The Cat Lady

Lore & Background

The Cat Lady follows Susan Ashworth, a chronically depressed 40-year-old woman living alone in a dilapidated council flat in England. After committing suicide by overdose, she awakens in an afterlife where she meets the Queen of Maggots, who grants her immortality and tasks her with ridding the world of five psychopaths called the Parasites. The game's plot involves Susan confronting a sadistic serial killer psychiatrist, a cannibal couple, and an online troll known as 'The Eye of Adam' who coerces suicidal people into killing themselves. The story also features Mitzi Hunt, a terminally ill young woman who moves in with Susan seeking revenge for her boyfriend's death.

Reader's Guide

The Cat Lady received generally favorable reviews, with an aggregated score of 81/100 on Metacritic. Kevin VanOrd of GameSpot gave the game a very positive review, noting that its horror serves a touching character portrait that is 'authentically, poignantly askew.' The game won 'Best Story' in an unspecified award. Its significance lies in its handling of mature themes such as depression, suicide, and cancer, while also providing moments of humor. The simplified control scheme—using only arrow keys and ESC—was a distinctive design choice. The game is part of the Devil Came Through Here trilogy, with Lynsey Frost reprising her role as Susan Ashworth in the remaster of Downfall and as a cameo in Lorelai.

Did You Know?

• Susan Ashworth's infant daughter died from a pollen allergy due to a bouquet of flowers left near her crib.
• The antagonist 'The Eye of Adam' is a quadriplegic who communicates through a device controlled by his left eye.
• The Queen of Maggots is voiced by Margaret Cowen and appears as the series' main antagonist.