To say that The Cat in the Coup is a short game is an understatement; it will take longer to read this review than to play the game in its entirety. You play a cat, but not just any cat. You play the cat that belongs to Dr Mohammed Mossadegh, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran. The Cat in the Coup guides the player through significant events in Dr Mossadegh’s life. History buffs will be aware of the story of Dr Mossadegh, as the CIA engineered a coup to bring about his downfall in 1953.

Interestingly, the game starts on Mossadegh’s deathbed and works backwards through significant moments in his career. The game is a history lesson mixed with puzzles. As Dr Mossadegh’s cat, you must coax him from one set piece to another by knocking items, scattering papers, tilting the room or knocking him over. It is a good idea, but the execution isn’t perfect. The puzzles aren’t very difficult, and will rarely stump a player completely. The player is often prompted with the silhouette of the cat, showing where they should be at particular times. Unfortunately, this allows the player to blast through the title while the historical story may be glossed over. On the other hand, once the player completes the game, Dr Mossadegh is lifted up through the stages again, giving the player a gentle reminder of the turmoil he endured.

The artistic style is excellent. The actual game stages themselves are quite simple, but the backdrops are amazing. Some of them are quite complex, but they all pack a unique style. The transitions between stages blend an almost descent into madness, with artistic visuals that could fit seamlessly into a Monty Python cartoon short. The animation style is also to be admired. For the artistic value alone, The Cat in the Coup is worth playing. 

The Cat in the Coup is the perfect game for a quick blast through a historic event. Despite its simplicity, it is fun to play. It is easy to pick up with a few core commands. If you play this as a history lesson more than a puzzle game, you will thoroughly enjoy it. For those that appreciate art in games, The Cat in the Coup is a great example of stunning artistic style. At the end of the day, The Cat in the Coup is free. That alone makes it worth playing, even if the story draws to an end rather quickly. Who knows, you may learn a thing or two in the process.