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Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows similar games & best alternatives

Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, Linux • 2016

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Quick resume

A minimalist 2D platformer about a liquid cat, locked in a world she doesn't quite understand, trying to get out.

Global score

93/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Platform

Similar games

    Pros

    • Affordable price with good content length
    • Unique and smooth platforming mechanics
    • Emotional and intriguing story
    • Responsive controls and polished gameplay
    • Calming music and atmosphere

    Cons

    • Some repetitive level design
    • Story can be vague or depressing
    • Lack of multiplayer or social features
    • No character customization or creation tools
    • Some difficulty spikes and minor bugs

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players control the cat's movement precisely with the mouse, requiring personal skill and decision making."

      Capsule for PUSS! PUSS!

      "Players control the cat's movement and transformation abilities freely to navigate levels, indicating high personal control."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "The game offers skill-based platforming challenges, especially in later levels and time trials, rewarding mastery and precision."

      Capsule for MARSUPILAMI - HOOBADVENTURE MARSUPILAMI - HOOBADVENTURE

      "The game offers skill-based platforming challenges with responsive controls and some difficult levels, rewarding mastery."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -4

      "Focus is on personal play and progression through levels with no mention of leaderboards or player-vs-player competition."

      Capsule for Toy Shire: Room One Toy Shire: Room One

      "Focus is on individual progression and story; no mention of leaderboards or player-vs-player competition."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      2

      "Some players report replaying levels and enjoying repeated attempts, though the game is short."

      Capsule for Spectraball Spectraball

      "Some players report replaying levels and enjoying the story, but the game is relatively short and some find it repetitive."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

      "Entirely a single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

      Capsule for Braid Braid

      "Entirely a single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      3

      "Players creatively use the mouse, teleportation, and environmental switches to solve puzzles; also includes a level editor for custom creations."

      Capsule for Escape Goat Escape Goat

      "Players use unique transformation mechanics creatively to solve puzzles, though no level editor or creation tools."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No elements of exerting power or superiority over others; gameplay is solitary and non-confrontational."

      Capsule for The Howler The Howler

      "No elements of exerting power over others; gameplay is solitary and non-confrontational."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Players describe emotional immersion and stress relief through the game's atmosphere and story."

      Capsule for One Dreamer: Prologue One Dreamer: Prologue

      "Many players mention emotional engagement and stress relief through the game's story and calming gameplay."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players buy and play out of personal interest and enjoyment, not obligation."

      Capsule for Sandboxels Sandboxels

      "Players buy and play voluntarily for enjoyment and personal interest, not out of obligation."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "The game encourages trying different strategies and approaches to puzzles and levels, though some repetition exists."

      Capsule for Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee

      "The game encourages trying different abilities and mechanics to navigate levels, though some repetition occurs."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      2

      "Players discover new levels and gravitational mechanics, though environments are abstract and minimal."

      Capsule for 0RBITALIS 0RBITALIS

      "Players explore new mechanics and level designs, but environments are abstract and minimalistic with limited discovery."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -3

      "No character customization or cosmetic modifications; presentation is standardized."

      Capsule for Arietta of Spirits Arietta of Spirits

      "No character customization or cosmetic modifications; presentation is standardized and minimalistic."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      4

      "The game features imaginative fiction with anthropomorphic cats, fantastical abilities, and surreal humor."

      Capsule for Mewgenics Mewgenics

      "The game features imaginative fiction with a cat transforming into liquid and gas, and a mysterious, existential story."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "No social or community features; gameplay is solitary."

      Capsule for Switchcars Switchcars

      "No social or community features; gameplay is solitary."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      3

      "Players develop platforming skills and learn to use new abilities progressively."

      Capsule for SHEEPO SHEEPO

      "Players develop platforming skills and learn to use new abilities as the game progresses."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Standard sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

      Capsule for UNCHARTED™: Legacy of Thieves Collection UNCHARTED™: Legacy of Thieves Collection

      "Standard sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention and precise control; not suited for passive or background play."

      Capsule for Arctic Eggs Arctic Eggs

      "Requires focused attention and precise control; not suited for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building with other players."

      Capsule for Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

      "No social or emotional relationship building with other players."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements; purely single-player."

      Capsule for Goetia Goetia

      "No leadership or group management elements; purely single-player."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      3

      "Players progress through levels and unlock achievements, though no complex item or upgrade systems."

      Capsule for Potatoman Seeks the Troof Potatoman Seeks the Troof

      "Players unlock new abilities and progress through levels, though no complex item or upgrade systems."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Calming music and simple gameplay provide a relaxing experience for many players."

      Capsule for aMAZE 2 aMAZE 2

      "Described as calming and meditative by players, with relaxing music and smooth controls."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Minimalist visuals and soothing music provide moderate sensory stimulation."

      Capsule for 6180 the moon 6180 the moon

      "Minimalistic visuals and soothing music provide moderate sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems present."

      Capsule for Crying Suns Crying Suns

      "No social recognition or status systems present."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      4

      "Narrative is a key element, with emotional and philosophical themes integrated into gameplay."

      Capsule for Sonder Sonder

      "Narrative is a significant part of the experience, with emotional and existential themes integrated into gameplay."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      2

      "Requires some planning and problem solving in platforming and combat, though mostly straightforward."

      Capsule for Escape the Game Escape the Game

      "Requires some problem solving and planning to use abilities effectively, but mostly straightforward platforming."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      1

      "Some challenge and tension in higher difficulties, but overall not highly suspenseful."

      Capsule for Last Hope - Tower Defense Last Hope - Tower Defense

      "Some challenge and tension in later levels, but overall a calm experience with limited suspense."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      5

      "Highly praised for excellent value given low price and amount of content."

      Capsule for Dead Pixels Dead Pixels

      "Highly praised for excellent value given low price and amount of content."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on navigation and puzzle solving."

      Capsule for Spectraball Spectraball

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on navigation and puzzle solving."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      1

      "Avoiding death and hazards is a core mechanic, but threats are predictable and manageable."

      Capsule for Toby: The Secret Mine Toby: The Secret Mine

      "Avoiding hazards and death is a core mechanic, but threat level is moderate and manageable."

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Survival, Value, Thrill.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 30/04/2026