A cat-loving manga will soon be available to English-speaking readers as Dark Horse Comics announced it will be publishing the English translation of the popular Japanese series Cat+Gamer. In the current climate of fan-favorite manga consisting of action, horror, and intrigue including Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and Dragon Ball Super, Cat+Gamer takes a much more light-hearted approach to the medium. Instead of getting possessed by a demon through satanic dealings or battling cosmic gods for the sake of the universe, Cat-Gamer’s main character does her fighting through her console until the skills she learns in the gaming world are put to use upon meeting a new friend.
Cat+Gamer by Wataru Nadantani and published by Shogakukan chronicles twenty-nine-year-old Riko, a run-of-the-mill office worker who has an obsession with video games. Instead of putting in extra hours at her job or hanging out with coworkers outside of work, Riko goes home every night and sinks into her virtual life. The manga then outlines how Riko gets a dose of reality when she adopts a stray cat from her office without any previous knowledge of animal care. To make up for her lack of experience, Riko uses the skills she learned from playing video games to take care of her new furry friend.
In a Tweet, Dark Horse Comics announced the publication of Cat + Gamer in English. As the title suggests, the title is perfect for fans of cats and videogames alike. While much of the manga is focused on Riko trying to understand the complexities of cat-care through her gamer knowledge, the manga also explores the world from the cat’s perspective. Much of the manga depicts the cat attempting to understand Riko’s behavior through its own unique worldview.
Riko consistently shows antisocial personality traits, so much so that her coworkers note her lack of interest in human interaction. Riko doesn’t actively want to stay away from other people, she just would rather be home and play video games, though that activity is something she consistently does alone. Adopting the cat is the only time Riko has shown emotion towards another living thing, which helps her be more open to experiences outside of her virtual bubble. Riko’s growth is told through an outside perspective from the cat’s view, giving fans a front row and unbiased view of her development.
Cat+Gamer is advertised as equal parts funny and heartwarming. As of now, the manga is primarily available to Japanese audiences, but Dark Horse has decided to further the cat-loving story’s reach to a much wider fan base. Cat+Gamer is perfect for anyone interested in a fun and lighthearted new manga to add to their reading list. Dark Horse Comics is releasing English translated Cat+Gamer books in comic shops beginning March 2, 2022, and in bookshops on March 15 with pre-orders available now.
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