Sometimes there are just games that have an idea and stick with it, whether it happens to be a banger or not. Pipes is one of those fundamental puzzle games that most people have likely seen in one form or another over the years. Your job is to turn each pipe in a way that ensures the flow of water (or whatever else it is, depending on the variation) from the entry point to everywhere that needs it. 

So, what does Cat Pipes add to this? Cats, obviously, but thankfully I suppose another wrinkle where there are gaps between sections, though I can’t say this makes for much of a shake-up. What it does do well, I suppose, is get you up to speed with the way the basic game works and give you hints for a while to help you get your arms around the gaps and other concepts if they give you issues. It also has a pretty chill vibe overall, with pleasant backdrops and soothing music, but that only brings so much value.

In the end, it’s a variation on a classic and I suppose that’s fine. It’s hardly awe-inspiring, but it gets the job done, and fulfills its modest goals of modifying the traditional game in a new and novel way for a budget-friendly price. I can’t imagine loads of people will be interested, but if this sounds like your kind of jam more power to you and enjoy.