Skip to main content
Mideast & North Africa

Arts & Culture

Journey to ancient Egypt in Return of the Cat Mummy

Screenshot from the game

Ancient Egyptians believed animals played an important role in the afterlife. Cats were symbols of the goddess Bastet — the cat-headed deity — and were revered so much by the Egyptians that they were sometimes even mummified before being buried as pets, offerings to the gods or as gods themselves.

A new video game from Google Arts & Culture

In Return of the Cat Mummy, you play as a cat mummy who has been brought back to life by the cat goddess Bastet. Your mission is to collect the missing items necessary for the pharaoh's afterlife journey, in a race against time. Throughout the five levels, you'll be challenged by obstacles inspired from ancient Egyptian life and beliefs in the short time you have back on Earth.

  • Screenshot from the game itself in its different levels

    Start the video game at the river with nine lives, collecting items for the mummification ceremony.

  • A mummified cat

    Cats were important in ancient Egypt. People dedicated mummified cats at the sanctuary of the cat goddess Bastet as offerings.

  • A screenshot from the last level of the game.

    After successfully completing the game, the cat mummy accompanies the pharaoh in their journey to the afterlife, armed with the collected items for a safe passage.

What was needed for an eternity of happily ever after?

Ancient Egyptian pharaohs and high-ranking individuals were buried with a variety of lavish items, such as furniture, jewelry, clothing, food and shabtis (small servant statues), to ensure a comfortable afterlife for the deceased. Most of the burial items, such as amulets and books of the dead were added within or around the coffin, to aid the journey to the afterlife and provide spiritual protection along the way.

Start the adventure and learn more about ancient Egypt on Google Arts & Culture.