべきか迷わせる要素も襲ってきます。
そもそも丸いトンネルの壁の上にいるときと下にいるときで左右の操作に迷います。
また、定期的に操作反転があるため、常に動かして確認していないと急な時に操作を間違えます。
しかも左右反転状態に上下左右反転効果が加わることで上下のみ反転になるなど、反転が複雑に重なってきます。
こういう反転系は2Dアクションでもよく有りますが得意な人っているのでしょうか。
Ce jeux est difficile vous aller réessayer des centaine de fois mais il est trés fun a jouer mais tout le jeux se passe dans un seul niveau de 3 minute.
I tried so hard
And got so far
♥♥♥♥ its so hard
不让退出，这就很伤
Entretenido como juego casual
Рай для эпилепсика.
В игру стоит играть если Вы эпилепсик или беременная женщина.
11/10 мертвых эпилепсков
лучшая игра жанра психоделического
_________________________
The best game of the psychedelic genre
tätä peliä kannattaa jakaa random jonneille. on muuten hyvä.
Tags: Casual - Runner
Additional Tags: Delete Local Content & Remove from Library
TLDR: Uses faceplate buttons for directions. Audiovisuals are grating. Try Networm instead.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/408170/Networm/
This is a tube runner in which you rotate around a cylinder left and right, jump, or crouch. There is a timer going down at which point I would assume something would happen because you would have done a thing. I could not get that far, the controls on the remote used the face buttons rather than the sticks to control the action and often times the game would freeze my inputs after running into unavoidable meshes of colors thus forcing me to faceplant in an obstacle and lose. The game is fairly nausea inducing with the way it handles colored squares, rotation and the music is not all too pleasant either. All around a very trash experience.
The music for the trailer is INFINITELY BETTER than the music you are forced to listen to in game. I couldn't take the circus music long enough to find the fun but it was a Hi buy and it was worth the lulz!
Man is this game is tripy and really werid XD
but pretty cool tho.
And it wont let you leave the game til you beat it XDDDD
Ich mag die Idee des Spiels auch wenn sie leichte kopfschmerzen verursacht ^^ sehr störend ist allerdings, dass in der spielmechanik logikfehler vorhanden sind, so müsste eine aufeinanderfolgende umkehr der tastenbelegung wieder zum Originalzustand führen dies tut sie jedoch nicht immer, was den spielspaß stark beeinträchtit und zu hoher frustration führt.
AUßER KONKURRENZ.
L.
S.
D.
Yeah.
WHAT THE ♥♥♥♥ DID I JUST PURCHASED?
Suicide cats simulator
Oyunu çok kısa süre oynamama rağmen beni tatmin etti. Oyundaki amaç sağ sol yukarı aşağı yaparak engelleri geçiyoz tek sıkıntı gelen renklere (üzerinde sembollerde var) göre oyunumuz bozuluyor. Örneğin kırmızı geldiği zaman sağ tuşu sola gidiyor sol tuşu sağa gidiyor. Mavi geldiği zaman yukarı aşağı oluyor aşağı tuşu yukarı oluyor. Bu hızlanıyor ve artık daha hızlı karar vermeniz ve daha refleksiv olmanız gerekiyor. Oyun içinizdeki spiral görünüm işi birazdaha zorlaştırıyor.
Oyundaki tek sıkıntı oyunu bir süre kaptırdığınız zaman yani uzun süre oynadığınız zaman spiral görüntü baş dönmesi ve keskin renk kontrastı başınızı ağrıtabiliyor.
Kısa süreli zaman geçirmek veya bir şeyle meşgul olmak için iyi bir oyun ancak uzun süreli oynadığınız zaman baya bir yoran bir oyun. Tabi bu kişiden kişiye değişebilir en azından bana öyle geldi.
iyi eğlenceler. Oyunsuz kalmayın :)
This game is evil. I love it. It reminds me of when I was a child, took a load of LSD, thought I was a cat, started running up to random people to hug and lick them.
Rating: 12/10, would do again
ProTip: Nothing helps, but if you're willing, try some acid while playing the game.
"At first, it was just curiosity to see if I could find the answer. Now I HAVE to find the answer!"
Made my friends go insane, After 30 minutes theyre cradeling themselves with their heads in their hands.
Pretty good though.
ce jeu est exellent !!! trés colorer et trés brainwashing !!! il est horrible a joué et vous perdrez tout le temps mais ca vous donneras envie de toujours réésayer !!!
I gave this game to a friend without knowing he had epilepsy.
I was charged with attempted murder.
10/10
Sinceramente eu não tenho a menor ideia do contexto que me levou a comprar esse jogo, mas agradeço por ter deixado de comprar um pacote de halls e investir nessa belíssima experiência totalmente não recomendada para pessoas com epilepsia ou que tem costume de quebrar o teclado ou socar a parede quando ficam com raiva por tentar zerar por 42 minutos seguidos um jogo de 3 minutos.
Hayatımda gördüğüm en garip oyunlardan birisi 2 tl eyvallah ama fena bağımlılık yapıyo kıyın 2 tlnize alın ama 15 dakika oynadıktan sonra gözleriniz uyuşuyo ben sıkılınca giriyorum rahatlatmak yerine sinir ediyo hırs yapıyosunuz derken 15 dakika sonra gözleriniz kayboluyo yani özetle alın
Que bizarro... y cuando quieres salir del juego, si no encontraste la respuesta te mete nuevamente dentro del juego D: staphhh pls!!
I couldn't find the answer.
0/10
Normally, when a game costs 1 euro it's rare for me to give it a negative review, because I tend to believe that at this price a lot can be forgiven. Psychocat, however, managed to step on my toes in all the right ways for that to not happen.
The game consists of you hurtling down a winding tunnel, having to jump over obstacles or duck underneath them at high speeds. To win (find the answer) you have to survive 175 seconds of that, but every 25 seconds the (randomly generated) obstacles get a bit harder. There are no checkpoints so any failure resets the playthrough. There is one, short musical track which is cute for about 30 minutes tops and the game is visually poor despite being colourful on the surface.
This game is [i]way[/i] too difficult. The "difficult = good" meme has been going on for a few years now, and I still despise it. It is also too low on content. It feels like a tech demo or an alpha version of something that ended up not taking the shape it should down the road. The most fun I had with Psychocat was attacking it with tools, looking for solutions to the problem that this game is. Unless you are willing to do the same I definitely don't recommend it.
Это худшее во что я играл, более ужасной игры я еще не видел!
Плюсы:
1. Отлично зайдет под дурь)
Минусы:
1.Отвратительное управление.
2.Ужасное цветовое оформление.
3. Из игры нельзя выйти, когда нажимаешь Quit проподает курсор мыши и вылетает подтверждение выхода из этой "игры", а если вслепую нажать на "Yes", то ♥♥♥♥♥ она не нажмется!!! Затем если нажать на "No", то ♥♥♥♥♥ игра начнется с первого уровня!!!
Итог: Лучше еще поднокопить рублей 13, и купить баярышник, чем покупать данный "шедевр" игровой индустрии.
♥♥♥♥
Ends geiles spiel zum durch suchten nur das Autofahren sollte man danach unterlassen
вжух и у тебя наркотрип
the game itself isnt bad. its pretty cool actualy! but just nooooooooooooooo..... the asnwer is awefull
Just freaky game this is utter hell I would have this played for all eternity and infinity in an isolated point, and as it is not so much many years ago in the future and the future of America in Europe and America, Europe, and America and Europe and ENGLAND!
