90
A gorgeous hybrid. It's a puzzle-solving platformer and sexually-forced anime that's been combined into a well balanced title. The game is going to please the fans as well as it will whet nosy parkers appetite for actually playing it. It shows the Japanese developers know how to appeal to European and American gamers without giving away the bizarre ideas trademark.
75
An interactive story enriched with puzzle elements or an arcade/puzzle game with an exceptionally mature and expanded plot – depends on how you look at Catherine. Either way it's both frustrating and fascinating. [April 2012, p.80]
70
One of the most obscure games we've ever seen. It's not a platformer and it's not an adventure game, but it combines elements of these two genres in a spectacular way. If it wasn't for the -sometimes- extreme difficulty and some poor design, Catherine would have been a must-have.
7
subpar gameplay and takes too long to get anywhere, along with annoying puzzle sections
9
Catherine es un juego que entiende de manera brillante cómo convertir la ansiedad, la culpa y la moral en mecánicas jugables. No es solo un rompecabezas: cada torre de bloques, cada caída y cada obstáculo refleja la presión psicológica del protagonista y las consecuencias de sus decisiones. La narrativa y el diseño se articulan en simbiosis: las conversaciones, los sueños y las pruebas del subconsciente se sienten como un sistema que involucra al jugador de manera directa, obligándolo a pensar, decidir y sufrir por sus errores. Visual y sonoramente, el juego es una delicia: el estilo anime funciona a favor del tono, y la música acompaña perfectamente la tensión. Es un título que demuestra que la interacción no necesita ser vasta ni abierta para ser profunda; basta con que cada decisión y cada movimiento tenga peso. Catherine no es un juego cómodo ni indulgente, pero sí un ejemplo de cómo la jugabilidad puede transmitir emociones complejas y dilemas humanos. Es un juego que además parece haber llegado a un público mayoritario; lo interesante aquí ha sido la sorpresa, ante la dificultad y la profundidad del título. Quizá eso sea justo donde está el acierto poético del título, detrás de toda diabla semidesnuda tenemos algo mucho más siniestro. El bubblegum psycho algún día será reconocido como el punk más salvaje que existe.
6
Atlus is most known for their SMT & Persona games so I saw this game and thought it looked interesting enough to warrant a playthrough. This game isn't easy. It starts off easy but you'll soon realize this ain't for the casual mainstream gamers like me. I had to look up walkthroughs toward the end. The puzzle game was most fun toward the middle when the difficulty was balanced and not ridiculous like towards the end. The story and plot are the best parts of this. It makes you question relationships and standardized beliefs on marriage. Overall, I feel the gameplay held this back as it gets repetitive and eventually too hard at the end plus the ending was rather meh. I'd recommend this to hardcore gamers only who want a challenge yet also enjoy a decent story.
Catherine
Released On:
Jul 26, 2011
Metascore
Generally Favorable
79
User score
Generally Favorable
8.2
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
79
75% Positive
46 Reviews
46 Reviews
23% Mixed
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
2% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Jul 19, 2011
100
In an era increasingly defined by developers' ever-growing fear of creating anything that isn't a safe, conservative million-seller, Atlus' willingness to create and publish something as unique as this is truly commendable. Best of all, it's not just a weird game -- it's a great one, too.
Feb 6, 2012
90
if you're a fan of the eccentricity of Japanese culture, like a mental challenge and reckon you have fingers dextrous enough to take the job on it will test your mettle and push your sanity to breaking point. It's equal parts frustration and exhilaration, completely intoxicating, almost impossible to walk away from and stays with you. If you're after something a little outside the box Catherine's the game for you.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.2
78% Positive
471 Ratings
471 Ratings
16% Mixed
94 Ratings
94 Ratings
6% Negative
38 Ratings
38 Ratings
Dec 13, 2024
10
un puzzle game incredibile con alla base un idea geniale, con una storia e un gameplay folli come i suoi ****. 9.7/10
Nov 26, 2023
10
Catherine is two separate games. One part visual novel and the other part puzzle game, both come together to form an amazing game with an intriguing if not silly story. The puzzles are always fair and require genuine thought behind them, but never feel too cutthroat. Nevertheless I was never bored once, probably one of the best Atlus games.
Aug 22, 2011
87
It might be an isolated experiment, or the birth of a new niche in videogaming. Anyway, it's definitely worth trying, at list to get a glimpse of the fact that videogame don't always mean seralization and infinite repetition of the same ideas.
Aug 2, 2011
85
Catherine is a mind trip, blending the impact of real life decisions, the nightmares of finally growing up, and the fear of dying young. While the core puzzle-platforming offers nerve-wracking excitement, players are likewise gifted with an engaging, authentic story.
Jul 25, 2011
80
Catherine is a breath of fresh air, an experience that is silly, fun, and serious all at once. Whether you're looking for a one-night stand or a long-term commitment, we highly recommend giving it a shot.
Feb 20, 2012
70
Catherine is a title recommended for mature players who want different experiences. It starts as a highly exciting game, but the way it is structured ends up reducing the interest as the game goes on.
Jul 28, 2011
40
Catherine's limited character interaction, shallow characters, and monotonous puzzles combine to form a unique experience that feels frustratingly limited in every respect.
Oct 7, 2022
10
I had a blast with this game. I did not expect the game to be what it is. I thought going into it based on the cover it was going to be a bit indecent but the story is deeper than that.
Apr 26, 2025
7
subpar gameplay and takes too long to get anywhere, along with annoying puzzle sections
Dec 12, 2020
7
The game is indeed unique and original, however, there's a big problem with the gameplay. You will either love it or hate it, but either way, it's just not rewarding enough and gets repetitive very soon. It's a 70/30 combination of Puzzle/Dating sim. However, they have really gone overboard with the difficulty of the puzzles, and the story is in the end not compelling enough. In some extent, it seems cheap actually. Also, the theme of the game is very sexual, but there isn't even a frame of nudity in the game so the whole thing seems missed and silly. I especially disliked the sounds/music while playing puzzles, it can be really obnoxious and there are no Sound options to turn it off so I had to often mute my TV. I've spent many hours on this game and Platinumed it, but in the end I think it's just too limited in its gameplay to deserve a higher score.
Jul 29, 2011
3
Just too much on the difficulty scale!!! The anime/choice sequences are the shining portion of this game. The action/puzzle portions are so difficult that they take away from the experience. Attempting to get to the next anime "daytime" requires you to spend all of your patience on a "nightmare", to the point of actually rejecting the game as a a whole. Don't get me wrong.. the game is beautiful during the non-action portions... but if you have to an action sequence 13 times, start over and try it 7 more times, and finally get to the next chapter just to see the good stuff... that I can't deal with. I have been playing video games since 1985 and I am opposed to ANY game that is this inaccessible. There was no sense of accomplishment due to the lack of any increase of ability of the characters. This could've been a great anime film if there was no game play at all.
