“It’s the little things, I expect. Little treasures we find without knowing their origin. And they come when we least expect them. It’s beautiful when you think about it.” – T.J. Klun
Overview
Calico: Neat Things is the new DLC for Calico, an adorable slice-of-life community simulation game in which players are tasked with running the town’s cat café! The new content sets players on a search for a host of curious knick-knacks and trinkets!
A full review of the base game can be viewed HERE.
Developer: Peachy Keen Games
Released: 6th February 2025
Price: £4.29
Narrative
Calico’s base game narrative focuses on the café’s refurbishment and restoration after the protagonist’s aunt goes on holiday and leaves her responsible. There are also a plethora of side quests to complete for the area’s different residents. Calico: Neat Things diverts from this slightly, a note is received from the aforementioned aunt explaining the sentimental value of various objects that she has collected, and how they capture moments in time. She has left her old collecting box, and some ideas for things to find!
Gameplay
Calico: Neat Things provides the player with three different boxes, each with a selection of things to find. Each object has a clue and states any requirements, such as unlocking certain areas or obtaining specific objects. Most of the requirements will be complete if the player has already finished the base game. It is also possible to track multiple objects at a time when searching for them. The tracker will helpfully start to flash if the player is close to the object.
The hints that are provided add a puzzle element to Calico: Neat Things in that they allude to the different conditions that need to be met to discover the object or any actions that need to be taken. For example, one item can only be found in the rain (there is a spell for this), and another requires the player to retrieve it from a claw-grabber arcade machine. This creates interest and elevates the DLC beyond a simple hidden object game. There are also a couple of other arcade machines that serve as mini-games Mama Cat’s Crossing, and Mama Cat’s Parade.
There is a wide range of different items to be found, including a rubber duck, a bottle cap, a mixed tape, a bubble wand, and a cat balloon. They are all incredibly cute and fit with the overall theme of the game.
The game can be played with a keyboard and mouse, however, a controller is recommended. The controls are fairly intuitive though implementation could use a little polishing, with things like camera angles sometimes being less than ideal, and flying can take a little getting used to.
Styling
Calico: Neat Things has a unique illustrative cartoon art style that mixes soft textures and a distinct vibrant pastel colour palette with harsher outlines giving it a really beautiful appearance. There are potions available that will change the look of the whole world, such as only showing the linework or other kooky variations. These are fun but not ideal for playing.
The music changes depending on which area the player is in and consists mostly of piano and lo-fi tracks with twinkling sounds and gentle vocals. This really fits the casual themes and relaxing feel of the gameplay but does get a bit repetitive in the areas where most time is spent. There are also a host of lovely ambient sound effects that help bring the different environments to life as well as some really cute animal noises!
Summary
Overall, Calico: Neat Things is a great DLC and a perfect extension of the base game. It can be enjoyed stand-alone, if players have already completed the base game, but would also integrate well into the main content for new players. It provides a good amount of extra playtime for a reasonable cost and maintains the same feel and themes as the original content whilst providing something entirely new to do. I thoroughly enjoyed this DLC and would happily recommend it to fans of the game, as well as new players who are looking for something wholesome and casual to enjoy.
If you enjoyed this game you may enjoy these other whole game reviews:
Shindig: A Wholesome New Point-and-Click Adventure – A Tiny Sticker Tale – A Delightful Twist on In-Game Inventory Systems! – Flutter Away – A Short but Delightful Photography Game
