Barely launched, it has already won over more than 11,000 players. On Steam, few titles reach the “extremely positive” rating, but Bongo Cata completely offbeat little free game, has achieved this with flying colors since its arrival on the platform in March. Behind its extremely simple concept, a wave of enthusiasm swept over the PC community.
The principle? Help an adorable white cat bang on bongos… while working. It’s the kind of strange and hilarious experience that hits the spot. The game’s description sets the scene with a decidedly absurd tone: “Bongo needs your help. Bongo needs more hats! Every time you press a key, Bongo hits your taskbar. Tap, click, play, work to accumulate more points. What hats will you find?”
Critical success and instant cult
Since its launch, the feedback has not only been rave, but also offbeat. One player admits: “Look at that face. That soft little paw tapping the bongos? Heart-melting. You’re going to fall for that cat. No, seriously, the cat. It’s the cutest thing in the world. No exaggeration.” Another review states: “This game is the only way to finish my thesis. I type, the cat plays the bongo. Sometimes I get a new hat or a new cat.”
This mix of cuteness and passive interaction creates a kind of digital meditation, where we move forward without a specific goal, but always with a smile. One of the players even talks about “test of will”as the game becomes a comforting presence… even slightly worrying, when the cat itself begins to demand: “More hats”.
An unexpected success on Steam
Bongo Cat has thus established itself as one of Steam’s biggest free successes in 2025. Free, without aggressive advertising, addictive and supported by an enthusiastic community, the game ticks all the boxes to become cult.
And if you eventually tire of bongos, the Steam store is currently full of free gems, starting with a dozen titles newly added this week. But be careful: few will have the hypnotic power of the cat in the hats.