There is something rather lovely about the idea of taking an adorable little cat, dropping her into an ancient pyramid filled with deadly traps, and then expecting her to somehow make it out in one piece. That is essentially the premise of Mel The Pyramid Cat, a cute and compact 2D platformer from Ember Box Studio that trades the spacefaring environments of Mel The Space Cat for dusty tombs, mysterious ruins and plenty of things that would rather see our feline heroine flattened. It is a wonderfully simple setup, but one that gives Mel a fresh playground to explore while retaining the accessible, bite-sized design that defines the series.
Across 40 handcrafted levels, players guide Mel through subterranean pyramid chambers filled with hazards, enemies, narrow passages and hidden treasures. The challenge comes less from complicated mechanics and more from learning each room’s layout, judging movements and getting the timing right. Fortunately, mistakes are rarely a major setback thanks to the instant respawn system, which keeps the action moving and encourages experimentation rather than frustration. Mel The Pyramid Cat knows exactly what sort of game it wants to be, and there is something refreshing about that confidence.
Welcome to the Pyramid
The shift from the sci-fi settings of Mel The Space Cat to an ancient Egyptian-inspired environment works surprisingly well. Instead of alien planets and futuristic hazards, Mel finds herself wandering through crumbling tombs and mysterious underground chambers, with the low-poly retro aesthetic giving everything a slightly toy-like appearance. It is not a visually demanding game, nor is it trying to be, but there is a certain charm to the presentation that suits Mel’s personality perfectly.
The environments are deliberately compact, with each level functioning as its own little platforming puzzle. There is a satisfying rhythm to entering a room, assessing what lies ahead, working out how the hazards behave, and then making a run for it. Sometimes the solution is obvious, while other rooms require a little more patience and careful timing. The best moments come when you finally make a difficult jump or slip past a particularly awkward trap and realise that what initially looked intimidating was actually asking you to slow down and pay attention.
There is also something appealing about the sense of scale. Mel may be a tiny cat, but the pyramids around her feel enormous by comparison. Corridors, chambers and traps create the impression that she is venturing into somewhere she really has no business being, which adds a little character to what is otherwise a very straightforward platforming adventure.
Simple Controls, Tricky Situations
At its heart, Mel The Pyramid Cat is all about movement. The controls are straightforward enough for virtually anyone to pick up, but that does not mean every challenge is easy. Precision platformers often make simple controls feel considerably more demanding once obstacles appear, and Mel’s latest adventure follows that familiar formula.
The narrow corridors and confined spaces make positioning particularly important. Flying enemies can disrupt your timing, traps demand careful movement, and magical hazards can turn what looks like a safe route into something considerably more dangerous. None of this is especially revolutionary, but the game does a good job of combining familiar ingredients into short, easy-to-understand challenges.
What I particularly appreciate is the instant respawn system. When a mistake happens, you are generally back in the action almost immediately, so the game never lets failure become a chore. That is important in a platformer built around repeated attempts. You can try a jump, fail, immediately adjust your approach, and try again without having to sit through lengthy loading screens or retrace large sections of a level.
It gives Mel The Pyramid Cat an almost arcade-like rhythm. Try, fail, learn, try again. There is very little ceremony involved, and sometimes that is exactly what you want from a game like this.
Watch Out for Theo
Of course, Mel is not simply wandering around collecting treasure at her leisure. Theo, the mummy antagonist, has a rather different idea of how her archaeological expedition should go.
The pursuit element adds a welcome sense of urgency to the adventure. While the standard traps and platforming obstacles provide the traditional challenge, having an enemy breathing down Mel’s neck changes how you approach certain situations. Suddenly there is less time to admire the surroundings and more reason to trust your instincts.
Theo is also a nice touch from a character perspective. The game does not need an elaborate story to give its world a little personality, and the relationship between a cute feline explorer and a relentless mummy is enough to make the adventure feel more playful than simply running through a series of anonymous platforming rooms.
There is a pleasing sense of mischief running through the whole experience. Mel looks like she should be curled up somewhere warm and comfortable, yet here she is throwing herself into ancient tombs and repeatedly being chased by a mummy. It is difficult not to root for her.
Treasure Hunting
The hidden treasures offer another small reason to explore rather than simply race towards the exit. Completionists will naturally want to search each level thoroughly, while players more interested in getting through the game can focus on reaching the end.
This distinction is useful because Mel The Pyramid Cat does not demand that every player approach it in exactly the same way. You can treat it as a straightforward platforming challenge, or spend a little more time investigating the levels for their secrets. There is satisfaction in finding something tucked away in an awkward corner, particularly when reaching it requires tackling a section of the level from an unusual angle.
That said, the treasure hunting is still relatively lightweight. This is not a sprawling exploration game where every room contains layers of secrets and environmental storytelling. The appeal comes from the immediate challenge of finding and collecting items rather than uncovering some enormous mystery buried beneath the pyramid.
For a budget platformer, however, that is perfectly reasonable. The game understands that its greatest strength is its accessibility rather than its complexity.
Cute, Challenging and Easy to Pick Up
One of the most appealing things about Mel The Pyramid Cat is its ability to sit comfortably between cute and challenging. Games featuring adorable characters sometimes lean so heavily into being wholesome that the gameplay becomes almost incidental. That is not the case here. Mel might be ridiculously cute, but the pyramid is not interested in giving her an easy time.
The challenge is rarely overwhelming, though. This is the sort of platformer where persistence generally gets you through. When you die, you immediately understand what went wrong, and because the restart is so quick, there is very little reason not to have another go. That makes it particularly well suited to handheld play, where a few levels can be enjoyed during a short break without committing to a lengthy gaming session.
It also makes the game approachable for players who may not be experts at precision platforming. Experienced players may breeze through some of the earlier challenges, while newcomers can take their time learning the rhythms of the traps and obstacles. There is nothing wrong with a game recognising that sometimes the greatest achievement is simply making a difficult jump after several failed attempts.
A Little Too Familiar
The biggest issue with Mel The Pyramid Cat is that its simplicity can occasionally work against it. Once you understand the game’s basic rhythm, there are few surprises around the corner. The hazards are familiar, the platforming is straightforward, and the overall adventure is relatively short.
That will not necessarily be a problem for everyone. If you enjoy compact platformers built around quick attempts, fast restarts and achievable completion goals, there is plenty here to enjoy. However, anyone looking for a deeper platforming experience with elaborate mechanics, substantial exploration or a lengthy campaign may find the experience a little lightweight.
The game is also unlikely to completely reinvent the precision platforming formula. It does not need to, but it means much of its appeal rests on presentation and the sheer likeability of Mel rather than mechanical innovation. Fortunately, Mel is an appealing enough protagonist to carry a fair amount of that weight.
Perfect for the Switch
There is something particularly fitting about Mel The Pyramid Cat being on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. The game is built around short levels, straightforward controls and instant restarts, making it incredibly easy to pick up whenever you have a few minutes.
The low-poly visual style also translates well to Nintendo’s handheld format. It has a deliberately uncomplicated look that does not overwhelm the screen, while Mel herself provides the visual personality. Whether playing handheld or on the television, the game maintains an accessible arcade feel.
It is also the kind of game that can sit comfortably alongside a much larger adventure. After spending hours wandering around a massive open world or battling through a lengthy RPG, there is something satisfying about picking up a game where the objective is simply to guide a cute cat through a dangerous room and try not to get squashed.
Verdict
Mel The Pyramid Cat is not trying to be the next great evolution of the 2D platformer, and it does not need to be. Instead, it offers a cheerful, accessible and surprisingly enjoyable little adventure that understands the value of keeping things simple. The 40 handcrafted levels provide a decent collection of bite-sized challenges, while instant respawns make failure painless and encourage you to keep experimenting until you get things right.
The Egyptian setting gives the Mel The Cat formula a welcome change of scenery, and Theo’s presence adds a little personality to the otherwise straightforward platforming. Mel herself remains the star of the show, with her charming appearance helping to soften some of the more frustrating moments. There is a nice balance between cute presentation and genuine challenge here, even if the overall experience remains firmly on the lightweight side.
Where Mel The Pyramid Cat falls short is in longevity and innovation. Once the basic mechanics have been mastered, there is not much additional depth waiting underneath. The short runtime will also leave some players wishing there were more levels, more mechanics, or perhaps a few additional reasons to return once the pyramid has been conquered.
For the right audience, though, that simplicity is part of the appeal. This is a game for players who enjoy bite-sized platforming, completionists looking for manageable challenges, younger players who want something approachable, or anyone who simply likes the idea of helping an adventurous little cat survive an ancient pyramid. It is charming, accessible and easy to dip in and out of, even if it never quite escapes the feeling of being a modest-budget platformer.
Mel The Pyramid Cat may not be the biggest adventure Mel has embarked upon, but there is still something rather endearing about watching this tiny feline take on an enormous pyramid, one dangerous room at a time.
