“Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” – Samuel Johnson
Overview
Hidden Cats in London is a delightful hidden object game from Nukearts Studio, creators of the earlier, shorter game Hidden Cats in Paris. Both games feature adorable cats hiding in temporarily monochromatic illustrations of each city!
Developer: Nukearts Studio
Released: 16th December 2022
Price: £1.69
Platforms: Windows
Available on: Steam
Engine: Unity
Gameplay
Finding cats is, of course, the basic premise of Hidden Cats in London, but different modes, bonus levels and achievements add substance and originality to the experience. The game’s normal mode features 100 cats in fixed positions with three hints available. Advanced mode includes 150 cats in randomised positions, 7 special cats and 16 people to find. Finding these extras will award hints and unlock hidden kitten bonus levels each containing 50 kittens with one hint (bookshop, pub, tube station, music studio and palace room). Hints are limited across all game modes and when used will point at an undiscovered hidden cat.
The cats are hidden with a range of difficulty, this is especially true in the advanced mode where the randomised placement means it is possible for a cat to be only just visible which can prove incredibly tricky. It also affords the game some replayability as the cats will be in new positions each time the game is played.
Narrative and Styling
The game has a colourful illustrative cartoon art style with bold lines and lots of fun details. The city illustration begins as a monochromatic drawing but is filled with vibrant colour as players find the many cats! This makes for some lovely visuals but also adds an extra level of incentive. The illustration is also animated with moving parts such as cars and the London Eye adding interest and making spotting all the cats a little more challenging. The music is upbeat and relaxing, suiting the style of gameplay well and making a great backing track to all the cute feline sound effects!
Hidden Cats in London doesn’t offer much in terms of narrative but nor does it need to. However, there is plenty going on in the main illustration to allow players to infer their own mini-stories and narrative elements if they wish.
Summary
Hidden Cats in London is a wonderful example of a hidden object game and a thoroughly pleasant experience that will take around 2 hours to complete. It offers delightful audio and visuals and adds extra modes and levels to elevate the gameplay and keep things fresh. There is plenty of fun to be had with over 500 cats to be found across all modes and levels as well as an element of replayability. Overall, this wholesome game was a lot of fun and is easy to recommend to fans of the genre or anyone looking for a laid-back gaming experience.
If you like hidden object games you may also enjoy these reviews:
Wind Peaks – A Building Full of Cats – Under Leaves – A Castle Full of Cats – 100 Hidden Frogs!