Kyoto no Neko, a new standard of tabletop cuteness

With Kyoto no Neko, French publisher Matagot aims to establish a new standard of tabletop cuteness.

This competitive board game will see 2-4 players embodying kittens and live various adventures in the city of Kyoto, Japan. Designed by Cédric Millet (Meeple Circus), the game is fully illustrated by French artist Jerémie Fleury (Yamataï, Timeline, Pan's Island). Based on a system of skills, Kyoto no Neko will see each player explore the modern-days city of Kyoto, and interact with some of its inhabitants, both animals and humans. Through independent and fully replayable scenarios, players will have to fulfill a variety of missions that reflects typical cat activities, from befriending a school boy to fighting an aggressive stray cat, or stealing food from other players dinner bowl.

Each turn will provide the opportunity to uncover something new about the city, as players will be revealing various elements from little insects to specific objects or denizens of Kyoto. While most of these elements are represented by cardboard tiles, others will come as standees, ensuring a stunning visual presence. Each cat will be able to interact with these elements, using their skills and an easy to grasp dice-rolling mechanism.

Throughout the game, players will evolve, developing their 4 majors skills (agility, hunt, fight, befriending) and gaining the ability to explore new parts of the map by climbing on bushes and rooftops. With immersive mechanics, components and art, Kytoto no Neko will be a fulfilling experience for newcomers and experienced players alike. This title marks Matagot's return to animal/ asian themed boardgame, the publisher having previously released Takenoko (who won the As d'or, the french game of the year award in 2012).

Cédric Millet (Meeple Circus) explains: "I wanted to give everyone the chance to embody a kitten in a condensed experience of exploration and skill development, based on a role-playing mechanic in which every dice roll has a positive outcome (you succeed or you learn!). The game lets you experience the sensations of a kitten's life by performing the full variety of typically feline activities (at least a new one in each scenario); I hope it will delight cat fans of all ages!"

Illustrator Jérémie Fleury (Kauri, Pan's Island) commented: "Sharing my studio with three adorable cats and being a big fan of Japanese aesthetics, I put a lot of passion into this project. You'll find nods to pop culture and a healthy dose of cuteness to ensure that players have a convivial time. Maybe the experience will even make you want to travel, because ever since I illustrated Kyoto No Neko, all I've wanted to do is go to Japan!" To learn more on Kyoto no Neko, you can watch boardgameco's review here.