Mewgenics

“While not a true successor, Mewgenics carries The Binding of Isaac’s roguelike spirit through its sharp cat-based tactics, dense content, and clear devotion to McMillen’s ideal vision. It’s pricey, brutally slow, and unapologetically harsh, but its addictive music, bizarre systems, and deep strategy make it hard to put down. Not quite purrfect, but very close.”

“Like a sharp set of kitty claws, Mewgenics perfectly scratches the itch of ‘just one more round’ with an intriguing level of strategic depth, but one that never feels overwhelming. The randomised nature of things means it’s the kind of experience that always stays fresh, and yet at the same time is super easy to pick up and play, before realising several hours have passed. Add to that a killer art style that pays homage to McMillen’s previous entries, but has its own unique flavour thanks to the collection of cats, and a kick-ass soundtrack that makes those brutal boss battles worth playing again and again for the battle theme alone, and it is far from an outrageous bet to expect Mewgenics to sweep up a raft of awards and plaudits over the coming year and beyond.”

“Mewgenics is for people who like systems rubbing against each other until sparks fly, who enjoy tactics that reward lateral thinking, and who can stomach a lot of bodily humor.”

“Mewgenics is a ridiculously fun strategy game that everyone who likes McMillen and Glaiel, strategy game fans, and cat-fight fans should play the same way. It celebrates self-made stuff, teaches emergent gameplay, and most importantly, combines chaos, humor, and strategy in the worst way.”

“A grotesquely brilliant odyssey of feline eugenics, Mewgenics pairs deep DNA-driven mechanics with biting wit. While the cluttered UI is messier than an untended litter box and the difficulty spikes can be punishing, its addictive tactical loop proves that McMillen’s brand of body horror still has nine lives.”

“You know how sometimes you see stray cats with their noses and mouths all crusted over with snot? If you’re the kind of person who can’t handle looking at cats like that, STAY AWAY from this game. But if you’re the type who goes “ugh, fine, I’ll grab a pack of tissues and deal with it” and you also like turn-based strategy… then hey, come help me catch those stray cats once in a while. Doing it alone is rough.”

“Mewgenics turns failure into evolution, blending brutal tactics with dark humor to create one of the most rewarding roguelikes you can lose yourself in.”

“Mewgenics has so much that its sluggish meta-progression feels designed to get you to see as much of it as possible, albeit at the cost of satisfying pacing. Even when you’re technically earning something new on each new run, the goal remains nowhere in sight.”

“Mewgenics offers more depth and ingenuity than any strategy game I've played in years. It is also terminally unfunny, with an aesthetic, theme, and cast of characters that consistently miss the mark. If you can square yourself with the humor, there is a genuinely great game waiting here.”

“Mewgenics may as well be Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel's magnum opus. It's an insanely deep, tactical strategy game with addicting breeding mechanics, and a mind-boggling amount of roguelite-variety and content to play. I'm over 100 hours in, and I still can't get enough.”

“Mewgenics is a real-time strategy game with RPG elements that has players assume the role of an unnamed lab assistant to an eccentric mad scientist, tasked with procuring cats for all manner of weird shenanigans.”

“Mewgenics is satisfying, and I think the development team isn’t exaggerating when they say the campaign can last over 200 hours. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.”

“Mewgenics is a game that embraces chaos, randomness, and failure as central elements of its experience. It rewards players not for perfect optimization, but for skillfully managing uncertainty. Its grotesque aesthetic and challenging mechanics reflect the vision of its creator: the notion that absolute control is an illusion. Therefore, the game does not aim to be universally appealing or friendly; instead, it embodies a design philosophy that acknowledges losing as progress.”

“All in all, [Mewgenics is] as fun as a bag full of, well, cats. And about as purrfect as you can get with a mish-mash of strategy RPGs, roguelites, and breeding simulation that goes together like cat treats and cat nip.”

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“"The gross-out humor and whacky build interactions that have been a key part of McMillen's work for decades don't distract"”

“"Mewgenics is a superb turn-based spiritual successor to The Binding of Issac, offering Ed McMillen's signature brand of crude chaos and roguelike excellence. Combat, presentation, and kitty gene splicing all come together to create one of the most engaging and addictive gameplay loops in recent memory. We do wish there was more control over breeding, and the game perhaps lacks the same punchy narrative undercurrent as Issac. But overall, this is a triumph, and could just be the sleeper indie hit of the year."”

“A sprawling, ridiculous, and endlessly surprising roguelike that will drag you body and soul into its chaotic world.”

“Mewgenics is a fantastic tactical RPG that's good for more than a hundred hours of roguelike runs. Just when you think you have it figured out it'll throw something completely unexpected and hilariously gross at you – and probably a catchy new original song, too.”