Play Catrap Online

Catrap came out for the Game Boy in 1990, published by a company called ASG. It was one of those early puzzle games that felt perfectly suited for the handheld, something you could pick up and play in short bursts. At a time when many games were about fast action, Catrap offered a different, more thoughtful kind of challenge.

You control a boy or a girl, depending on the stage, exploring a series of single screen dungeons. Your goal is simply to reach the exit in each room, but the path is always blocked by dirt blocks and enemies. The main mechanics are digging and rewinding time. You can dig through the soft dirt to create paths or drop enemies into pits, but if you make a mistake, you can rewind your actions step by step to try a different approach. There is no combat; you avoid enemies or trap them. The puzzles start simple but quickly demand careful planning, as a single wrong dig can trap you. The ability to undo any move keeps the game from becoming frustrating and lets you experiment freely. It feels satisfying to finally see the solution and clear a tricky room.