Kimono Cats – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by HumaNature Studios and published by RedDeer.Games, Kimono Cats is a cosy adventure game based in old Japan about a pair of cats, who go on a trip through the festivals of Edo. By throwing darts, collect coins, items and play mini-games to create a vibrant village of your own. This title is available on Steam and Nintendo Switch, with a link to each version of the game at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Evolve PR for providing the copy of Kimono Cats that was used for this piece, via the Terminals service. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. This title is light on plot, so I will be adding what little story there is to the gameplay discussion. I will also be covering the core mechanics of the game, so I can leave some of the surprises for players to find themselves.

Gameplay – Kimono Cats is a cosy adventure, where the player takes the role of a cat, wanting to take their partner on a romantic trip through the Edo Festivals. The adorable cats adorned in colourful kimonos, set off across the 18 festival roads. On their journey, they will interact with the different festival stalls, performing activities and building affinity between the two. On this long trip through Edo, experience the magic of old Japan.

During the journey through each of the festival stages, there will be bubbles that float across the top of the screen. The player can pop these bubbles using darts, aiming them left and right and releasing them. These bubbles are split into several types, with effects that will affect the relationship between the cat pair. The main types of bubbles are the mini-game and event bubbles, which will appear in abundance on screen.

The mini game bubbles contain a variety of different challenges, including goldfish scooping, ball tosses and even shuriken throwing. By completing the challenges, the player will gain points that are added to the affinity meter. These points are based on the performance of the player, with the best score gaining a bonus of coins. As the player makes it through the different festivals, there will be new challenges and upgrades challenges to play.

Then there are the events, which will are split into good and bad. The positive events will give set amounts of points to the relationship meter, helping to build the affinity faster. Alongside the positives are negatives, which will drain points from the affinity meter. These can stay negative for a time, but if the player is able to hit a special item they will cure negative effects. Last are the special bubbles which cause a variety of effects.

Some of them will alter the atmosphere of the stage, turning it from day to night, or even making it rain. Then there are the randomiser effects, which will speed up the bubble speed, obscure them and perform other effects. Some will provide bonuses like additional coins and darts, as there are a limited number that the player can use. The effective use of bubbles is directly tied to the progression, as the affinity meter has levels tied to them.

When the affinity meter is filled half way, a reward will be provided in a blue box. Then when the meter is fully filled, the player will be rewarded with a red box. The rewards inside the boxes include coins, which will increase the stage meter. If the progression meter is fully filled, the player will be able to move onto the next stage, unlocking a reward at that point. As the player progresses, new challenges, events and features will be added for players to enjoy.

Then there is the village design mode, where players can create their dream village, using the items collected from the festival roads. The various buildings, plants and decorations can be freely placed how the player wants to. This is alongside the ability to expand the village by spending coins, giving players more space for renovations. Items for the village can be bought from the shop, using a gacha style system to randomise the items obtained.

As the player makes their way through the adventure, they will be able to view the items and events that have been collected. The first is the My Sets collection, where the player will be able to view all of the collected village items. When a set is complete, the player will be able to unlock special reward items. Then there is the bubble album, which will show the different bubble events that have been used, with additional bubbles added with each stage clear.

The last element of the gameplay to cover is the social play, where players can interact with kimono cats from across the world. Using the social mechanics, players can trade gifts with each other, send cards and visit friend villages. This cosy system is designed to foster community, allowing players to see the colourful creations. For those who don’t play online games, there are offline villages to visit, with special mechanics in these neighbouring communities.

Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to discuss the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.

Controls – there is a fairly simple and easy to use control system, offering players an accessible gameplay experience. The majority of the festival gameplay uses a single button, with mini games that require additional inputs having on screen prompts. When navigating the village and other menus, there will be easy to understand tutorials, allowing players to get into the game easily. All controls work well, making it easy to pick up.

Difficulty – there is no real difficulty for this release, with no true failure state for this release. The only real element of challenge is the mini games, or aiming the darts to pop specific bubbles. With enough practice, players will be able to get the timing right for the activities, allowing for faster gains on the affection meter. And, if players run out of darts, they will be able to get more from friends or by performing activities in game.

Presentation – visually, Kimono Cats is an adorable game, with cute characters and beautifully drawn arts inspired by old Japan. The animations for the festivals, alongside the designs of the stalls and village items really build the atmosphere. All of the thematic elements make this a charming adventure, with a whimsical interpretation of the Edo festivals. The music and sound further enhances the atmosphere, tying the whole experience together.

Final Thoughts – I am not usually one for the cosy game genre, as they don’t usually grab my attention. However, I was greatly interested in this game, as I am a fan of games that feature old Japan and the culture. The festival theme was a wonderful choice, as the colourful animals running the stalls, the mini games and general atmosphere is adorable. I especially enjoy the village building, which was calming and a lot of fun.

All of the gameplay elements are well implemented, creating an experience that all player will be able to sink their teeth into. Especially with the gacha system, which makes each experience different. There is also the social element, which makes this perfect for friend groups, visiting villages and sending cards. I have no problem recommending this game to everyone, especially for families where they can link their home villages together.

In the end, I give Kimono Cats a final score of 5/5. This is an adorable and colorful adventure, which takes the festivals of Old Japan and reimagines them in a whimsical way, with lots of content to enjoy and social systems to enjoy with friends/family. If you want to check this game out for yourself, a link to each version of the game will be below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to Steam version (HERE)