One of May’s unexpected gaming successes has been Little Kitty, Big City. Released on May 9, this heartwarming adventure game about a cat trying to find its way home sold over 100,000 units within the first 48 hours and attracted million plays on Game Pass. It continues to hold a strong position among the top five downloadable titles on the Nintendo eShop. Here’s what was revealed during the interview with GamesIndustry.biz.
The game’s developer, Double Dagger Studio, is led by Matt T. Wood, a former Valve veteran. Wood’s extensive experience includes working on iconic titles like Half-Life 2 and Left 4 Dead. However, he left Valve to form his own company, seeking new challenges and creative freedom. This move also allowed him to spend more time with his children, who inspired Little Kitty, Big City.
The game’s concept originated from Wood’s interactions with his kids. “I made a quick prototype, put a video online, and it kind of blew up,” he recalls. The enthusiastic response encouraged him to develop the idea further. Initially, the game had survival elements, but Wood quickly realized that players preferred a stress-free, joyful experience. “When people want to play or connect with a cat, the last thing they want is to see it struggle or get hurt,” he explains.
Wood focused on creating an immersive and enjoyable player experience. He aimed to capture the essence of being a cat—exploring, causing mischief, and connecting with people. The game allows players to casually explore the city, interact with quirky characters, and engage in typical cat behaviors like nuzzling legs, knocking over plants, and finding sunny spots for naps.
A key element of the game’s charm is its realistic cat animations, thanks to animator Micah Breitweiser. Wood emphasizes the importance of fluid and natural movements to enhance the player’s connection with the virtual cat. “We invested in dynamic spine animation to make the movements feel more natural,” he says.
Little Kitty, Big City has been embraced by players of all ages, particularly families. Parents appreciate the game’s wholesome nature and the absence of distressing content. The game’s success on Game Pass also surprised Wood. “I assumed it would fly under the radar, but we received positive feedback from players who typically enjoy different genres,” he notes.
With the rise of “cat simulator” games like Stray and the upcoming Copycat, Wood believes the challenge will be to make future games unique. “There’s a lot of potential in making games that you actually play as a cat and not just a platformer with a cat character,” Wood concluded.
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