Characters & Roles
Characters & Roles
Stray features a single playable character: an unnamed ginger cat. While there are no traditional classes, builds, or leveling systems, the game presents a rich cast of non-playable characters (NPCs) that drive the story and provide assistance. This guide covers every major character, their backgrounds, roles, and how they fit into the cat's journey.
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Playable Character: The Ginger Cat
Background
You control a stray ginger cat who lives with a small family of fellow strays in an abandoned pipe structure outside the Walled City. After a mishap during a leap across pipes, the cat falls into a deep chasm and lands in the decaying, neon-lit Walled City—a dystopian cyberpunk megacity inhabited by robots and deadly creatures. Separated from its family, the cat must navigate the city, solve puzzles, and find a way back home.
Strengths
- Agility & Platforming: The cat can jump, climb ledges, squeeze through gaps, balance on narrow beams, and run along walls with fluid grace. These abilities are essential for traversing the vertical environments.
- Stealth: The cat can move silently, hide in boxes or under objects, and use its small size to avoid detection by enemies (e.g., Sentinels and Zurks).
- Interactivity: The cat can scratch objects, knock things off shelves, meow to attract attention, and sleep in designated beds (for saving).
- Natural Curiosity: Many puzzles are solved by sniffing out clues or interacting with the environment (e.g., pushing a can, pressing a button).
- Fragile: The cat dies instantly if attacked by Zurks (the parasitic creatures) after being overwhelmed, or if caught by Sentinels (security drones) that shoot on sight.
- No Direct Combat: The cat cannot fight back. It must rely on stealth, speed, and environment to avoid threats.
- Limited Inventory: The cat can carry only one item at a time (e.g., a bucket, a key, a plant pot) and cannot store weapons or tools.
- No Manual Saves Outside Beds: Progress is only saved by sleeping at cat beds scattered throughout the world.
- Exploration: Climbing, jumping, and investigating every nook and cranny.
- Puzzle Solving: Manipulating objects, activating switches, and using B-12's abilities to unlock doors, solve code puzzles, and progress.
- Stealth Sequences: Avoiding Zurks in dark, infested areas using light (via B-12) and sprinting; evading patrol drones in security zones.
- Collecting: Finding memories, sheets, and other collectibles that unlock cosmetic outfits for the cat (purely aesthetic, no gameplay effect).
- Stealth-focused: Move slowly, use cover, avoid attracting Zurks, and rely on B-12's flashlight sparingly.
- Speedrunner: Rush through areas, memorizing enemy patterns and safe paths.
- Completionist: Take time to explore thoroughly, collect all memories and secrets.
- Translation: B-12 translates robot speech (which sounds like garbled beeps) into comprehensible dialogue for the cat (and player, via subtitles).
- Hacking: B-12 can hack terminals, open electronic doors, disable security cameras, and solve certain puzzles.
- Inventory: B-12 can store one small item (e.g., a keycard, a memory chip) and retrieve it on command.
- Flashlight: B-12 emits a bright light that repels Zurks (parasitic creatures) temporarily, allowing the cat to pass through infested areas safely.
- Environmental Illumination: Useful for seeing in dark corners.
- No Combat Capability: B-12 cannot attack enemies.
- Limited Energy: The flashlight drains B-12's battery; it must recharge periodically at designated charging stations (indicated by a blue glow).
- Cannot Move Independently: B-12 follows the cat automatically but cannot be sent to scout ahead; its actions are always triggered by the cat's proximity or interaction.
Weaknesses
Playstyle
The cat is a pure exploration and puzzle-solving character. Gameplay revolves around:
Unlock Conditions
The cat is available from the very start of the game. No unlocking is required.
Recommended Equipment / Builds
Since there is no equipment system, the cat's only "build" is determined by the player's approach:
Team Synergy
The cat works in tandem with B-12 (the companion drone). B-12 provides critical support: translation, hacking, storage of one item, and a flashlight. The cat cannot progress without B-12. NPC allies offer information, items, or story progression but do not accompany the cat.
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Companion: B-12
Background
B-12 is a small flying drone with a glowing screen face. Originally created to assist humans in the Walled City, B-12's memory was wiped after a system crash. Over the course of the game, the cat (and player) help B-12 recover fragments of its past, revealing it once belonged to a scientist named Doc. B-12 becomes the cat's loyal companion and translator.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Playstyle
B-12 is a passive support character. The player controls the cat directly and can command B-12 to perform actions (hack, retrieve item, shine light) by pressing a button when prompted. The companion operates seamlessly in the background.
Unlock Conditions
B-12 is acquired early in the Slums chapter. After the cat helps a robot named Momo fix a faulty light, the cat retrieves B-12 from a locked stash. Once found, B-12 remains with the cat for the entire game.
Recommended Equipment / Builds
Not applicable. B-12 has no customization.
Team Synergy
B-12 is essential to nearly every puzzle and story beat. Without B-12, the cat cannot understand dialogue, open locked doors, or pass through Zurk-infested areas. The cat and B-12 are a single unit.
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Major NPCs
The Cat's Family
Type: Minor background characters
Background: The cat's family consists of three other strays (a mother and two siblings?) that appear only in the opening cutscene. They live peacefully outside the Walled City. After the cat falls, the family is seen briefly on a pipe, calling out.
Role in Story: Emotional motivator; the cat's primary goal is to reunite with them. They are never encountered again until the ending.
Strengths/Weaknesses: Not applicable; they have no gameplay presence.
Playstyle: N/A
Team Synergy: The family's memory drives the cat forward but does not affect gameplay.
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Momo
Type: Ally (Friendly Robot)
Background: Momo is a shy, friendly robot living in the Slums. He is initially frightened by the cat but soon becomes a key helper. He knows the location of B-12 (hidden in a blocked-off area) and tasks the cat with retrieving a notebook and a fix his broken light.
Role: Quest giver and source of story exposition. Momo is part of a group of robots who want to go to the Outside.
Strengths: Provides information about the city, the Control Room, and the other Outsider robots.
Weaknesses: Timid; cannot assist in combat or puzzles.
Unlock Conditions: Found during the Slums chapter after the cat arrives. Must initiate conversation.
Recommended Equipment: None.
Team Synergy: Completing Momo's quest unlocks B-12 and advances the story to the Antvillage.
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Clementine
Type: Ally (Friendly Robot)
Background: A spirited, rebellious robot who dreams of escaping the city. Clementine lives in the Slums and is deeply involved with the hidden group of robots called the Outsiders. She helps the cat bypass the Slums' blocked exits.
Role: Quest giver and guide. She provides the cat with a key item (the electric cable) and later appears in the Nightclub.
Strengths: Resourceful, knows the city tunnels, and gives crucial items.
Weaknesses: Overconfident; her actions sometimes create additional obstacles (e.g., breaking the power grid).
Unlock Conditions: Met after completing Momo's initial errands. She can be found in her apartment in the Slums.
Recommended Equipment: None.
Team Synergy: Clementine's quests lead to the Antvillage and the Nightclub.
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Zbaltazar
Type: Ally (Friendly Robot)
Background: Zbaltazar is an old, wise robot who lives in the Antvillage, a secret settlement below the Slums. He claims to know the secrets of the Control Room and how to open the city to the Outside. He tasks the cat with finding an antenna that can receive a signal from outside.
Role: Mentor and key story guide. Zbaltazar provides critical lore about the city's past and the cat's possible exit.
Strengths: Vast knowledge of the city's history and technology. He gives the cat a blueprint objective (locate a broadcast tower).
Weaknesses: Physically frail; cannot leave his home.
Unlock Conditions: Found in the Antvillage after the cat delivers the wrench (obtained from Clementine).
Team Synergy: His guidance points the cat to the Roof and eventually the Control Room.
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Doc
Type: Ally (Hidden Backstory)
Background: Doc is a deceased human scientist whose memories are stored in B-12. Through collectible memories (documents and diary pages), the player learns that Doc was the creator of the Walled City's robot servants and the companion program that became B-12. He tried to atone for his mistakes before the virus killed all humans.
Role: Provides narrative depth and context. B-12 recovers Doc's memories, which explain the origin of Zurks and the fate of humanity.
Strengths: None directly; influence is purely story-based.
Weaknesses: Dead; cannot interact.
Unlock Conditions: Doc's memories are discovered by finding memory chips and diary pages throughout the game (e.g., in Doc's bedroom, hidden rooms).
Team Synergy: Doc's backstory motivates B-12 and the cat to complete the mission.
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Elliot (The Musician)
Type: Ally (Side Quest Giver)
Background: A robot who plays a keyboard and dreams of composing a song. He lives in the Slums and asks the cat to find sheet music for him. The cat collects three music sheets.
Role: Collector side quest. Completing this quest unlocks a safe code that leads to a memory.
Strengths: Provides a memorable side activity and a reward.
Weaknesses: None.
Unlock Conditions: Found in the Slums after Momo's introduction.
Team Synergy: The music sheets are hidden in areas that encourage exploration; not required for main story.
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The Guardian (The Giant Robot)
Type: Antagonist (Initial) / Ally (Later)
Background: The Guardian is a massive, slow-moving robot that patrols the Control Room at the top of the city. It is initially hostile and can crush the cat instantly. Later, after the cat deactivates security systems, the Guardian becomes dormant.
Role: Final area obstacle. It acts as a gatekeeper, forcing the cat to use stealth and cunning to bypass it.
Strengths: Invincible, patrols a large area, one-hit kill.
Weaknesses: Slow, predictable patrol pattern; can be avoided by staying out of sight.
Unlock Conditions: Encountered in the Control Room chapter (near the end of the game).
Playstyle: The cat must sneak past the Guardian by hiding behind pillars and moving when its back is turned. No combat possible.
Team Synergy: The Guardian's presence adds tension to the finale. Once bypassed, the cat can access the final console.
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Conclusion
While Stray offers only one playable character (the cat), its richly designed NPCs and companion B-12 create a memorable journey. Each character serves a distinct purpose—whether providing story, items, or emotional weight. Understanding their roles enhances both gameplay and narrative appreciation.