The Cat and the Coup
Description
The Cat and the Coup is a puzzle-adventure game that blends documentary elements with interactive narrative. Players assume the role of the cat of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, Iran’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, guiding him backward through key events in his life - including his nationalization of Iran’s oil industry and eventual downfall via a CIA and MI6-orchestrated coup in 1953 - by interacting with objects in surreal, static scenes.
The gameplay is minimalist and metaphorical: players use the arrow keys to move the feline protagonist, and the spacebar or similar interaction to knock over lamps, scatter papers, or jump onto Mossadegh’s lap, prompting transitions between vignettes presented in reverse chronological order - from his death under house arrest in 1967 back to pivotal moments in the early 1950s. Visually, the game is composed of layered tableaux heavily inspired by Persian miniature art, enhanced by atmospheric soundscapes - most notably ambient piano echoes - and a blend of rotoscoped textures and historical media.
A 4K remastered edition was released in 2018 for Steam and PlayStation 4, updating visuals while preserving the original’s experimental spirit.
