FromSoftware’s Elden Ring seemed set to win Game of the Year, until the recent release of the small indie game about a cat called Stray.
Elden Ring took the world by storm bringing in old and new Soulsborne players, and yet the game’s biggest competition for the game of the year is stray, a small game featuring a cat. Both games have been immensely popular for different reasons since their release. However, it is fascinating that these two games are the most popular this year.
Elden Ring is an RPG giant focused on boss fights and exploration; it is the Soulsborne game many fans have been dying for. Meanwhile, stray is a short game about a cat in an underground world made by a small indie game company. And straywith the cute cat exploring a cyberpunk city, has captured the hearts of many players in a way that Elden Ring was unable to. Both are good games, but good in different ways, which explains their popularity.
Many players have a love for games developed by small indie companies, and stray is one such game. There is a love and artistry in these smaller games that are often absent in AAA games developed by larger companies. Elden Ring is a masterpiece that has rewritten what it means for open-world games. strayhowever, is a reminder to large companies that a small game about a cat may be enough to take the game of the year.
Stray’s Heartfelt Story And Adorable Protagonist
Elden Ring and stray both have gorgeous visuals and engaging gameplay, but for a reason so many players love stray is because of the heartfelt story. Elden Ring has a story with lots of spoilers, but in the usual Soulsborne fashion, the story is often difficult to understand and may require players to search for items. stray‘s story, however, is linear; it has a beginning and end that plays can follow. While there are dark moments in Stray, there is an underlying message of hope that many payers have latched onto.
Another reason for stray‘s incredible popularity is the feline protagonist. Players control a cute cat and indulge in various feline activities in the game, such as meowing and scratching various objects. Despite the occasional moments of chaos that the cat brings, the creature is a driving force of good, eager to help his robot allies escape the underground city.
Despite stray‘s current popularity, it does seem unlikely that it will stay popular since the game is shorter than Elden Ring. And the moment there are believable leaks for an Elden Ring DLC, stray will likely be pushed to the side. But stray may win the game of the year, and players who support smaller game companies may be hoping this will happen.
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