Disclosure: GreatfulMoments.com received a digital review code so we could play and review Garfield – Escape from Monday. We were not provided with a physical copy of the game. As always, the thoughts and opinions shared here are our own.

Last night I did something I haven’t done since Charlie was little. I sat down and played a video game with Charlie on his game system. There was no, fussing and no, fighting just lots and lots of laughter and remembering Garfield shows we watched when Charlie was little.

Sometimes video games are simply video games. And then there are the ones that somehow become family memories. For our family, Garfield – Escape from Monday turned out to be one of those games not only for my immediate family but my sister and her family as well as my best friend and even Bradley.

Garfield has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My aunt has loved Garfield since I was a little girl, and she is now in her 80s. Suzanne loved Garfield, too. But when Charlie was little, Garfield was one of those things he absolutely loved.

He could watch Garfield over and over and over and over again. So when I told Charlie that I had the opportunity to check out a new Garfield game, he couldn’t get started soon enough. And apparently, neither could he stop playing long enough for the rest of us to get a turn!

I should probably tell you something before I go any further. I am not a video gamer. I usually leave that to David and Charlie. Don’t let me mislead you I do play games but its’ usually Solitaire or Mahjong and there on my phone or computer.

When my nephew was little, he actually banned me from playing because I would get him killed more times than not. And Suzanne once banned me from riding a bike for pretty much the same reason—I was more likely to hurt myself than accomplish anything useful.

So over the years, I learned that sometimes it is better for me to hand the controller to someone else and walk away. But this time was different. Charlie asked me to play. Not, David. Not, Bradley. Charlie wanted me to play. His mom. I thought I was going to faint.

Charlie knew how much Garfield meant to both of us, and he wanted to share the game with me. David was downstairs watching television, so Charlie and I sat down together and started playing. Before long, we were laughing and talking upstairs.

David heard us and came up to see what we were doing. And before we knew it, we were all playing together. That was probably my favorite part of the entire experience. It wasn’t just about the game. It was about Charlie wanting to spend that time with me.

It was about David hearing us laughing and coming upstairs to join us. It was about the three of us sitting together, playing, laughing and enjoying something that brought back so many memories. If my brohter could have seen better he said he wouldn’t have minded playing as well.

I would like to tell you Garfield – Escape from Monday is a 3D platforming adventure developed by OSome Studio and published by Microids. This was a site none of my family was familiar with which would have been a #teachingmoment and a #homeschooling lesson if Charlie had still been in school.

The story is exactly the kind of thing you would expect from Garfield. After Jon feeds Garfield spinach lasagna inspired by Chef Monday’s recipe, Garfield falls into a deep sleep and finds himself trapped in a nightmare filled with vegetables and sugar-free candy. I can’t blame him and no, I wouldn’t have even eaten Spinach Lasagna. Would you?

Naturally, Garfield has a problem with this. To wake up and get his taste buds back, Garfield has to explore different worlds, battle enemies, collect items and—most importantly—eat plenty of lasagna. I wish he had let me because I love Lasagna. How about you? If you know anything about Garfield there is one thing Garfield understands, it is lasagna.

The game includes three worlds and dozens of levels, along with familiar characters including Jon, Odie, Arlene and Pookie. Players will also encounter Garfield’s enemies, including Nermal and Squeak. And Garfield has some fun abilities and costumes along the way, including turkey, surfer and cowboy outfits. You can jump, climb walls, curl into a ball, travel across water and even use a cowboy lasso. It is colorful, silly and very much Garfield.

The first thing that stood out to me was how easy it was for our family to enjoy together. Charlie was immediately into it. He didn’t exactly want to share the controller, either. David and I had a hard time getting our turn because Charlie was having such a good time!

But eventually we settled into playing together, and I found myself enjoying it much more than I expected. As I said earlier. I’m not someone who normally sits down and plays video games just for myself but this time I did and I would again if someone wants to play it with me. Just remember I suck at video games but that’s okay because it’s half the fun of playing.

This game gave me a reason to do something I normally wouldn’t do while spending time with my family which I liked a lot. And honestly, I think that is worth mentioning for parents. Sometimes we spend so much time making sure everyone else is entertained that we forget that we can sit down and participate, too.

I wasn’t suddenly transformed into a serious gamer. But I laughed. I played. I spent time with Charlie and David. And I made another family memory. That’s a pretty good reason to pick up a controller. Isn’t it? Come and join us next time.

There was another thing I kept thinking about while we played. Garfield has been around for generations. My aunt loved him when I was young. Suzanne loved him. Charlie loved him when he was little. And now we have a new Garfield game that gives another generation a way to interact with this familiar character.

That makes Garfield – Escape from Monday more than something I could see Charlie enjoying. I could see us purchasing the code for him. I could see it being something my nieces and nephews would enjoy. And I can definitely see it fitting into our GreatfulMoments Christmas Gift Guide.

Our dinner while we were playing ended up being pizza. But afterward, I kept thinking that we really should have had lasagna. I mean, come on. We were playing Garfield! Maybe next time we should prepare dinner before we began playing so we can have Lasagna and no, not Spinach Lasagna.

I’m also already thinking about our next Girls Night. I cannot wait to share the game with my sister and my best friend, because they both love Garfield, too. I’m picturing wine, lasagna and a little Garfield gaming. And if anyone knows how to make a good gluten-free lasagna, please let me know because Debbie needs to be included in that plan!

Debbie isn’t very big on video games. She is the kind of person who doesn’t like things sitting around her house if they aren’t being used. But when I told her I had a Garfield game? Suddenly, she wanted to play it even more than I did. I can already picture her wanting to share it with her honory grandson Austin,while my niece Lily and Jason play with Aunt Debbie and I.

Here is one thing I wanted to share with you. Could a video game be a family break in a busy week? Absolutely. , I don’t think every family game has to be educational to have value. Sometimes families need a break.

And for families who homeschooling, I could easily see this being a fun way to step away from lessons for a little while, laugh together and do something completely different. The game gives families something they can experience together without turning every moment into another lesson. And sometimes that is exactly what we need.

One important thing I want to point out is that we received a digital review code to play the game. We were not sent a physical copy.- The game releases September 24, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.

The purchase listings we found are for the digital versions of the game. If you are specifically looking for a physical game disc or game card, I would check with retailers after release because I don’t want to tell you a physical version is available when we have not confirmed one.

Readers can currently find the game through the official digital storefronts for their platform:

• Nintendo Switch:
• Xbox Series X|S / PC: — Xbox currently lists it at $29.99 and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.
• PlayStation 5: PlayStation Store — Garfield – Escape from Monday
• PC/Steam: Steam — Garfield – Escape from Monday

Because the game doesn’t officially release until September 24, 2026, availability and purchasing options may change once release day arrives

Now, I wanted to answer a question you might have. Would we buy the game for our home. Yes. And I think that says something considering I’m the person who normally lets David and Charlie handle the video games.

I can see buying Garfield – Escape from Monday for Charlie. I can see it being a fun gift for nieces and nephews. And I can absolutely see it being included in our GreatfulMoments Christmas Gift Guide. But the biggest reason I enjoyed this particular game wasn’t because I suddenly became a gamer.

It was because Charlie wanted me to play with him. He could have played by himself. Instead, he wanted his mom beside him. That gave me something far more valuable than a few hours with a video game. It gave me time with my son.

Garfield – Escape from Monday is a colorful, silly 3D platforming adventure that brings a familiar character into a new generation of gaming. But for me, the game became about something bigger than Garfield.

It became about sitting beside Charlie. It became about David hearing us laughing and coming upstairs. It became about remembering Suzanne and how much she loved Garfield. It became about my aunt, who has loved Garfield for decades.

It became about thinking of my sister and Debbie and all the people I know who are going to want to play this game. And, yes, it became about realizing that maybe this non-gamer mom should pick up a controller every once in a while.

Because sometimes the best part of a game isn’t what happens on the screen. Sometimes it is who is sitting beside you while you play. And those are the moments I want to remember becaue it’s what keeps my family grateful, thankful and blessed.

Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.

GreatfulMoments.com

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates