Mewgenics Developer Hosts Hilariously Awkward Contest That Fans Adore

To celebrate the launch of Mewgenics, developer Edmund McMillen invited fans to embrace their inner cringe in a unique contest. Participants were challenged to act like cats in public or in front of family members, capturing their antics on video. McMillen encouraged, “The more we cringe, the better you do,” and fans certainly rose to the occasion.

Mewgenics, a blend of turn-based tactics and cat-breeding simulation, has already garnered attention from critics ahead of its official release on February 10. This collaborative effort between McMillen, known for titles like Binding of Isaac, and Tyler Glaiel, the mind behind The End is Nigh, has seen several online contests leading up to launch. While previous challenges included posting missing posters for mutant cats, none matched the sheer cringe factor of acting like a cat in public.

McMillen made it clear that the contest was all about the participants’ embarrassment, stating, “Don’t mess with anyone! You are the only one we are laughing at here!” Submissions flooded in from around the globe, featuring a man meowing in the heart of Groningen, Netherlands, and a woman crawling on all fours in front of Chicago’s iconic Cloud Gate sculpture, affectionately known as The Bean. McMillen announced four winners, exclaiming, “Congrats guys, you made a lot of people very uncomfortable!”

User SimpleSushii, who filmed the Cloud Gate entry, took home the top prize, but the runners-up were equally entertaining. User CainInsano traveled to various locations for their video, culminating in a performance in front of their in-laws. Shapesh1fter2 meowed and played with a toy in a busy store while sporting a My Little Pony shirt, and IHateZuckSoMuch recorded their entry with their grandma in the background, captioning it, “Grandma taking antibiotics, seem to be improving.” McMillen’s contest was a hit, showcasing the excitement fans have for the upcoming game.

Mewgenics is set to launch on February 10.