When it comes to how gameplay and story can be mixed in various ways to create compelling experiences that can look very different, the Switch has a lot of options. Not all titles are first and foremost focused on the play experience, some have other qualities that make them unique in less common ways. One way this can happen is through telling stories that are more steeped in local folklore and culture, helping to open a window to people who are unfamiliar with different traditions and beliefs.

That seems to be one of the core areas of focus in Cat and Ghostly Road, a game that starts out simply enough, with an old artist rescuing a cat and having it live in his home. When one day the man becomes quite ill, it turns out that it was the work of an evil spirit, and that calls for this feline friend to step in and figure out how to save him. The journey will be a bit of an odd one, occupied with otherworldly entities and dangers, but with persistence you’ll save the day.

Whether you decide it’s ultimately for good or bad, there’s no question that there are some elements of play that take getting used to. In general the structure is similar to a classic adventure, but there’s a certain clunkiness to the interfaces and interactions that make it more of a struggle at times than is typical of the genre. Getting the hang of how and when to use your cat vision effectively can also sometimes be odd, though after some initial confusion I was able to come to understand how everything worked. Just in general terms the mechanics, how you interact with different things and entities, and just the general play end of the spectrum feels unpolished and in need of some more care and effort.

The result is a mixed bag, absolutely delivering a picture of a very different culture and set of traditions, but also coming up short where the elements of play are concerned. If you’re the sort that is fascinated with the folklore of different peoples around the world, the warts may well be worth enduring to see this through. If you’re mostly in it for the gameplay though, there are absolutely better adventures out there in the eShop.