My, how the tables have turned. Step aside, "Neko Atsume" (you're still awesome, it's just time to share the spotlight) because now instead of attracting cats with stuff, in this new kitty cat app by HyperBeard Games, the cats bring stuff to you. Where do the cats get these things? As the name "Kleptocats" suggests (or straightforwardly tells us), they steal them. Yes, these cats suffer from kleptomania. When you tap on your cat, several options come up. One of these is to let your cat out of the house, and they will always steal something. A cat can be out and about for seconds or minutes at a time, and the app can be closed without interfering with the cat's endeavors. A notification will arrive when they return. What a lovely message to kids! Stealing is fun! Although, I feel like teenagers would be more interested in this game. (That is probably because when I was growing up, I didn't have a smartphone, and apps weren't even a thing yet. I didn't even have a smartphone until I was 18).
Each cat has a happiness meter which ranges from 0 to 100 percent. The happiness of your cat can be increased by petting it and giving it a fish. Happy cats will bring back more rare and rad items, but you can still send the cat out with an empty happiness meter. Why someone would do that, though, is a mystery to me. The cats in this game are like your little adorably naughty minions. The creators got pretty creative with what these thieving felines will bring back to you in your small apartment. Their gifts vary from pieces of a paper map to other cats, dogs, and knives. Once, a cat even brought me back a pokeball. Gotta catch 'em all, right?
Cats can also bring back coins along with a new item. Gather up enough of these coins, and you can make a shopping trip to the boutique to buy some super cool, rad accessories for your cats. The only downside is that once you dress up a cat, every other cat wears the same thing. I would much rather have a diverse and expressive cat guild with each kitty expressing their unique personalities. Alas...maybe this will be an update the app receives in the future! Cats can also bring back glorious purple gems, which can be used to buy new cats! They all have names, too, and you can change them. I like to keep them as they are, though. The idle cats that are waiting for you to let them out can be seen loafing around in your apartment, which is such a charming feature.
The more I play this game, the more I feel like it's a crazy-cat-lady simulator. When the cats bring items back, they are placed in your apartment, and it starts to look really cluttered after a while. I feel like this apartment is actually designed by the cats. The player has no way to move or interact with the items in the room, so I feel like this is just a cat party place. Below is the current setup in my game.
Nevertheless, this game is literally adorable, and the notifications for when your cat has arrived from its stealing quest is a cute "meow." Can that be any more perfect? I definitely recommend this app, even if you're not a cat person. It is fun, cute, and lighthearted. I might be crazy, but I promise I'm not a crazy cat lady. I'm actually more of a dog person...shhh, don't tell my cat.
