Deep within the dry, vast plain
Lives a creature strange and wild,
For by day, he’s just a cat,
By night, a human, undefiled.
And with his gang in the cangaço,
They fight with tooth and claw compiled.
Everything was fine… until she appeared. Seven-Skin — an ancient, powerful being — fell for Lídia and tried to take her away. But as the leader of the gang, Lídia rejected her heart. Hurt and scorned, Seven-Skin cast a terrible curse: she unleashed countless creatures upon the land — monsters, half-beast, half-apparition.
To protect the gang, the blesser intervened. But when it came to the cat, she gave him a boons unlike any other:
The two possess their powers,
But fate keeps them apart.
When the cat grows weak,
The man finds strength to start.
And when their roles reverse,
It leaves them both in the dark.
This is A Cat in the Cangaço:
A roguelike with deckbuilding and auto-battle mechanics, set in the sun-scorched Brazilian Northeast. The art draws from xylography (woodcut prints), and the story takes inspiration from cordel literature.
Day-and-Night Mechanics
By day, you play as the Cat. By night, as Guto. Use your cards to strengthen one form, while weakening the other. The key lies in balancing your choices to create powerful builds for both.
Strategic Deckbuilding
Choose and combine cards that alter the game with upgrades, curses, and unique events. Some cards feature verses of cordel, narrating your adventure and crafting a personalized story at the end of each run.
Synergy Modifiers
Discover and experiment with synergies between cards and items to create powerful combos. Every run presents new opportunities to maximize your builds’ potential.
Planning and Roguelike Progression
After each defeat, return stronger for the next attempt. Invest resources with the Blesser, improving your stats for future runs. Every visit to her offers a chance to refine your strategy and push further.
Narrative Challenges
Strategic decisions shape the unfolding narrative. At each stage, you build your own story, immortalized in a unique cordel poem at the game’s conclusion.
Original Soundtrack
The rhythms of xote, forró, baião, and other Northeastern Brazilian styles accompany every run.
Xylography - Woodcut-Inspired Art
Handcrafted visuals, drawing directly from the folk art of Brazil’s Northeast.
