Garfield: Escape from Monday: PS5 Review

Developed by OSome Studios
Published by Microids
Platform: PS5

Jon Davis' cartoon cat has had many lives across many different platforms.

From its OG 3-panel comic strip early days to a TV show to various games, the orange striped cat, who hates Mondays and loves lasagne, has been a mainstay of pop culture for decades. 

So it's no surprise that he'd get a platform game in 2026, a relatively simple affair that follows a slightly repetitive path and never quite reaches the echelons of paw-some but will certainly leave you feline fine and that you've had a bit of a workout mentally, if not physically.

When Garfield scoffs a super-lasagne slice he finds in the fridge, he falls catatonically asleep, waking up a in a dream nightmare world to be taunted by TV Chef Monday who sets a series of vegetables upon him in a land that's filled with cheese, lasagne slices and simple platform challenges. In order to escape, Garfield must traverse a series of 3D lands and challenges, as well as getting advice from Jon on what to do and where to go.

There's a simplicity to Garfield: Escape from Monday that's both refreshing and charming, even if it's somewhat naive in 2026.

The gameplay is relatively simple, jump here, grab that, leap and find hidden areas as you complete levels and try for perfection - but that's not to deny that for a younger audience, this will undoubtedly hit the mark.

With a nice chunky 3D Garfield, the cat looks the part and while the voice acting isn't a patch on Lorenzo Music, the writing captures some of the cat's deadpan ways as he traverses the linear levels. Add in some nice interludes from the cat's owner and the game begins to feel like it could fire on all four paws.

But the repetitive nature and the occasionally unchallenging feel makes the 40-plus levels begin to feel like a chore, rather than a thrill. Kick, jump, boost flops and so on make the cat's arsenal functional, if uninspired. Themed outfits add a little, but your patience on using these to replay levels will vary.

In terms of fluidity, Garfield: Escape from Monday delvers a solid gameplay experience that occasionally falters with its camera, but never drops in quality and consistency. Overall though, Garfield: Escape from Monday shows a formulaic outing for the feline that's fun in small doses, but may leave you feeling like the developers napped somewhat on the creative front.