Mewgenics: Edmund McMillen's Latest Cat-astrophe or a Roguelite Renaissance of Gross-Out Genius?
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
Edmund McMillen's latest, *Mewgenics*, throws roguelite conventions out the window with its unique cat-breeding, character-retirement system and signature gross-out humor, promising endless variety and chaotic fun. While brilliantly inventive, its brutal RNG can lead to frustrating runs where bad luck feels less like a challenge and more like a punishment, leaving players cautiously optimistic yet frequently exasperated.
Right, buckle up, mates, because Edmund McMillen, the mad wizard behind *The Binding of Isaac* and *Super Meat Boy*, has conjured up something truly... peculiar. It’s called *Mewgenics*, and after digging into the early impressions, let me tell you, it’s wilder than a cat high on catnip after accidentally blowing a hole through reality. Apparently, it’s a roguelite that looks at the genre’s sacred cows – like, say, character progression – and gives 'em a good swift kick right in the... well, let's just say it involves a lot of toilet humour.
Most roguelites, bless their little pixelated hearts, thrive on that steady climb. You master your *Slay the Spire* deck, fine-tune your *Balatro* Jokers, or get comfy with your preferred build in *Darkest Dungeon*. Progress is gained as much from incremental additions to your arsenal as it is from your burgeoning skill. You get better, your character gets stronger, you delve deeper. It's a comforting, addictive rhythm.
But *Mewgenics* rocks up, looks at that familiar, beloved format, and essentially says, 'Nah, mate. Bin it.' This game isn't just resetting your run; it’s retiring your entire crew of battle-hardened felines. Yep, you heard that right. After a successful (or even partially successful) run with your four-cat squad, they’re gone. Poof! All that synergy you just figured out, that particular one-two combo you found to be devastatingly effective? Back to square one with a fresh batch of kitties.
It sounds brutal, doesn't it? Like casting a spell and accidentally turning your entire party into newts. But here’s the kicker, the bit where the magic really gets messy: genetics! Your retired vets (they *hate* that term, apparently, which is just brilliant) get to breed. And if you’ve got enough grub to feed your growing feline population, you can churn out new generations of combat-ready cats, hopefully inheriting some killer traits. Or, well, some pacifist traits, which, as our source John Walker over at Kotaku points out, is a bit of a problem when you're trying to, y'know, *kill* things.
So, the core loop is this: you pick four cats, assign them classes like Mage or Thief using special collars, then send them off into an increasingly dangerous series of maps filled with turn-based grid battles, mysterious situations, and boss fights. Win enough, and you return home to breed. Cats no longer useful? They're 'given away' via sewer pipes to 'unsavoury types' who bestow useful advantages. We're not going to ask what these types want the cats for, are we? Some things are best left to the imagination of a mad wizard.
This constantly fresh approach means every run genuinely feels unique. New mini-bosses, enemy types, events, spells, and skills. Oh, and get this: new songs! Because it’s kinda a musical too. It's a colossal amount of work packed into a game, making each session feel genuinely varied and full of surprises. That’s the kind of experimental design that just makes my digital heart sing.
Now, let's talk about the sheer, unadulterated *grossness*. McMillen's signature toilet humour is back in full force, mate. We're talking incessant poop and pee gags, splendidly unpleasant depictions of cats rutting, giving birth, and even eating one another – all set to a musical score, because why the bloody hell not? There are scenarios where your cats can eat human fetuses, spiders that crawl inside enemies and eat them from the inside out. It's gloriously, unapologetically childish. Though, apparently, it's 'practically a work of maturity' compared to *The Binding of Isaac*'s sensibilities. Tyler Glaiel, his collaborator, must be a good influence, then. I'm genuinely curious how the traditional audience for a game like *Monster Train* or *Into the Breach* will react to the glorious crassness.
Here’s where my gentle skepticism really kicks in, though. While I’m all for a challenge, mate, John’s impressions hit a nerve when talking about the game’s potentially brutal RNG. Picture this: you're in a sandstorm, your cats are barely clinging to life, and every round they take damage. You revive one, it's on 1HP, immediately takes damage again. It's an infuriating, persistent cycle that just *ruins* a run. Add to that mini-bosses dodging 50% of the time, or attacks that are *supposed* to hit 30% of the time but seem to hit once every 590 billion attempts... and suddenly, you're not playing a challenging roguelite; you're just a helpless victim of a digital dice roll. That's where the enthusiasm starts to wane, doesn't it? When the chaos feels less 'optimistic' and more 'punitive,' leaving you feeling completely helpless.
John recounted a dire situation: low on food, cats refusing to breed for three nights straight, forcing him to take a team of 'random strays.' That kind of string of bad luck isn't just a bump in the road; it feels like the game itself is flipping you the bird. While the game's depth and difficulty will undoubtedly hook many, those moments of extreme frustration might just be enough to make some players rage quit. It pushes the boundaries of 'challenging' into 'unfair,' which is a fine line to walk, even for a wizard like McMillen.
And just a quick side thought: it feels like a mighty odd choice to limit this to PC on release. With its turn-based grid battles and pick-up-and-play potential for single runs, it feels tailor-made for tablets or handhelds like the Steam Deck (though the reviewer notes it's not quite the same as a Pixel tablet). It makes me wonder if a mobile version is brewing in the cauldron for later.
So, *Mewgenics* is a proper mixed bag, then. It's innovative, bursting with variety, and shamelessly, brilliantly gross. It dares to dismantle roguelite conventions and rebuild them with cat genetics and a whole heap of toilet humour. But that delightful chaos can spiral into pure, unadulterated frustration thanks to some truly brutal RNG. It won't be for everyone, that's for sure. But if you're the kind of gamer who thrives on the unexpected, who laughs in the face of impossible odds (and probably a few literal cat poops), and doesn't mind a bit of digital depravity, then this might just be your next obsession. Just be prepared for moments where you'll want to launch your monitor out the window, and others where you'll be singing along to 'Cannibal Kitty.' Because that's the magic of McMillen, isn't it? He gives you the infinite possibilities, and then reminds you that sometimes, those possibilities involve a lot of virtual cat poop. This adventurous dive into *Mewgenics* was sparked by the insightful impressions from John Walker over at Kotaku. Give it a read if you want more of the nitty-gritty.
Tags: Roguelite, Indie Game, Edmund McMillen, Cats, RNG
Original article: kotaku