As a Cat Lover, I Can’t Decide If Mewgenics Should Offend Me or Not

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2026 is already shaping up to be an amazing year for games! We’re getting a new Resident Evil title, Grasshopper Manufacture has released a brand new game called Romeo Is a Dead Man after a long time, and Cairn is The Game Bakers’ best work yet. However, surprisingly, the game I’ve been most hooked on this year is Mewgenics, and I’m still trying to process that.

I’m a big fan of the game The Binding of Isaac, so I was surprised to only recently discover Mewgenics, another game made by one of its creators, Edmund McMillen. It turns out McMillen and Tyler Gladiel have been working on Mewgenics since 2012 – that’s over a decade! And all that work really shows. While the game looks a bit simple, it’s surprisingly complex and huge, and I’m worried I won’t be able to stop playing long enough to get anything done. It’s been as addictive as Balatro, but Mewgenics is much more intense, graphic, and violent – it even gets close to feeling like virtual animal cruelty. I wouldn’t be surprised if PETA released a statement about it.

Not Sure If You’re ‘Allowed’ to Like Mewgenics? Same Here

I’ve always loved animals and been captivated by them. I’ve had many different pets throughout my life – birds, hamsters, even snakes and axolotls – but my strongest connections have always been with dogs and cats. This makes sense, as these animals have lived closely with humans for thousands of years, developing a special relationship with us. We often see them as being similar to people, and they’re deeply woven into our culture and history.

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Because people often care for pets, we naturally become protective of them. That’s why a game like Mewgenics might bother some players. While we know the cats in the game aren’t real, seeing them bred, injured, and even killed is unsettling. For many of us, cats represent comfort and companionship. As my own cat purrs on my lap, imagining him in a *Mewgenicsstyle battle is upsetting, even though I’m sure he’d be a fierce competitor!

Despite its silly and over-the-top humor, Mewgenics portrays cat life in a disturbing and harsh way. Initially, I felt uneasy watching my virtual cats get hurt – burned, stabbed, or injured. However, looking at my own elderly cat, who has a few battle scars from her years, made me reconsider how I was viewing the game.

It Might Not Always Be Pretty, but Mewgenics Is One of the Most Respectful and Accurate Depictions of Cats I’ve Seen Yet

People often underestimate cats, but they’re surprisingly capable. For example, my cat Sedona would wander outside every day for years, returning only to eat, sleep, or get affection. We used to track her adventures by the sounds of her getting into scuffles with other cats – we’d sometimes find her with scratches or bites! Despite the risks, she continued this independent lifestyle until the other neighborhood cats realized she was the boss. When she moved in with me, she settled down and became more relaxed, like many older, retired cats.

I’ve always listened to the arguments about keeping cats indoors – they live longer, it’s safer, the usual. But my cat, Sedona, really wanted to be an outdoor cat, and she always found her way back. Even now, she’s old and a little rough around the edges, but she’s still the sweetest thing, and honestly, all those years roaming around didn’t seem to hurt her emotionally or mentally. I think we humans often assume we know best for our cats, that we’re making the right choices by keeping them confined. But it feels a bit arrogant, doesn’t it? Cats are natural predators, perfectly capable of looking after themselves. And that ridiculous, over-the-top documentary, Mewgenics, really captures that spirit – it’s a perfect example of how self-sufficient they truly are.

Let me be clear: I don’t think all cats should live outdoors. It really depends on the individual cat and where they live. A cat in the countryside will generally be safer and happier outdoors than a cat in a city.

Cats show affection, but they’re different from dogs. Dogs tend to stick close to their people, especially when they’re grown. Cats, on the other hand, have a strong urge to explore and aren’t afraid of a little danger. While the movie Mewgenics isn’t a realistic portrayal, it does capture the brave and independent spirit of cats. They’re lovable and need care, but they aren’t simply furry little humans. Cats are more like a skilled operative – not indestructible, but sneaky, clever, and capable in ways we don’t always understand.

Despite its wacky cartoon style, Mewgenics actually does a great job of portraying cats as they truly are. Unlike games like Stray which present a polished and idealized view, or Animal Crossing and A Night in the Woods which give animals human characteristics, Mewgenics captures the energy of cats – their wildness, playfulness, and surprising elegance – making it a surprisingly accurate and endearing representation of these animals.

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2026-02-18 21:04