NOT a Cat Simulator
Stray is a narrative-driven adventure game developed by BlueTwelve Studio, where players take on the role of a stray cat navigating a dense, cyberpunk-inspired city inhabited by humanoid robots.
When I first heard about Stray, I was intrigued simply by the idea of experiencing life as a cat. But once I played it, I realized it's far more than just a "cat simulator." It's an artfully crafted journey where lighting isn't merely aesthetic—it's central to storytelling, immersion, and emotional depth.
In a time when many games strive for photorealistic visuals powered by technologies like ray tracing, Stray distinguishes itself through a unique artistic vision. Its vibrant use of color creates a painterly aesthetic, making it immediately stand out. While most games avoid placing overly saturated colors side by side, Stray intentionally defies this norm, guiding players through carefully crafted scenes filled with vivid hues and intentional contrasts. This bold approach not only heightens visual impact but intuitively guides player progression.
Opening sequence in Stray (2022), captured on PS5.
1. Letting Light Do the Talking
One aspect I deeply admire about Stray is its reliance on environmental storytelling. While many games overload screens with UI elements, Stray communicates subtly yet powerfully through lighting alone.
Early in the game, for example, a transition from warm, natural lighting to cold, artificial neon instantly conveys a sense of loss and disorientation. Players instinctively feel they're in unfamiliar territory without a single word spoken.
2. A Cyberpunk World with a Purpose
Inspired by the infamous Kowloon Walled City, Stray’s cybercity is a claustrophobic yet artistically compelling environment that offers enormous creative opportunities for lighting. Unlike many cyberpunk games where neon lights serve primarily aesthetic purposes, Stray employs them narratively and emotionally. Robot-inhabited safe zones glow warmly with comforting oranges and reds, subtly reassuring players. In contrast, shadowy alleys, illuminated only by flickering lights, evoke feelings of unease and mystery.
Each location in the city has its own unique visual identity:
The slums are dominated by deep blues and greens, evoking loneliness and melancholy.
Safe zones glow with inviting warm hues, offering emotional respite.
Dark, abandoned alleys feature stark contrasts of neon highlights and deep shadows, making them feel ominous and dangerous.
This use of color psychology is subtle but effective. It doesn’t just make the world visually appealing—it makes it feel alive, responding to the player’s emotional state.
3. Guiding Players Through Light and Shadow
One aspect of Stray’s lighting that stood out to me was how organically it guides players through its environments. Instead of cluttering the screen with arrows, glowing markers, or explicit UI prompts, Stray effortlessly directs the player using carefully composed lighting cues.
For example, early in the game, lighting silently teaches players how to navigate:
Initial steps use strong contrasts—a bright foreground sharply transitions into darker trees’ shadow, naturally drawing the player forward.
Moving toward shadows, distant light sources gradually emerge, subtly encouraging continued exploration.
Architectural framing, such as silhouetted stairs or pipes, intuitively suggests the next step without explicit guidance.
Throughout the game, this thoughtful lighting language continues. Even in more open areas, distinct color-coding subtly helps players recognize where they’ve been and hints at where to head next. Important locations feature distinctive lighting hues, effortlessly memorable, reinforcing a UI-free navigation system.
The result is a beautifully intuitive player experience, elegantly guided by artistic lighting rather than intrusive UI elements.
4. Verticality and Depth in Lighting
Another aspect that particularly impressed me was Stray’s thoughtful use of verticality and depth. Designed for vertical exploration, the city invites players to climb rooftops and descend into shadowy alleys below—transitions that are powerfully enhanced through lighting.
Moving from the brightly lit rooftops down into street-level areas often involves passing through deep shadows, creating striking moments of contrast that emphasize the transition between spaces.
Silhouettes and dramatic backlighting are frequently employed to form cinematic compositions, highlighting the environment's verticality and guiding the player's gaze toward areas of interest.
Ambient fog and scattered, diffused lighting reinforce the sense of depth, enhancing the dramatic scale and spatial separation.
Even though the buildings in Stray aren't towering skyscrapers, the intentional lighting design visually separates the rooftops and streets, making them feel like two distinct worlds—one vividly illuminated by artificial neon colors, the other cloaked in mysterious shadow and intrigue.
5. Emotion Through Light
Stray’s lighting does far more than just guide the player—it profoundly shapes the emotional journey of the game.
Early in the story, when the cat finds itself lost and alone, the environment is bathed in cold, desaturated hues and heavy shadows, emphasizing feelings of vulnerability and isolation. Each shadowy corridor and muted palette reinforces the uncertainty and loneliness of the cat’s predicament.
As the cat begins forming bonds and connections with characters, warmer hues gradually emerge, subtly shifting the emotional tone from isolation to comfort and belonging. This progression of color is subtle yet deeply impactful, mirroring the cat’s emotional journey without saying a single word.
During tense chase sequences, dynamic lighting choices like flashing red emergency lights instantly amplify urgency and danger, making players feel a visceral sense of panic.
These intentional, emotionally-driven lighting choices don’t just make the game visually compelling—they resonate deeply, immersing you in the story in a way few games achieve.
6. Beyond Realism
While many contemporary games prioritize cutting-edge lighting technology like ray tracing, Stray proves that great lighting doesn’t rely on photorealism—it thrives on artistry, intention, and storytelling.
The game's exaggerated use of color lends it a painterly quality, distinguishing it visually from many modern titles. Typically, games avoid placing overly saturated colors directly beside each other within a single frame. However, Stray intentionally breaks this convention, carefully using narrow sightlines to guide players through vibrant scenes filled with striking contrasts—enhancing both visual impact and player direction.
In one memorable sequence, the silhouettes of stairs and pipes emerge distinctly through intentional layers of dense smoke, naturally guiding players toward the intriguing space beyond. This thoughtful use of contrast subtly directs exploration without relying on excessive UI prompts.
Every lighting choice in Stray is made to reinforce gameplay and emotional resonance, not merely visual fidelity. For instance, ceiling lights carefully draw attention to important interactive elements, such as switches, while simultaneously illuminating nearby monster eggs—each egg emitting a faint red glow that intensifies ominously moments before hatching, heightening tension and emotional engagement.
As a lighting artist, I deeply appreciate Stray’s approach. It reminds me that lighting isn’t just about realism; it’s about telling a story, evoking emotions, and crafting immersive worlds that truly feel alive.
Final Thoughts
When I finished Stray, I didn’t just walk away thinking about the cat’s journey—I was left in awe of how well the game used lighting to shape its world and narrative. In an industry where many games chase technical realism, Stray stands out by using light creatively, expressively, and meaningfully.
It’s not just about making things look good. It’s about making things feel good.
And for that, Stray remains one of my favorite gaming experiences to this day.
If you haven’t played Stray yet, I highly recommend it—not just for the adorable cat moments but for the sheer brilliance of its lighting design. It’s a game that understands the power of light and shadow, and that alone makes it an unforgettable experience.
