This Desktop Cat Game Brightens My Mondays

You might assume that starting your day with a demo of Bongo Cat wouldn’t feel like the full gaming experience, but you’d be mistaken. This little gem gives the impression of a complete game. The premise is delightfully straightforward: a cute cat takes up residence on your desktop, and as you type and navigate, you collect points for every key you press.

Aside from the feline charm, there’s more to keep you engaged. The cat’s paws move adorably with each keystroke, and there’s a reward system — every half hour, you earn a new hat. My collection already includes a cowboy hat, a beer stein, a ball cap, a party hat, and a backdrop of cascading flowers. Collect 10 hats of the same rank, and you can trade them in for a superior headpiece.

With Marcel Zurawka at the helm and Irox Games publishing, Bongo Cat is set to expand even further upon its full release, though it already feels rich in content. The patch notes mention the availability of cat skins, although I haven’t stumbled across them yet. What’s more, the full version promises to introduce trading and selling of cosmetics — an essential feature in the realm of engaging clicker games.

I’m looking forward to customizing my cat’s appearance, perhaps choosing its coat color, or adding props like a tiny mechanical keyboard or a miniature coffee cup. However, even if these features don’t catch your interest to return to the game after its full release, Bongo Cat, as it stands now, offers a delightful experience.

Currently, you can dive into the Bongo Cat demo as part of Steam Next Fest. The complete version is anticipated to launch in March 2025 for Windows PC.