REVIEW – Most of the audience will probably overlook the game from Why Knot Studio and Red Dunes Games, but they may be wrong to do so. Although it can be considered simple in some respects, this cat platformer is an enjoyable product. Its 2D graphics indicate that it is not a big-budget title, but that works in its favor.

While it’s true that at first glance, the game looks like something from a German cartoon series, we shouldn’t judge it based on that alone.

The rescued cat

PotWL begins with a few frogs rescuing an abandoned cat. Suddenly, the cat is able to jump, climb walls, and perform other platformer actions. There is no dialogue, but visual elements show us our next task and where to go. We must rely on our imagination to understand why the cat is in this situation. It certainly has to do with the machine, which suddenly sets the forest on fire. The cat then embarks on a journey through five areas, each with a boss at the end. Don’t be fooled by the initial ease; it becomes extremely difficult later on. This would be fine if the controls were precise, but they are not. The kitten slips a little, à la Mega Man (Capcom, 1987, NES), so this must be taken into account when moving. The whole thing could be improved with a more precise control scheme. For example, it would be more practical to use the down direction when jumping from a platform to a lower level. On a controller, this would be equivalent to pressing X and circle. It’s illogical and annoying.

Not only do the tracks get harder over time, but the puzzles do too. In the case of collectible items, however, it’s a bit of a shortcoming that, in some cases, a wall is not exactly a wall and can be passed through. The game could have been more complex, but at least older tracks can be revisited. Later on, new (and, in some cases, evolving) abilities will reveal previously inaccessible puzzles and paths. This means we will return to previously seen levels more than once. There are also underwater segments, which makes sense in the context of the game, since our cat grew up around frogs and can breathe underwater. The developers didn’t bother explaining this. There are also fights, though not many. Our hero can cast magic spells that disrupt machines and positively affect the surrounding plants. This is sufficient in every case except for the bosses. When we get to the bosses, the whole thing goes haywire, to put it mildly, because the situation is a little different there. It’s not clear if it’s as good as it sounds so far.

In dense forests

Bosses can become frustrating quickly. You have to learn exactly what they do. In some cases, whether you are in the right place to get through the current phase really depends on luck. At least it’s predictable. Those who are capable of multitasking can succeed here because there will be moments when you have to move while paying attention to the boss. The difficulty level can jump out completely unexpectedly, which is distracting and even shocking because this challenge does not fit the visual style. Therefore, if you judge the game by its visuals alone, you will be disappointed by this twist. The hand-drawn world is appealing, and it really feels like a random German cartoon from the ’90s has come to life. The soundtrack contributes to this feeling, and it isn’t bad.

However, the sound effects, which vary depending on the collectibles in each world, are a bit tinny and metallic. Oh, and when the cat falls, its meowing echoes, which is somewhat bizarrely funny. The system requirements are not very high. Even the recommended requirements are an RTX 3060 with 6 GB of VRAM and an unnamed Intel i5 CPU. Essentially, any PC built with components released in the last seven to eight years can run it. So, you definitely don’t need to upgrade your computer for this. There is no console version. As a side note, you also won’t need to spend much money, as the price is rounded up to €15.

Short and sweet

The game can be completed in about three hours. Compared to that, it’s not so bad. We’ll give it a 7/10, even though all 20 reviews on Steam are positive. The game is worth trying out, and we can do so because a demo is available on Steam. If you like 2D platformers, you’ll enjoy it, but the simple gameplay quickly becomes more complicated as you progress. It’s a pleasant surprise, but it won’t catch the attention of many, even though it has something beautiful about it.

-V-

Developer: Why Knot Studio
Publisher: Red Dunes Games
Release Date: November 20, 2025
Genre: 2D Puzzle Platformer