Guess I’m trying out bingo.
Row 2 – Play.
Usually when I relate to a fictional character it’s because of something unpleasant. Like that shitty thing that happened to them also happened to me.
But with Cat + Gamer I now have a character I can say I’m like without making awkward ice breaker questions even more awkward.
Cat + Gamer is a manga series by Wataru Nadatani. Seven volumes have been released in English; the eighth and final translated volume is expected later this summer. (Although it may be out by the time I post this.)
The series is about Riko Kosakura, a late 20s office worker who plays a lot of video games. One day she gets a kitten and she gamifies the hell out of being a cat owner. Eventually, a second cat joins the party.
From Riko’s perspective, the cats level up as they age. Fleas affect their stats. They have special cuteness moves. Standard RPG stuff if you’re familiar. Then there’s the non-gamified aspects – the cats block her view of the game, the cats block her access to the controllers, the cats play their own video games. They get zoomies.
And that’s about it. There are a few other characters – some coworkers, the lady at the pet supply store. A sister shows up once or twice. There’s a viral twitter-ish plot at some point. But really, it’s just a gamer with a cat. And then another cat.
As a bespectacled brunette with cats who fits in some games during the telework day, I can say the series is an absolutely accurate portrayal of the lifestyle.