I don’t think a game has ever genuinely surprised me as much as “Season 1” of A Rat’s Quest. Booting it up and running through the first hour, I’ll admit: I had my doubts. A Rat’s Quest reminds me of platformers from the early PS3 days, and I say that in the most flattering way possible. I didn’t expect to love these goofy-ass rats and be fully invested in the narrative. And yet, I found myself–

Becoming A Filthy Rat Bastard

A Rat’s Quest starts with a “*Record Scratch* Yeeeaaah, that’s me. I bet you’re wondering how I got here. Well, it all started when–” in media res scene. Mat, our humble, furry protagonist, recounts the story of how he ended up “Outside,” far away from his home: the Commune. You’re then given control while Mat narrates, sprinting through tunnels to avoid guards. Arrows narrowly miss their mark as Mat leaves everything he’s ever known. Afterwards? Tragedy strikes.

And we cut to the beginning of the tale. Mat’s preparing for the Scavenger Trials, where he has to prove his acrobatic prowess to explore the home of “The Giants” and procure food for the Commune. Which is really just an excuse to see his ladyfriend, Nat. (Yes, A Rat’s Quest loves its wordplay and puns. Not even mad!) The narrative continues from there, and admittedly? By the end of my playthrough, I wanted to hop straight back in to see where Mat’s journey took him!

Cards on the table, I want to quickly go over the negatives before I continue singing A Rat’s Quest‘s praises. The platforming is solid overall, but there were a few questionable input moments where a button didn’t register, sending Mat falling to his (sometimes) death. The visual fidelity may also be off-putting for folks who care about their graphics. I don’t mind the PS3-ness, but I have to warn the snobs out there! And the jank. Delightful jank, to be clear, but there are some jittering character models and animations. But even with its minor flaws? A Rat’s Quest has two little things that make it well worth its $20 asking price: ambition and heart.

‘A Rat’s Quest’ Is Proof Looks Can Be Deceiving

The game’s pacing is pitch-perfect – both narratively and mechanically. The characters are distinctive with their own wants and goals, and I found myself eagerly watching their stories play out. The dialogue is cheesy (heh) as hell, but it’s sincere. I believed the dynamics between characters, and they grow and change organically as the plot unravels. No, I’m not kidding. The rat game has a healthy amount of intrigue!

As for the platforming and mechanics? A Rat’s Quest does things as they should be: all meat, no fat. No thousands of meaningless collectibles (though I love them in some games). Butterflies are sprinkled throughout, and if you want to challenge yourself and grab them, you can.

On top of the 3D platforming areas — which are fun to navigate as you solve small platforming “puzzles” like, “How do I get on top of that table to get the duct tape?” — 2D sections appear to spice up the gameplay! When you think A Rat’s Quest will zig, it zags. I will not ruin the game’s surprises. I’ll say this, though: the game introduces a few new twists toward the end of the season, and I’m so, so excited to see how Season 2 fleshes them out.

Life Is A Maze, I’m The Rat, And Season 2 Is The Cheese

I could easily make the argument that A Rat’s Quest has some light, wholesome Pixar vibes for a good while. …Until it doesn’t. The story goes to some unexpected places, and I love a game that takes risks and isn’t afraid to get weird. I’ll come right out and say it: I’m ready for the second season. This first outing gave me heartfelt characters, solid platforming goodness, and gameplay variations that kept me entertained all the way through. Don’t sleep on these rats, y’all. That wouldn’t be gouda for ya!