Enter the quirky underworld of Rat City with 'Cheese is the Reason,' a free, indie strategy game that transforms an everyday plumbing mishap into an unforgettable, cheese-fueled adventure. Crafted in just 72 hours for Ludum Dare 57, this browser-based gem pulls you into Chev Hampton’s clogged bathroom crisis—a dilemma only the craftiest rodent masterminds can solve!

As soon as you load into the game’s vibrant, hand-drawn cityscape, a tapestry of bustling tunnels and suspiciously cheesy obstacles beckons. With intuitive HTML5 controls and whimsical character art by Axel Kulomaa, Eemeli Mäntylä, Jami Liang, and Umut Soydan, 'Cheese is the Reason' oozes personality from every pixel. The jazzy, fast-paced soundtrack composed by Eelis Koivusaari fuels your urge to strategize, experiment, and win.

Your mission? Navigate and manipulate the underground pipework, using logic, foresight, and a little bit of rodent cunning. Each level challenges you to unblock Chev's bathroom, but there’s more beneath the surface—sabotage lurking mice, shifting cheese boulders, and time-pressured escapes make every puzzle pulse with tension and surprise. No two playthroughs feel the same as dynamic obstacles and unpredictable pipe layouts demand new strategies on the fly.

While medium in difficulty, 'Cheese is the Reason' offers deeply rewarding gameplay for both newcomers to strategy titles and veterans craving a fresh challenge. Unlike many puzzle games, there’s a real sense of progression and story: the deeper you go, the more snippets you uncover about Rat City’s weird economy, cheese politics, and Chev’s eccentric neighbors. It’s funny, it’s clever, and it’s free to play directly in your browser—no downloads required.

Whether you crave a quick brain teaser or a marathon session of cheese-driven problem-solving, 'Cheese is the Reason' brings addictive, snackable fun that demands “just one more try.” Ready to join the underground? Grab your wits and play now!