Making a truly original 3D platformer is no easy feat. Living in the shadow of genre-defining classics like Super Mario Odyssey, it takes something special to stand out and stake a claim – particularly on modern consoles abundant with worthy options.
So, in steps Garfield: Escape from Monday, the latest video game adaptation of Jim Davis’ long-running comic strip. The lasagne-loving cat’s gaming lineage has been a varied one, spanning kart racers, party games, and even pinball tables. Escape from Monday is more assured in its platforming conceit, and while it’s not a game-changer like Super Mario Odyssey or Crash Bandicoot, it’s certainly a good time.
Nobody’s coming to a Garfield game for the plot, and Escape from Monday is wise enough to recognise that. In fact, it’s assuredly confident in transposing Garfield’s sardonic, fourth wall-breaking humour into the gaming realm. The basic setup is that Garfield is stuck in a nightmare spearheaded by the vegetarian cook Chef Monday, deprived of his usual diet of sugary snacks and meaty lasagne. But what really stands out is how Garfield himself pokes fun of the game’s mechanics, lamenting its length, the enemies to fight, and the inevitable nature of boss battles.
It’s by far the standout feature in a game that otherwise sticks very closely to standard 3D platforming fare. You’ll jump and climb over obstacles, taking down food-shaped enemies, and harnessing special costumes to surf, fly, and swing. Anyone with even a basic grounding in modern platformers will feel instantly at home, even if it doesn’t attempt to innovate on the formula. Some of the 40+ levels are slightly too open for their own good, though, and as Garfield naturally moves rather slowly, trekking across them can feel like a chore.
Each of the three main worlds in Escape from Monday have their own flavour, going from vegetables to barbecue by way of confectionery. But the game doesn’t do too much to distinguish between these worlds on a gameplay level, aside from exclusive costumes that unlock new traversal abilities. All enemies are one-hit kills, which makes combat more of a formality than a challenge, and checkpoints are incredibly generous, meaning you’re never truly stumped. That makes the game ideal for novice gamers picking up a controller for the first time, but a little too easy for those with some years under their belts. Harder difficulty settings or limited lives would be a nice post-launch addition to add replayability to levels that can feel repetitive the more you complete.
There’s plenty to collect across the levels to keep you going back. Each has a fixed number of giant floating lasagnes to gather, which unlock furniture in Jon’s house, a separate world to decorate as you play. Some more collectibles or cosmetics for Garfield would give you more reason to keep exploring, but some of the trickier lasagnes are hidden in nooks and crannies that require a sharp eye and fast reactions. Those are the moments where Escape from Monday plays the best, but it’s often a case of getting from A to B.
Ultimately, though, it’s clear that Garfield: Escape from Monday is geared towards a casual audience rather than seasoned gamers. It’s definitely one of publisher Microids’ better games, and while it’s a little on the shorter side at around six hours, there’s enough here to warrant a playthrough. What it lacks in innovation it makes up for in witty writing, and it’s nice to see a Garfield game that plays to the character’s strengths.
★★★
Garfield: Escape from Monday is out now. Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2 via backwards compatibility. A code was provided by the publisher for review purposes.
