Diamond Cat Studio develops ‘Ylem’s Cat’ action-adventure game

Diamond Cat Studio, a small six-person independent development team based in Guangzhou, is developing ‘Ylem’s Cat’, a single-player action-adventure game centered on the cooperation between a girl named Jasmine and her cat, Mio.

The game utilizes a ‘knowledge-unlock’ mechanic inspired by titles like ‘The Outer Wilds’, where players progress by acquiring information and insights rather than just increasing numerical stats. The gameplay is divided equally between combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving. Combat features a versatile system where the cat, Mio, can switch between three forms—large, medium, and small—to assist in battle, provide mobility, or solve environmental puzzles.

Developers aim for a 15 to 20-hour experience with a linear narrative. While the game features 3D action combat built on Unreal Engine, the team is focusing on optimizing performance to ensure accessibility for various hardware configurations. Future plans include customization options for the cat to allow players to recreate their own pets in-game.