Pawbay - Review - Xbox
- XPN Network
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Pawbay drops you into a sun‑washed coastal town and immediately hands you the keys to chaos. You’re not saving the world, solving a mystery, or embarking on a grand quest, you’re a cat, and your job is to be a cat. That means climbing onto roofs you shouldn’t reach, knocking over objects that definitely weren’t meant to be knocked over, and slipping into shops to “rearrange” their merchandise with your paws.
The loop is basically:
Wander into a new area
Spot something tempting
Swipe, pounce, climb, or shove it
Watch the reaction
Move on to the next bit of trouble
It’s a toy box, not a mission structure.
The tone is playful rather than destructive. Think Untitled Goose Game, but softer around the edges and more exploratory. Every corner of the town is built to react to you in some small way as doors creak open, NPCs gasp or scold, objects wobble temptingly. The joy comes from discovering what the designers hid for you to prod.
Pawbay is essentially a sandbox of micro‑interactions. There’s no strict mission structure; instead, you’re encouraged to experiment and create your own little stories. Maybe you sneak into the bakery and swipe a pastry. Maybe you climb up to a balcony and sunbathe. Maybe you sprint through the market and watch the domino effect of startled townsfolk.
The game supports local 2‑player split‑screen, which is a brilliant touch. Two cats doubling the chaos turns the town into a slapstick playground. It’s the kind of co‑op where you don’t need to explain anything, just hand someone a controller and let instinct take over.
Movement is simple and responsive, with a nice sense of agility. You can pounce, swipe, climb, and sneak, and the animations sell the feline personality well. It’s not a precision platformer, but it doesn’t need to be.
The seaside town is the star. It’s cozy, colourful, and packed with little details that make it feel lived‑in. Rooftops are accessible, alleys hide secrets, and interiors are surprisingly interactive for a small indie title. The art direction leans warm and inviting, with a gentle soundtrack that keeps things mellow even when you’re being a tiny menace.
This is a game built for wandering. For poking. For seeing what’s around the next corner. It’s not trying to be big; it’s trying to be delightful. It’s full of:
Breakable stacks (crates, fruit, pottery)
NPC routines you can interrupt
Shops with items to swipe
Balconies and rooftops that act as mini-platforming routes
Hidden nooks with small surprises
Nothing is too precious as the game wants you to mess with it. There’s no punishment for chaos. NPCs might gasp, scold, or chase you a few steps, but it’s all comedic, not stressful.
Optimised for Series X|S with 4K support and Smart Delivery, Pawbay runs smoothly and loads quickly. It’s not a technical showcase, but it’s clean, stable, and pleasant to look at. The Play Anywhere support is a nice bonus if you bounce between console and PC.
Pros
Charming seaside town full of interactive nooks
Great cat animations and personality
Relaxing, low-stress sandbox play
Fun local co-op that doubles the chaos
Lovely atmosphere and warm art direction
Cons
Very light on structure—some players may want more goals
Interactions can feel repetitive after a while
Not much challenge or progression
A short experience if you mainline the “content” instead of exploring
A sweet, playful sandbox that nails the joy of being a mischievous cat. It’s simple, but it’s charming enough that you’ll happily spend a few hours turning Pawbay upside down.
XPN Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (SILVER)
Pawbay is available now!
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