Jestercraft, the indie game studio led by veteran developer Klaus Kääriäinen, has released the demo of its latest creation, Cats with Standards. Available now on Steam, the game invites players into a psychological horror world where obedience is mandatory, and rebellion comes at a heavy cost. The demo offers a glimpse into a dark, surreal universe that explores themes of conformity, personal struggle, and the challenge of finding one’s own voice in a world that demands silent compliance.
Inspired by the developer’s own experiences with burnout, the game also reflects the crushing weight of modern life—where the relentless demands of work, performance-driven culture, and the need to meet ever-increasing expectations can lead to emotional collapse. Cats with Standards serves as both a haunting narrative and a deeply personal expression of mental exhaustion in a society that rarely allows room for vulnerability.
About the Game:
Cats with Standards is a story-driven, hidden-object psychological horror game that plunges players into a dystopian world dominated by cats that follow rules so twisted, they tear at the mind. In this eerie society, obedience is expected at all costs, and every choice you make determines your fate.
In a world where society dictates every action, even the smallest rebellion is met with grim consequences. Players will explore the environment, uncover hidden objects—such as bones—and gradually piece together the disturbing reality around them. The deeper you go, the more you’ll question your place in a world that seems bent on breaking you.
Key Features:
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Psychological Horror: A twisted, fur-filled world where humor and dread coexist, and nothing is as it seems. The original soundtrack heightens the unsettling atmosphere as players descend deeper into the abyss.
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Hidden Object Mechanics: Discover bones and other fragmented items that hold the key to unraveling the story, set against a backdrop of society’s darkest secrets.
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Branching Choices & Multiple Endings: Every decision matters. Choose carefully, as your choices will dictate the fate of your character, with multiple possible outcomes based on your actions.
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Visually Unique: A 100% hand-drawn art style, combined with a hauntingly original soundtrack created by the developer, brings this nightmarish world to life.
Developer’s Statement:
“Cats with Standards came from a deeply personal place,” said Klaus Kääriäinen, the solo developer behind Jestercraft. “I’ve spent much of my life trying to please others, constantly putting my own needs and limits aside. This game is a way for me to explore that experience in a way that resonates with my own struggles. Through the absurd and eerie world of cats that must obey at all costs, I wanted to express the sense of being trapped in an environment that demands conformity, even at the expense of your own well-being.”
After years of personal and professional burnout, Kääriäinen turned to game development as a form of self-expression. With Cats with Standards, he seeks to not only share his journey but also connect with others who have faced similar challenges of self-doubt, obligation, and the need to conform.
What’s Next:
The Cats with Standards demo is now available on Steam, offering players a sneak peek into this surreal world through three carefully crafted levels. The demo gives players a chance to explore the dark and thought-provoking nature of a society that relentlessly demands performance and obedience. It’s a chilling dive into today’s hyper-competitive, result-driven world, showing its crushing weight and, at the same time, the undeniable truth behind it.
About Jestercraft:
Jestercraft is a one-man indie game studio founded by Klaus Kääriäinen, a seasoned game developer with years of experience in the industry. After years of working in various game development roles, Kääriäinen launched Jestercraft to create deeply personal and thought-provoking games. Cats with Standards is the studio’s debut release, a passion project fueled by Kääriäinen’s own struggles with burnout, people-pleasing, and self-identity.