Stars in the Trash | PC Review

December 6, 2024 Alyssa White

Are you a fan of platformers and an animal lover (particularly of cats)? Then do I have the game for you! Valhalla Cats have lovingly created and released their title Stars in the Trash, and it’s evident how much creativity and affection were poured into it. This is a must-play, and I won’t forget my time spent with this game.

Feline Fine

You play as a house cat who is eager to escape the confines of their sanctuary and explore the great outdoors. After a few botched attempts, you finally make it outside. It’s so open and delightful! Except for the dastardly dogcatcher that chases you and weird, boxing rats eager to beat you to a pulp. They just have to rain on your glorious expedition.

Stars in the Trash is a side-scrolling platformer, but it’s a very forgiving entry in the genre. As someone who is admittedly terrible at platforming, I found the difficulty to be perfect. It’s easy to navigate and even if you do accidentally fall off, checkpoints are plentiful and return you to pretty much where you left off. If you’re an avid fan of the genre, though, you may find it too easy for your tastes.

It also features some gentle environmental puzzles and a few beat-em-up sections. These made for a refreshing break from the platforming and helped flesh out the story the devs crafted. Also on your journey, there are moments that make your inner feline come out. I knocked over so many flowerpots, scratched up cardboard, ate grass, took catnaps on rugs, and rubbed against the legs of both humans and animals. I was truly living the dream.

Check Meowt

Stars in the Trash is an absolutely gorgeous game to look at. It’s styled after classic animation reminiscent of old Saturday morning cartoons, and it’s a delight. Everything is crafted with the utmost care and love, and the smallest of details pop. I was highly impressed with the sound design and smooth performance as well. I only had one instance where the game froze when I was mid-jump, but I didn’t lose any progress after rebooting the game.

The Final Scratch

Stars in the Trash is a delightful, short and sweet platformer. It took me about an hour and a half to complete the game, and it felt like the perfect length. It doesn’t overstay its welcome and imprints itself on your mind. The platforming is admittedly very easy, as are the puzzles, but I found the difficulty to be just right for my skill set. The Saturday morning cartoon inspired graphics are gorgeous, and the game runs smoothly on Steam Deck.

I do need to insert a small disclaimer before I wrap things up, though: my cat is featured in the game. There is a memorial mural featuring animals who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and my beloved Sookie is on the wall. This made me both smile and tear up, but it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of my experience. It was just a sweet touch that added to the game for me. I’d be remiss not to mention that fact. I still wholeheartedly recommend you snap Stars in the Trash up if you’re looking for an impactful, brief experience that will tug on your heartstrings and make you chuckle at the same time.

To hear me talk more about Stars in the Trash, be sure to listen to the December 12, 2024 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast.

This review is based on a Steam copy of Stars in the Trash provided by Valhalla Cats for coverage purposes. As of the time of this writing, it is exclusive to this platform.