My name is Polo. Not long ago, I was sleeping peacefully on a sofa, and now I live on a spaceship. Nobody asked me if I wanted to become an astronaut. Meow.

Well, I suppose there are worse things than having your own spaceship. Still, I'm trying to figure out why I'm here and what any of this has to do with me.

The ship is my starting point. From here, I can choose which planet to visit, prepare my next expedition, and discover new routes as I make progress.

Every planet is different, with its own dangers, challenges, and secrets. And when I return from an expedition, my ship is still there, waiting for me while I decide where to go next. Thank goodness, because after all that running, jumping, and fighting, a little break feels pretty good.

Zarina insists that every planet holds a piece of who I am, and that I have to visit them all to discover the truth about my past.

Honestly, I just wanted my sofa back. But I have to admit, I'm curious. Why was I abducted? What exactly am I looking for? And why does it feel like the entire universe knows something I've forgotten?

I guess I'll have to keep exploring to find out. Although, if I happen to find a comfy sofa along the way, I'm certainly not going to complain.

My adventure has already begun, and you can join me. The Cat-Astrophy demo is available for free on Steam, so climb aboard, explore two planets, and discover what it takes to survive in this strange universe.

And remember, the full adventure takes off on November 5. I have a feeling there are plenty of surprises waiting for me. Hopefully, a few naps too.

🚀 Play the demo for free on Steam

💬 One last question before takeoff: if you were on my ship, which planet would you jump to first? Tell us in the comments!

See you among the stars. And if anyone finds my sofa, let me know. 🐾

How is a video game actually made? Today, we are opening the Heraan Studios toolbox to show you what goes into developing Cat-Astrophy, from the artwork to the systems that make the game work.

Unity is the engine we use to build environments, integrate characters, and test gameplay mechanics. For programming, we use Visual Studio, where we develop everything from abilities and modules to enemy behaviour.

A mechanic might look great on paper, but playing the game is the only way to discover whether it really works and feels fun.

Cat-Astrophy's visual identity is created primarily in Aseprite, where we make the pixel art for Polo, the enemies, and the alien worlds. For larger illustrations and other graphical assets, we use Photoshop.

Every element needs personality, but it also needs to be recognisable during combat. Visual clarity is just as important as artistic style!

Cat-Astrophy is more than pixel art and code. Modules, abilities, the save system, procedural room generation, and enemy AI are organised into separate systems.

This allows us to test each mechanic, track down bugs, and add new features without unnecessarily changing other parts of the game. A solid technical foundation is essential for continuing to experiment with new abilities and combinations.

During development, trying new ideas also means making mistakes. That is why we use Git to manage project versions, record changes, and restore previous states whenever something does not work as expected.

This lets us experiment with greater confidence and keep improving the game without putting working features at unnecessary risk.

Choosing good software helps, but what matters most is how we use it. Cat-Astrophy is developed primarily by one person, so keeping the project organised and maintaining an efficient workflow is essential.

Ultimately, it is not about how many tools you use, but what you manage to create with them. We are continuing to improve this universe so Polo can embark on an adventure filled with dangers, secrets, and unexpected possibilities.

What tools do you use for your projects? Do you work with Unity, create pixel art, or prefer other software? We would also love to know which tools you cannot do without, whether you are already developing video games or just getting started.

💬 Tell us in the comments! We would love to hear about your experiences and exchange ideas with other developers.

🚀 Discover Cat-Astrophy on Steam