There are some games that can be called awesome. Then, there are games that can be given the title of epic. But this is one of the rare games I would happily refer to as art! Stars in the Trash starts out as what you might consider to be a typical narrative-based adventure with a cutesy animal, but it becomes so much more as you play through. You get to know this cat’s feelings and thoughts in a much deeper way than you might expect from such a short game. Part of the developer’s blurb about the game states: “Tired of feeling trapped at home, Moka, a spoiled cat, decides to run away and seek adventure.” But it is so much more than that. There is joy and fun, but also sadness and heartbreak. You will laugh, you will smirk, and yes, on occasion, you will sit and stare and wonder how the world could be so cruel and yet… You will want to play this through to the end!
ℹ️ Reviewed on PC and Steam Deck | Review code provided by PR/publisher, this review is the personal opinion of the writer. Got unanswered questions about this game? Get in touch on X!
| Developer | Valhalla Cats |
| Publisher | Valhalla Cats |
Things I liked!
- The Graphics | The world which Valhalla Cats have created is truly gorgeous. It brings back memories of classic animations I used to watch when I was a kid. Everything is hand-drawn and has a lot of character. Even the backgrounds seem like they have more to tell than what you see in this short game. Oh, and it being a shorter game does not mean it’s diminished in any way. It has a story to tell, and it tells it very well.
- The Story | As I mentioned, this game has a story to tell, and although no words are spoken throughout the game, you know what is being said. You can tell from expressions, movements, music, and the gorgeous visuals what is happening without having to strain the old grey matter too much. Take your time when you can and look around. Let Moka have a nap in a sunspot while you look at everything that surrounds him and see the world through his eyes. I would love to see more about this particular set of characters in the future.
Mixed & disliked!
- The Platform Parts | This is a very, very small, tiny little bit of a complaint… Some of the platform sections are not exactly obvious to begin with, and while this does extend the run time of the game, I found myself repeating one section at a clock tower a fair few times until I figured it out. That could just be me, though, not seeing the obvious. That really is my only complaint.
CONCLUSION
Score: 90/100 – Stars in the Trash is a wonderful game, and as I mentioned, a piece of art in its own right. You start off feeling like, “Oh, this is fun, I’m a cat knocking things over,” but as you progress, you get deeper and deeper into this mindset that you feel like you know exactly what this cat is feeling and thinking. I very rarely find a game that makes me stop and think every few moments about what it’s like for animals out on the streets, and I have a lot of appreciation for Valhalla Cats for their work in bringing much-needed funding to animal shelters. In conclusion, get this game, play it, enjoy it, and remember to donate to your local shelters.
I’m just a tall bearded bald Scotsman who loves games of every type. I’m a voice actor as well and have been for a few years now. I have an odd sense of humour.
