You Should Play… is an irregular series where I talk about analog and tabletop games I think you should play. From new indie games that have caught my eye to older games I’m currently revisiting. This series is a fun and informal spotlight on things you might have missed.
Note: This was originally a Twitter thread
I picked this game up a while ago after seeing it in a self-promo Saturday thread, as I’m always down for a cat-themed game. This game is based on the No Dice No Masters system, and it casts you as a mischievous kitty who loves messing with people.
You pick a cat playbook and then generate a scenario and go from there. One thing I adore about this game is how it encourages arts and crafts! There is space to draw your kitty as well as your starting location, which is just amazing. Honestly, if a game lets me play with crayons, I instantly love it.
There are also roll tables to generate starting scenarios that involve both humans and other animals. All of the options are varied and super fun. The human scenario is also linked to a clock mechanic that helps keeps the game flowing nicely. As this is an NDNM game, there are no dice. Everything is handled with tokens.
Some things give you a token, and others require you to spend one or face a consequence. This is all well described, so it avoids a common issue with these types of games. You won’t end up in situations where you’re unsure if your action gives or takes tokens, or get hung up on weird edge cases (which is good in a game aimed at kids).
Honestly, I’m impressed by how streamlined the whole experience is.
The writing is clear and evocative but also really open. It gives you enough information to understand what you’re doing while also allowing you to be creative. The game also gives you lots of pre-generated locations and encounters to use!
This is the perfect family game, simple enough for the kids to understand. While also fun for grown-ups due to how open it is. NDNM is a great system for this stuff as it doesn’t involve any complex resolution mechanics, and the token system helps guide shyer players.
This would also be great for parties, as it is quick and easy to learn. The pre-gens and playbooks mean you don’t have to come up with stuff on the spot and can dive right in. Also, who doesn’t want to play as a cat?
It is, without a doubt, the most realistic cat simulator on the market. And perfect for the whole family (which is surprisingly rare right now). Basically, buy it.
Disclaimer: I did not receive anything in exchange for this article. However, I have interacted with the creator in the past and worked in similar circles. However, this article is still my personal opinion of the work.
Jonathon Greenall is a freelance writer, artist, and tabletop roleplaying game designer who has written for CBR, Polygon, Nintendo Life, Gayley Dreadful, Enbylife, and many other publications. They have also published several popular and highly-praised tabletop roleplaying games including “You Have One Ability….The Ability To Fuck This Up,” “Macarons, Milkshakes, And Magic,” and “Wander Wizards.”
Jonathon has always been fascinated by media, from the big hitters to the small, obscure, and often overlooked titles that linger on the sidelines, capturing both the on and off-camera stories that make these shows so fascinating.
Jonathon is also a major anime fan, having been exposed to the medium through shows like Sailor Moon and Revolutionary Girl Utena. Since then, Jonathon has maintained a passion for anime, watching most new shows each season and hunting down overlooked gems from previous ones.