Though it has been a few months since its official release,Straycontinues to hold a special place in fans' hearts. Many already agree thatStraydeserves a sequel, though none are sure what shape this sequel would take. The game has potential with its unique gameplay and artistic directions, but it’s clear developer BlueTwelve Studio will need to go above and beyond for future games. As many speculate about what a hypotheticalStray 2could do to improve upon its predecessor, BlueTwelve Studio should look atUnravel Twofor inspiration.
Unravelshared similar beginnings as the debut game from Coldwood Interactive, and when it turned to develop its next title it faced similar challenges in how best to elevate a sequel. Expanding its scope and shifting to a co-op experience madeUnravel Twoits own game that stood out compared to its predecessor, andStraycould very easily do something similar for a potentialStray 2.
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Unravel Two and Co-Op Games
In recent years, co-op games have become increasingly prominent with the capability of both local and online co-op, as well as cross-platform functionality. Likely motivated by the pandemic causing people to be stuck at home, these games are a means for players to connect with others, fostered by games that necessitate two players. Games such asIt Takes TwoandA Way Outwere successful by making co-op a core focus of their gameplay experiences.
FollowingUnravelwithUnravel Twoshift to co-op gameplaywas a drastic change, but it seems to have worked in Coldwood Interactive’s favor. The reason behindUnravel Two’ssuccess in spite of this radical shift could be due toUnravel’sremaining prestige. Players already familiar withUnravelwould be more likely to take a chance onUnravel Tworegardless of the fact it was now co-op, and Coldwood Interactive’s forethought to make the game compatible with cross-platform play, assuaging players' concerns and strengthening its online functionality.Strayshould follow this example, with a second game taking advantage of the prestige it holds while creating a cross-platform co-op experience.
Why Stray 2 Should Be a Co-Op Experience
At the end ofStray, while players discoveredthe truth behind who B-12 isand where all the humans went, some of its original story threads were left hanging. For instance, the game’s main motivation was for the cat to make its way back to its family after falling into the city, but by the game’s conclusion no such reunion took place. This has left the door wide open for future titles to pick up whereStrayleft off, with a potential sequel following the cat’s efforts to rejoin its family - learning ‘sworld along the way.
One possible means of expandingStray’sgame design based on its ending would be for the cat to team up with another stray. While this could be any random stray to open up some relationship building within the sequel’s story, it would be an excellent tie into the first game’s narrative if it was a familiar face. From there, the two felines couldexploreStray’soutside worldas they work their way home. This could easily build uponStray’slevel and puzzle design, exploring distractions as part of stealth or time-sensitive puzzles that need two players to complete.
Strayis available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.
