Game: Hidden Cats in Rome
Genre: Hidden Objects, Casual, Indie
System: Steam (Windows, Mac OS)
Developer | Publisher: Nukearts Studio
Controller Support: Yes
Price: US $2.99 | UK £2.49 | EU € 2,99
Release Date: November 17th, 2023
No review code was used; I purchased the game myself.
Hidden Cats in Rome is a 2023 hidden-object game by Nukearts Studio, where your objective is to find kittens hidden around Rome. This game is another one in the Hidden Cats Series. Here, you can read our other reviews in the series, Hidden Cats in Paris, Hidden Cats in London, Hidden Cats in New York, and Hidden Cats in Spooky Town.
The Gameplay of Hidden Cats in Rome
Hidden Cats in Rome follows the well-known formula of the Hidden Cats games; we have a charmingly drawn city scene where we are looking for hidden cats. In this particular edition, we explore a romanticized version of Rome with some of the more famous landmarks such as the Spanish Steps, the Coliseum, etc.
As in previous games, we have two game modes: Normal, with 120 hidden cats in fixed positions and three hints, and Advanced, with 200 cats in random places and the option to find special cats and city people to earn hints and unlock bonus levels. You can zoom in and out of the picture as you like. We also have moving parts of the image, like cars in traffic.
In Advanced mode, besides the cats, we also look for special cats and city people. Finding two special cats unlocks bonus levels. For example, the Senator Cat and Tedesco cat unlock the Gelateria level. The bonus levels are much smaller than in the central area, and the cats are blue kittens and mostly in fixed positions. Some might hide in baskets or behind wall panels but are relatively easy to spot.
There are no special cats or people to find in the bonus levels. Like in the previous game, the bonus scenes are again connected to Rome, like the Gelateria, the Basilica, etc. Hidden Cats in Rome also includes a more extensive bonus level, the Nerd Arena. Once again, you search for cats, but the real challenge is finding the 200 people.
Art Style
The artwork is central to the success of Hidden Cats in Rome. The game starts with a line drawing of Rome made in red-orange. When you find a cat, some colors come back into the city. If you find all the cats in an area, say a building, the building is colored immediately. If you color a landmark, the game offers you an informational card about said landmark. It’s a fun way to give us more knowledge about the city we are playing in.
Again, The soundtrack nicely complements the game’s atmosphere- music and background noise. The cat mewing is just right. The sound moves with the player’s movement on the picture, helping the illusion that it’s a real, living, and breathing picture of Rome.
Some Side Notes
Hidden Cats in Rome was easier than previous games in the series. I hardly needed the hint button, but that’s not a con. The cats were better drawn and were more apparent. Once again, as a DLC, you can buy a PDF coloring book of the game. Hidden Cats in Rome has Steam achievements but no trading cards yet.
Conclusion
The latest game in the series: Hidden Cats in Rome, has changed the gameplay a lot, and yet the main idea from the first game is the same. It’s a winning combination of elements, and besides adding more content, I don’t see any way it can be improved any more. Hidden Cats in Rome once again gave me a few relaxing and fun hours from everyday life. I can’t wait for the next game in the series.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up: 