100 hidden cats 2

Developer: Anatoliy Loginovskikh | Publisher: Anatoliy Loginovskikh | Release Date: 2021 | Genre: Casual / Hidden Object / Indie | Website: N/A | Purchase: Steam

After the first 100 Hidden Cats challenged players to locate a whole clowder of felines in a monochrome city illustration, Anatoliy Loginovskikh returned a few months later with 100 Hidden Cats 2. The concept remains unchanged, but the sequel is noticeably more lively, detailed, and enjoyable to search through. It is still an extremely short game designed primarily for achievement hunters, but it represents a clear improvement over its rather static predecessor.

As with the other entries in the 100 Hidden series, the premise could not be simpler. Players are presented with one large black-and-white illustration containing 100 cats and must click on every feline they spot. There is no story, timer, penalty system, hint button, or collection of separate stages. The entire game consists of slowly scrolling through the picture and keeping an eye open for suspicious ears, tails, whiskers, and vaguely cat-shaped blobs hidden amongst the scenery.

The illustration is one screen wide but stretches vertically across several screens, so players can only scroll up and down. The setting appears to be a sizeable coastal or hillside city district made up of several distinct areas. Near the top is a tower perched on a cliff with a park below it, while elsewhere players will pass apartment blocks, a busy street, some type of mansion, and a field with a road running alongside it. This gives the image much more variety than the single urban scene in the original game and makes the search feel like a journey through a small city rather than an exercise in scanning one giant doodle.

One of the biggest improvements is the increased amount of animation. Birds fly across the scene, ducks feed in ponds, people walk along the streets, and cars pass by on the roads. These movements do not alter the gameplay or conceal cats, but they give the illustration a lot more life. The first 100 Hidden Cats felt almost completely static, so even these small touches make the sequel feel far more polished.

The cats themselves also appear to have received more attention. Instead of repeatedly using very similar silhouettes, all 100 look unique. Some are sleeping, stretching, sitting upright, peeking around objects, or contorting themselves into peculiar positions. A few look hilariously derpy, which adds some personality to the search. The last cat we found could barely be described as a cat at all, but spotting these increasingly questionable interpretations is part of the fun.

Despite the Steam description claiming that the game is extremely difficult, most of the cats are still relatively easy to locate. During our first pass through the image, we found around 90 of them without much trouble. A second pass brought the total up by another seven, after which the final three required more careful searching. This makes 100 Hidden Cats 2 a better hidden object game than its predecessor, where only about five cats offered any meaningful resistance, but experienced players should still not expect a lengthy challenge.

The lack of a hint system becomes more noticeable once only one or two cats remain. At that point, the only option is to scroll through the entire picture repeatedly and inspect every shape again. There is some satisfaction in finally spotting the elusive feline, but the process can also become tedious when the remaining target barely resembles what players have been conditioned to look for. 

Each discovered cat unlocks a Steam achievement, so notifications appear constantly throughout the game. As with the rest of this series, this is likely to be one of the primary attractions. Players looking to increase their achievement count or add another perfect game to their profile can do so very quickly. Those searching for a substantial hidden object adventure will find virtually nothing beyond the single illustration.

Pressing “N” activates night mode, which reverses or darkens the presentation to make it easier on the eyes. It is a useful accessibility option for anyone who finds the bright white background uncomfortable, but unlike 100 Hidden Eternals, it is not tied to any puzzles or hidden objects. Players can also press “Del” followed by “Esc” to reset their progress and achievements, allowing the search to be repeated from scratch.

Replay value is naturally very limited. Once players know where all the cats are hiding, a second playthrough can be completed even faster. The reset option is welcome, but there are no randomized locations, alternate scenes, bonus levels, or secondary objects to find. The artwork and animation make this an enjoyable one-time diversion, but there is little reason to return beyond helping someone else search or repeating the achievement hunt.

Visually, 100 Hidden Cats 2 is one of the more appealing early entries in the series. The black-and-white cartoon artwork is clean and detailed, while the different landmarks prevent the long vertical image from feeling monotonous. The moving birds, ducks, pedestrians, and vehicles are simple additions, but they give the world much more personality than the first game.

The artwork is also busy enough to disguise some of the cats without becoming as visually chaotic as the surreal illustrations in 100 Hidden Aliens or 100 Hidden Snails. Those titles allowed their targets to blend into bizarre doodles and strange organic shapes, while the more coherent city setting here makes the scene easier to read. This results in a gentler search that is still more engaging than 100 Hidden Gnomes or the original 100 Hidden Cats.

The audio is basic and remains very much in the background. It provides enough accompaniment for the short search, but the animated city is more memorable visually than aurally. More ambient sounds tied to the streets, ponds, vehicles, and birds could have made the location feel even livelier.

Controls are as simple as expected. Everything is handled with the mouse, with players moving the mouse up or down to scroll through the scene vertically and the left button used to select cats. The game recommends a 1080p, 16:9 display, and the uncluttered interface keeps the focus entirely on the illustration.

Overall, 100 Hidden Cats 2 is a small but clear improvement over its predecessor. The more varied city setting, unique cat designs, and increased number of animated elements make the image much more enjoyable to explore. Most cats remain easy to locate, and the complete absence of hints can make the final few more tedious than challenging, but at least this time a handful require proper observation.

It is still best suited to achievement hunters and players who enjoy extremely short hidden object games. Compared to more substantial releases such as Hidden Cats in London or Hidden Cats in New York, there is very little content here. However, within the modest confines of the 100 Hidden series, this sequel is one of the more polished and charming entries.