The Runaway Cats is a challenging browser-based puzzle game where your goal is to trap a clever cat on a hexagonal grid. Using only your mouse, you'll click tiles to create barriers, attempting to surround the cat before it can escape off the edge.
It's a deceptively simple game of strategy that tests your tactical foresight.
The core gameplay loop in The Runaway Cats is a turn-based duel of wits. The board is a grid of light-colored hexagons. When you left-click a tile, it darkens, becoming an impassable wall.
After your move, the cat makes its move, hopping to an adjacent, unblocked tile.
Your objective is to completely encircle the cat with these darkened tiles. If you build a perfect cage and the cat has no valid moves left, you win the round.
But if the cat reaches any tile on the outer edge of the grid, it escapes, and you'll have to try again.
Don't let the simple controls fool you-this is a difficult game. The cat isn't moving randomly; it's actively trying to outsmart you. The AI is programmed to always find the shortest possible path to an edge.
This means you can't just react to its movements-you have to anticipate them.
Every tile you place changes the cat's calculation for the best escape route. Success requires thinking several steps ahead, much like in chess or checkers. You need to build your trap strategically, cutting off potential paths before the cat even considers them.
You can play The Runaway Cats completely free in your web browser. There are no downloads or installations required.
Because it's a lightweight HTML5 game, it runs on most devices and can be accessed on networks at school or work, making it perfect for a quick brain-teasing break.
The goal in The Runaway Cats is to trap the cat on the hexagonal grid. You must completely surround it with darkened tiles so it has no available spaces to move to.
The game is played entirely with the mouse. Use a left click on any light-colored hexagon to darken it, turning it into a barrier that the cat cannot pass through.
Each time you click a tile to create a wall, the cat will immediately move to an adjacent, open tile. The cat is always trying to reach the edge of the board. If it steps off the grid, you lose the round and must restart.
The cat isn't moving randomly. It uses a smart AI to find the shortest possible path to escape. Your strategy must involve anticipating its route and cutting it off before it gets too close to the edge.
Build From Afar - Don't start by clicking tiles right next to the cat. This just makes it run. Instead, build a larger perimeter a few tiles away and slowly close in.
Anticipate the Path - Before you click, look at the cat's most direct route to the edge. Place your tile to block that specific path. Create a Funnel - Try to strategically guide the cat into a corner of your pre-built wall.
It's easier to trap it against a few walls than in the open field. Use Existing Blocks - If the cat starts near a few randomly placed dark tiles, use them as part of your wall. This saves you valuable moves.
Sacrifice a Move - Sometimes it's better to place a tile that seems to let the cat get closer to an edge, if it means you can set up a more effective trap on your next turn.
Learn the Pattern - After a few games, you'll start to recognize the cat's logic. Use this knowledge to predict its movements and build your trap more efficiently.
