The WhatsNext verdict
The Cat and the Coup is a memorable art-game landmark for players drawn to experimental storytelling, political history, and striking visual worlds. Play it for the perspective and atmosphere, not for substantial puzzles or longevity.
What it does best
A Persian miniature collage you recognize instantly
History told through a cat’s strange, powerless perspective
A bold documentary game that turns politics into play
What might put you off
Extremely short and mechanically slight
Symbolic and politically partial
The setup
What you are walking into
The Cat and the Coup is a documentary game in which you play the cat of Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran. During the summer of 1953, the CIA engineered a coup to bring about his downfall. As a player, you coax Mossadegh back through significant events of his life by knocking objects off of shelves, scattering his papers, jumping on his lap and scratching him.
Where it lives
Genre
Vibe
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