One of my favorite games is Neko Atsume, a mobile game developed by Hit-Point Co. that is focused on cat collecting. The basic gameplay involves buying food, toys, and furniture to attract different cats to a player’s yard. The game’s mechanics involve buying and placing these different items in the yard and then waiting for cats to visit and leave money. There is also a “Catbook” that can be filled with pictures and mementos given by the cats.
Each cat has a different preference for food and toys and some cats are more rare than others. This mechanic influences the dynamics of the game, as players are always experimenting with their yard layouts and checking back to see if they’ve been visited by new and rare cats. For example, while some players buy items they personally enjoy to decorate the yard, others will buy random items solely because they may attract a new cat. While Neko Atsume is meant to be a single-player game, this “rare cat” mechanic also seems to expand the boundaries of the game as people frequently play alongside others since they can share tactics that help them attract specific cats.
I think Neko Atsume involves many aesthetic elements, but primarily Discovery and Submission. A big part of Neko Atsume’s draw is that people have a goal to collect all the cats which makes them keep changing up their layout and checking back in to see if new cats have been discovered. Moreover, the Neko Atsume world has cute graphics and calming music, which allows players to simply relax and enjoy the cats. This simplicity allows for escapism, which connects with the aesthetic of submission. This game also aligns with the aesthetic of expression, as there are many different items and yard backgrounds that players can buy, which encourages players to design their yards according to their personal style.
