The desert stretches into infinity all around me. Cacti clawing the sky like prisoners reaching for a key. Only the gossamer beads of sweat slipping down my face keep me cool… 

There’s a tall figure crossing my path like a mirage… and I think it has a tail...

Like the titular character’s namesake, Cat Named Mojave is deeper than it looks. On the surface this first-person surreal horror game sounds deceptively simple: hunt creatures for the cat man and he’ll fix your car! Dig deeper, however, and you’ll find a game evocative of a grindhouse thriller that leaves you clawing for more!

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Developed by newcomer Stargazers Studios, Cat Named Mojave opens with every road tripper’s worst nightmare: a dead car battery in the middle of nowhere. The demo wastes no time in getting the show on the road, however, and a short walk down a long dirt road leads you to the home of your would-be rescuer. His price? Fresh game from the surrounding wilderness. Bag your target, bring it home, and butcher it into a trophy. 

Oh, and don’t ask why a cat man lives in a farmhouse in the middle of the desert. 

Evocative of Steven Spielberg’s action-thriller Duel and Wrong Organ’s Sci-Fi psychological horror game Mouthwashing, it’s clear from the get-go that this car isn’t going to be an easy fix. With gameplay mechanics limited to swinging a blade and firing a shotgun, Cat Named Mojave draws you in by other means: Gritty, but endearing Cormac McCarthy-esque writing and dialogue! Unique graphics and hand-crafted environments that scream DESOLATE! All of these and more come together to spin a tale of what chilling horrors might lie just off the beaten highway… and how far we’re willing to go to escape.

Limitless ‘Purr’tential?

There’s a lot to unpack in Cat Named Mojave, but I’d feel horrible if I spoiled the sheer amount of love packed into such a short demo. That said, while the game left me compelled to write about it the minute the demo ended, it also left me concerned. Cat Named Mojave’s demo only takes about an hour or so to complete, but how much more of a game could there be? Can Stargazers Studios continue to deliver? I assume the completed game will be short, but the fun I had playing it coupled with the earnest production value tells me Cat Named Mojave is gonna be pretty sweet too!

Cat Named Mojave is part of Next Fest June 2025 – LIVE NOW! The demo is available to play right now… so get hunting!