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Life as a kitten in Kyoto is no small feat. This bustling city is a maze of rooftops, hedges, and busy streets, full of challenges for a tiny feline. Growing up here means learning the ropes through trial and error, honing your skills by bouncing back from missteps. Will your kitten rise to the challenge and claim victory, one pawstep at a time?
👥 2-4 players, ages 8+
⌛ Playing time: 35 minutes
📝 Designer: Cédric Millet
🎨 Artwork: Jérémie Fleury
🏢 Publisher: Matagot (review copy provided)
Gameplay Overview
In Kyoto no Neko, players guide their kittens through the city, competing to be the first to collect five medals and end the game. Rounds continue until that goal is met, and the kitten with the most medals claims the win.
Each turn, your kitten moves across the play area using stamina points shown on your player board. However, crossing roads can be risky, as speedy bicycles might cause trouble for any kitten who isn’t paying attention. Moving over hedges or leaping between rooftops requires specific skill levels, which are also tracked on your board.
When your kitten lands on a space with an unrevealed paw token, flip it over to reveal its color. A red paw means it’s time for a skill check. Failing the check ends your turn immediately, but a successful one allows you to continue your movement if you still have stamina left. On the other hand, white paws tied to the space you’re on let you take actions.
Actions involve skill checks for abilities like agility, friendship, hunting, and fighting. Each skill check compares the value on the paw token with your kitten’s relevant ability on the player board, to which you add the result of a skill die roll. Don’t worry if you fail. This will improve your kitten’s skills for the future, making you better equipped for the challenges ahead. Successes, however, bring you closer to earning medals.
For example, passing a check in friendship, hunting, or fighting lets you collect the paw token for that space and place it onto your player board or into your house. If you fill the designated spot, you’ll earn a medal. Meanwhile, an agility check might involve climbing a tree, which allows you to secretly peek at three face-down paw tokens anywhere on the board. This can give you a great strategic advantage.
At the end of your turn, check if you’ve completed a mission card. If you have, you’ll claim the corresponding medal. The game ends when a player collects their fifth medal, and the kitten with the most medals is crowned the winner.
Game Info
Kyoto no Neko is a family-friendly game designed by Cédric Millet, who you might recognize from Meeple Circus, the hilarious dexterity game that’s as fun to watch as it is to play. Published by Matagot, Kyoto no Neko made its debut at Spiel in Essen last month and has drawn interest for its inviting looks and ease of play. It’s designed for 2-4 players, with a recommended age of 8+. We found that age spot-on, as our younger players had no trouble diving right in. With a playing time of around 30 minutes, it’s the perfect length for kittens of all ages. It feels satisfying without dragging on too long.
Components, Production, and Artwork
Let’s peek inside the box because Kyoto no Neko does not skimp on charm. The most eye-catching components are the rubbery kitten figures, which have a texture similar to pencil erasers. Their charm is hard to resist, especially their soft, squishy feel, which appeals to all ages. The game also includes 3D standees for cyclists, trees, and more, giving the play area a lively, pop-up storybook feel.
Each player gets their own player board, a handy tool for tracking skills and medals, and a neat little wooden box to store their components. There’s even a specially designed box for paw tokens and beautifully illustrated envelopes for other game elements like mission cards and bike cards. The absence of plastic baggies is a thoughtful touch that’s kinder to the planet. Our kittens approve!
The play area is made up of several modular boards that create Kyoto’s vibrant streets and rooftops. While the boards sometimes shift a bit during play, it’s a minor quirk rather than a serious issue. As for the artwork by Jérémie Fleury, it’s pure feline delight. The kittens are heart-meltingly cute, and the boards are both functional and visually engaging, with clear sections and intuitive icons that keep everything organized at a glance.
Rules and Accessibility
The rulebook deserves a mention too. It’s well-illustrated, with plenty of examples to smooth over any learning curves. On top of that, there’s a handy two-page rules summary for quick reference during play, making it easy to find what you need without flipping through the entire rulebook. There’s also a scenario booklet that mixes things up, but more on that in a bit.
Overall, the game is easy to learn and plays smoothly, making it accessible to a wide audience. While paw tokens are revealed at random, it’s part of the fun, like opening a mystery box where you’re never sure if you’ll find a tree to climb or a red paw ready to test your kitten’s courage. Sure, one kitten might face tougher challenges than another, but that’s all part of navigating the unpredictable streets of Kyoto.
Strategy and Interaction
Strategic depth in Kyoto no Neko comes from focusing on different skills like agility, friendliness, toughness, or hunting. Specializing in a skill can give you an edge, whether you’re climbing trees, befriending other characters, or outmaneuvering opponents. Managing these skills wisely is crucial, though, as flexibility helps you navigate challenges and capitalize on surprises.
The game includes a playful element of interaction between players. While every kitten starts out safe and sound in their own house, it doesn’t take long before they’re crossing paths with each other. If you’re feeling feisty, you can engage in a little kitten-on-kitten combat, which might earn you a medal if you win. That said, fighting isn’t the only way to victory, and there are plenty of other ways to collect the medals you need to secure the win.
Once you’ve mastered the beginner setup, the game offers an advanced mode with an asymmetrical layout and a different approach to developing your kitten. The real treat, though, is the scenario booklet. Each scenario introduces new twists, such as extra mission cards, unique paw tokens, and even new characters to interact with. It’s like giving the game a little shot of catnip. It keeps things fresh, fun, and unpredictable.
Final Thoughts
Kyoto no Neko won us over with its quick gameplay, adorable artwork, and engaging mechanics. It’s a fantastic choice for families, especially those with kids who are just getting into board games. The simple rules and replayability through scenarios make it a game you’ll want to pull out again and again.
It’s lighthearted, accessible, and full of moments that will have everyone at the table smiling. Whether your kitten is climbing trees, making friends, or battling a rival on the streets of Kyoto, there’s never a dull moment. And hey, who doesn’t love a game where you get to say, “My kitten just climbed a tree and made three new friends!”
📝 We received a copy of the game from the publisher, Matagot.
