Pix the Cat

Pix the Cat is a fast-paced game set in mazes using elements from Pac-Man and Snake. The protagonist is Pix the Cat, a character previously introduced in the game PIXEL! The game contains four different game modes. The main arcade mode consists of three environments (starter, main, dessert) unlocked gradually. The goal is to reach a high score with a limited amount of time. Pix moves at a constant speed and can be moved in any of four directions as long as there is no obstacle in the way. A single field contains eggs and marked spots. He needs to collect the eggs Pac-Man-style, which causes them to hatch as ducklings that trail behind him, similar to the tail in Snake. To get rid of them and to score he needs to bring them to the marked spots by moving over them, with a duckling removed for each spot.

To achieve a large score different types of mechanics are combined. A combo meter is filled up with up to four tiers (x2, x5, x10 and frenzy) as long as Pix does not run into walls, obstacles or his own trail of ducklings. When he gets stuck he immediately respawns, but the ducklings are lost as well as a part of the combo meter. The combo meter is also reduced if he releases ducklings on spots before all the eggs in a single area are collected, which causes them to crack, but the area can still be completed. An area can also be cleared perfectly for a larger score. When he approaches a wall or is about to get stuck the game slows down, shows escape route arrows and zooms in similar to the way it is done in Pac-Man: Championship Edition DX and he can also grind walls like in that game to quickly turn when it is possible. As the combo meter increases, the game's speed increases as well, making it possible to complete more of the game in the allotted time. In the highest combo tier called frenzy, skull enemies which otherwise harm Pix can be defeated similar to taking a power pill in Pac-Man, by headbutting them, for a large amount of points. Each combo tier introduces a different visual style. Each of the three worlds has a small amount of randomization for the environments, making sessions similar, but never entirely identical. After clearing an entire area an exit appears to go deeper into the maze and both the previous and the next part of the game are often kept in view, similar to the way it is done in Jumpman. It is also always possible to return to a previous maze through an exit, but new exits only appear when an area is completed. The game is not always shown in the same size, sometimes the previous maze is kept in view and the next one is shown as a very small environment next to it, with dynamic zoom. By reaching certain scores additional worlds are unlocked including a random daily arcade grid, as well as new companion voices and artwork.

The second game mode is called Laboratory. Here Pix needs to collect cells and deliver them similar to the Arcade mode. Pix no longer moves at a constant speed, but slides in a certain direction until an obstacle is encountered. It is more of a puzzle mode where the player is encouraged to complete a maze with a certain amount of moves to receive a bonus. It is stricter than the Arcade mode, as all cells need to be collected first before they are delivered or the level is failed immediately. Later levels introduce moving enemies that need to be avoided. The third game mode is shown in black-and-white and is called Nostalgia. With a visual design of those of silent films and early animation movies, it is a kind of survival mode. Pix collects eggs with a trail of ducklings similar to the Arcade mode, but does not need to deliver them. Instead he needs to collect a certain amount of eggs that keep spawning without getting stuck or running into enemies. Later levels become more complex, for instance having three different mazes with three cats controlled simultaneously. A bonus is provided for completing levels quickly.

The fourth game mode is a local multiplayer mode called Arena (not available on Vita). Up to four players control a Pixbot character on a single screen, but often with multiple mazes, grabbing eggs to create a trail. They need to ram each other and can use power-up eggs to receive a speed boost or shoot a projectile to stun another character or put down a mine. The more eggs in the trail, the slower a Pixbot moves. The goal is to become the last Pixbot standing. With three or more players in a game, knocked out players turn into ghosts that can still slowly move around the area. If a ghost manages to hit an active Pixbot, the ghost player is revived as a Pixbot and can continue playing.