Odesa Developer Creates Game About War in Ukraine Starring a Military Cat

Konstantin Reus from Odessa has created a new computer game called Broken Life, which immerses players in the world of war in Ukraine through the perspective of a character - a military cat named Leo. The plot focuses on his journey through devastated landscapes, searching for family, and fighting for survival after occupation.

The idea for the project arose from Konstantin's personal experiences during the full-scale invasion. Development began in March 2023, and the first part was released in April 2025. A total of three episodes are planned.

The main character, Leo the cat, returns home after the city is liberated and seeks to uncover the fate of his family.

«In the story, a nation of dogs attacks cats with the slogan «we are one people». I wanted players to see that this symbolizes different peoples and nations represented as various animals», Konstantin Reus shared in an interview.

The game's narrative is inspired by real events experienced by the author and his wife while helping people in the villages of Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. Konstantin recalls witnessing destruction and despair after the occupiers left, which left a profound emotional impact.

During the shelling of Odessa and prolonged blackouts, he conceived the idea of creating a survival game, initially including practical tips, but over time, the plot evolved into something deeper and more complex.

The image of Leo came to be after a walk in Odessa when the author encountered the graffiti «cats of the Armed Forces of Ukraine». This symbol inspired him to create the character.

The gameplay is designed to be nonlinear, where player choices affect the story's development. There are no absolutely positive or negative decisions in the narrative – it all depends on the path the player chooses.