At the start of the year, a developer reached out to me with an intriguing premise for a game. It's a co-op exclusive game that has two players racing through linear, yet explorable lands. Working together to save cats, and then tossing them around like basketballs and dunking them into a goal. The idea sounded brilliant. After getting a chance to dive into a preview build of Whisk, I can say that it absolutely is.

It's somewhat cozy, with pastel colors plastered throughout its world. But at the same time, it's a game meant for speedrunners. Folks who want to try to beat their best times. Or try to survive if your partner in crime isn't as skilled in the realm of video games. Regardless of how you play it, Whisk is incredibly interesting, unique, and a game that has easily cemented itself into my "Most Anticipated" list.

A Goth, a Nerd, and a Dreamcat Walk Into a Bar (And Only Have 10 Seconds To Get Out)

Right out of the gate, you're going to notice that Whisk is an utterly gorgeous game. The pastel watercolors pop off the screen, and the levels have an excellent amount of visibility in them. Seeing as most games nowadays tend to load the screen up with as much unnecessary garbage as possible? It's refreshing to see a minimal HUD. This visual clarity is needed, as things can go from zero to 100 in Whisk incredibly fast.

Before I get into more details, let me tell you a bit about the game. As I mentioned above, it's exclusively co-op. You'll need to find another player to jump into the world with you. No matter if it's your significant other or your business partner, you won't be able to play unless you bring someone along for the ride. After that, though? It's a mad dash to the end of the stage, with each character having their own unique set of movement skills.

Would You Prefer Double Jump or Double Dash? Figure It Out Before You Start Playing

There are only two characters available to choose from in the world of Whisk: Foam or Luna. Each of these characters has its own specific movement tech, so consider that before you decide to go with Goth Girl or Dork Boy. Cater your choice to your particular platforming strength, and you'll be unstoppable. Or pick the weakest link in your arsenal and start striving to get better at it. Oh, you can also put your arms out to grab your partner, or pick them up and throw them across gaps (or into a cavern if they're starting to annoy you).

The first few stages were a helpful introduction. They showed Katie (my wife) and me the ropes and showed us what to expect. Then, we were dropped into the first real challenge of the game — saving our first Dreamcat. These adorable little critters are trapped inside celestial balls and can be healed with pets. How adorable! Just make sure you don't drop them if someone tosses one your way.

‘Whisk’ Demands Perfection (But Only if You Wanna Get the Highest Scores)

Whisk is a game that feels like poetry in motion, as long as both players are on the same wavelength. My wife and I are on two different levels of the spectrum when it comes to games. I love high-precision games that are ripe for speedrunning, like Super Meat Boy or Neon White. Katie, on the other hand, loves games like Disney Dreamlight Valley and Cult of the Lamb. Skills in games aside, we both had a blast playing Whisk, even if there were more Dreamcats lost to the void than we would have liked to see.

As with any of these particular types of co-op games, you'll need to have patience if you're playing with someone who hasn't tried something like this before. If you've played It Takes Two or Split/Fiction with a significant other, there's a good chance you already understand what I mean. But rather than feeling frustration at a missed jump or a Dreamcat that sails past my head because of an overthrown shot, we just had a ton of fun experimenting and exploring the world of Whisk.

Levels in ‘Whisk’ Are Rather Linear, With Only a Small Amount of Room for Exploration

Now, do you or your significant other suffer from what I like to call Golden Retriever Energy? That particular thing, when you see something off the beaten path, you need to go see what it is? Even if it means that you're going to get lost in the world around you for potentially hours? Whisk is the perfect counterpoint for GRE, as each stage is tight, compact, and all roads lead to roughly the same location.

After completing a level, we were warned that we hadn't found all of the Dreamcats within it. We were confused, as we had spent time hopping and bopping around the stage slowly so Katie could get her bearings. But after reloading back in, we discovered that there were an additional two cats that we needed to save. It makes each stage feel slightly larger and more exciting, keeping things linear while also rewarding those who want to explore.

Much Like ‘Neon White’, ‘Whisk’ Has a Soundtrack That Can’t Be Beat

While the look and vibe of Whisk may look cozy, the soundtrack is anything but. It's an intense, drum & bass-heavy piece of musical heaven. In fact, it reminds me a lot of the work that Machine Girl put in on Neon White — and that's an incredibly high compliment. Music can make or break a game, and I think that the "higher intensity" feel of the soundtrack works in Whisk's favor here. The development team at Double Dusk could have easily gone for something a bit more calming. But seeing as they want people to go fast, they need something to push them along the way.

I'm always one who is quick to dump praise on the soundtrack of a game, especially if it amplifies the game to new heights. For example, Promise Mascot Agency goes from an incredible game to my 2025 GOTY because of the soundtrack. It's chill enough to just hang out and absorb, but it gives those who are hoping to get through the stage as quickly as possible that extra boost of adrenaline that they need.

Give This Trailer a Watch and a Listen To See if It’s for You (I Genuinely Hope It Is!)

I'm not the type of person to sit there and glaze a game that I don't think has the juice. There are so many games for people to devote their time to, and many of them are being made by incredibly passionate solo developers. That's why I wanted to take some time to highlight Whisk, because I think this could be the perfect game for co-op-centric players to look into this year. There's an undeniable amount of juice seeping out of every corner of the game. It's a labor of love, and something that I already can't wait to sink my teeth into more.

Whisk is being developed by a team of three people. Three people. That's it. And it's already oozing this much quality. I can't wait to see what the final product has to offer. I'll be honest — my wife and I have a lot of work to get her ready for the launch of Whisk. We both loved what we played, and she wants to get better so we can get through stages even quicker. I think that's the perfect judge of quality right there. If someone who has never played a game like this before is interested in it, I think it has the potential to bring a much larger audience than they ever imagined.