
Stars In The Trash, developed by Valhalla Cats, is a beautiful hand-drawn video game. It was released at the start of December on Steam for £9.99. We did have early access to this game but we had to delay our review due to a little accessibility issue. There was a level in the game where the screen strobes in a big way, and with no warning message, I wasn’t willing to publish our review.
A couple of emails to the PR team and we got a message saying that the devs had pushed an update. They also thanked us for bringing it to their attention as it wasn’t something they had thought about. Now here we are at the end of January and the update has been out a little bit, so sit back and check out our epilepsy-friendly review for Stars In The Trash.
Instant Animated Classic
Invoking feelings of instant classic Disney nostalgia, Stars In The Trash offers an incredible experience. So let’s dive in and see just what this game is all about.

Gameplay
You play as Moka, a spoiled cat who just wants an adventure. Escaping the safety of their house, you head out into the world. With lots of dangers around every corner and eventually the Kennelman tries to capture you. You eventually learn how to survive and once you get home you appreciate what you have.
I found playing using a controller was the best way to move around in the game. With the controller in hand I took to the streets. Jumping and traversing areas to find secret areas. All the while doing what cats do best, causing trouble—knocking plant pots off ledges, scratching up cardboard. Even just lying down and resting. Typical cat stuff.
Throughout the story you will meet other cats and dogs, bringing an emotional story that left me enjoying every minute. Bear in mind that the game itself has between 2-3 hours of gameplay. Every second is enjoyable. One of my favourite parts is the tribute to all those members of the team who lost their beloved animals.

Graphics & Audio
Being a hand-drawn watercolour world appealed to my Disney love. With incredibly drawn areas and characters increasing the impressive story. With animation to match, Stars In The Trash constantly made me smile. From the moments when Moka meowed at doors or knocked off the flower pots. Each animation was clean and was in keeping with the visual style of the game.
The only little niggle is that if you have an ultrawide monitor then you are going to experience visuals like below. It doesn’t take anything from the game itself, but it’s just something to be aware of.
From an audio point of view, it was just like watching a movie. The Soundtrack built up when there were moments of high intensity. On the flip side, each emotive moment had a beautifully calming set of notes.

Longevity
Even though the game can be completed in around 3 hours, there is a lot of gameplay here. With 29 achievements to gather there is always something to do. I would recommend having a look through them to just see what you are expected to do whilst living the life of a cat.
Final Thoughts
Whilst it may have taken a little while and a couple of patches to get my review out. Stars In The Trash was always on my mind as a game I enjoyed. From the nostalgic graphics to the incredible animations, Valhalla Cats have hit the jackpot with this one. I just hope that they keep doing this sort of game and bring us more cats.
Stars In The Trash receives the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received to write this review.
YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Discord | Podcast