Stars in the Trash has the same cozy style and setting as vintage animated films like One Hundred and One Dalmatians. The hand-drawn art is impressive enough to find the same timeless mood as classic Disney films, and the story reflects that too.

So, Stars in the Trash never feels like it’s baiting you with nostalgia or the animals. My fiancee and I are lifelong animal lovers, and have both a dog and cat, so I really appreciate how sincere this game is.

I completed Stars in the Trash in just an hour and a half, interacting with every single thing I could, because who doesn’t when they’re playing a cat? But despite the short gameplay, it’s also exactly as long as it needed to be. The pacing is on point, and again harkens back to classic animation, which was also neatly packaged.

I was delighted by all of the visual storytelling in Stars. Each stage is full of life, from bustling people to other animals. The game wisely lets you interact with everything you’d like to.

It also has a terrific sense of humor! I really enjoyed the playfulness, from the brilliant vacuum cleaner boss fight early in the game to hidden jokes like the market register.

This wholesome fun helps provide a balanced story. The characters and their actions are very expressive, creating tangible relationships and stakes you can connect with.

Even though the narrative can be sweet and cute, it doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Bear in mind that a realistic emotional spectrum was always an important ingredient in your favorite animated films.

At times, Stars looks squarely at loss, and there’s also an in-game memorial for real-life animals. I took the time to look at every single picture.

But Stars is a celebration of animals, and that always comes through. As Moka, you’ll be knocking things off edges (to check for gravity), scratching, opening doors, hanging from ledges and landing on your feet. Cats are already natural platforming heroes, and I love how Stars incorporates that into gameplay.

The puzzles and platforming are simple and probably won’t surprise you much. But they’re accessible, serve the story well, and there’s also a fun variety.

From dodging cars in fast-paced action to cautiously sneaking by the animal catcher, you can find every kind of platforming fun in Stars. The difficulty scales well towards a big finale, with a fantastic series of bell tower obstacles.

I do wish combat included health bars, at least on enemies. There were also some minor technical issues here and there, mostly with interactions. But these are infrequent, and resetting is forgiving in this game anyway.

Final Thoughts

Stars in the Trash is a swift, gorgeous platformer that understands what makes animals so special and classic animation so appealing. It’s proudly syrupy, and equally unafraid to deal with real stakes. The story does overshadow some familiar gameplay. But Stars in the Trash is a warm hug that delivers the heart, atmosphere, and narrative you hope it will.

Score: 8/10