Strayis a newly-released adventure-platformer cyberpunk game in which players control a stray cat in a futuristic city solely occupied by robots and giant flea-like creatures. After an emotional beginning, the lost kitty’s sole goal is to reunite with its family. With a dedicated meow button and wholesome interactions with NPCs,Strayhasmany hidden detailsfor eagle-eyed players to fall in love with.
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Easter eggs and hidden details are prominent features within exploration games likeStray. Having only been released on the 19th of July on Steam, PS4, and PS5, players are already unearthing Easter eggs and pop-culture references inStray’sexpansive neon-plastered environments.
11Always Watching
The cameras inStrayare constantly following the player’s feline friend, no matter where they go. There are audio cues that signal the cameras swiveling to re-focus on the cat’s movements.
Players meow at these cameras in outrage and will be greeted by these cameras responding and nodding back in understanding.
10Paper Bags
Littered among the garbage around the Slums are paper bags. Curious cats can press to interact, resulting in the bag getting stuck on their heads.
This results in discombobulated controls as the cat, naturally, cannot see where it is going. Doing this mindless act results in players earningthe achievement“Curiosity Killed The Cat.” Luckily, in this case, it’s just a bit of harmless fun.
9Curiosity Did Not Kill The Cat
While exploring, players will often get the option to interact with different objects in the cyberpunk landscapes. This can sometimes be useless, like allowing the cat to scratch their claws. However, it can also yieldhelpful shortcuts to minimize travel time, like ripping a curtain down to reveal a hidden window.
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In one case, the cat can eventry their paws at some DJing, scratching the discs, and creating some tunes.
8Cats Are Agents of Chaos
Environmental interactivity is one of the main selling points ofStray. Players can drink water, scratch their claws, and do other regular kitty-cat things like nuzzling NPCs.Very wholesome, but players can also be destructive.
Players can push over cans of paint and decorate the floors blue, smash pots, and even become a keyboard kitty-cat warrior and spam to their heart’s content.
7Vending Machines
Dotted around the Slums are several vending machines. Interacting with these machines grants playersa can of energy drink. Not for cat consumption, of course.
These are currency and can be sold to NPC-merchant Azooz in the Slums marketplace, in exchange for a piece of sheet music and a memory for B-12 to absorb.
6Valve Games
There are several references to games published by Valve, includingTeam Fortress 2andHalf-Life. For starters, each chapter has a similar naming convention toHalf-Life. The cities inStrayoften have their name, followed by a number, which is the same inHalf-Lifewith City 17.The Zurks,the giant flea-like enemies inStray, also appear to have visual similarities with Head Crabs fromHalf-Life.
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There also appears to be a mural forthe Medicin an abandoned flat, where one of the Outsider notebooks can be found to further progress with the game’s plot. A nice homage toTeam Fortress 2.
5Back To The Future - Doc
As players meet Doc in the Dead End chapter, they can immediately see how his character design is a slight nod to Doctor Emmet Power inBack To The Future. He has similar wild white hair and a long white lab coat.
The Doc inStrayeven has a couple of pieces of dialogue similar to famous lines inBack To The Future, like mentioning the Defluxer needs 1.12 gigawatts of power to function. This hints at the scene where Emmet Power discusses the Delorean time-traveling car and how much electricity it needed.
4The Simpsons - Dufer Bar
Inside the Slums is a pub called Dufer Bar, which is a subtle reference toThe Simpsons. Duff Beer is the most recognizable made-up beer brand from the long-running animated series.
Dufer Bar also has a similar layout to Moe’s Tavern,Homer’s favorite hangout spot in the series.
3Gravity Falls - Pawprint Journal
In Doc’s library/apartment in the Slums, there is a small reference to thepopular animated TV showGravity Falls.
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Players can navigate their way around the book-strewn apartment to discover a red leather-bound book embossed with a paw print. This is a nod to the journals from theGravity Falls, which typically had a hand print on the front cover.
2Stranger Things - Flickering Lights
This may be a slight leap, but the guiding lights inStraycould be a slight reference toStranger Things.In the Dead City chapter, players make their way toward B-12. If they get stuck, they can meow, and the lights will flash orange, guiding players to their next destination or objective.
This links to how Joyce, played by Winona Ryder, used Christmas lights to communicate withher son Will,who was trapped in the Upside Down.
