Silktrails 2: Cats in the grove

[H1]Lovely hand-drawn art paired with slightly chaotic energy[/H1] Thank you Gallic Entertainment for this curator copy. This is nonetheless an impartial review. Silktrails 2 wants to be a calm hidden cat game like we all know, but it turns out way more lively than expected. Played solo, in relax mode (no time limit), after the January 30th launch update, and without having played the first entry, this still landed as a good hidden cat game overall. As my friend [url=https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561199834503393/recommended/3907990/]treefrog[/url] summed it up nicely: “No, it’s not 'perfect for anyone who loves relaxing games and cute cats.'” That line fits surprisingly well here, even if I still had a good time. Visually, it nails that cute hand-drawn vibe. The style is cute, zoom works great, and it’s really pleasant to explore each levels. There are 10 of them for about 1h of gameplay, which fits the price well. Each level mixes cats with 3-4 types of side items, so you’re not just hunting the same thing over and over. Hints recharge quickly, are unlimited for cats and limited (but fair) for side items, don’t affect achievements, and are extremely clear. Sometimes a bit too clear, since they basically give you the answer outright by blinking in your face. There’s a competitive side if you care about it. Multiplayer exists, there’s a leaderboard showing the top 9 scores, and optional timers in the main menu settings for those who enjoy speed runs. Infinite time is the default though, so if you want to take it slow, you absolutely can. One frustrating limitation is that you can’t replay individual levels unless you reset all progress, which feels odd when the leaderboard is unavoidable. Settings also aren’t accessible during play, so you have to back out to the main menu to adjust anything. And achievements are obscure and way too plentiful. I got them all following normal completion, but I have no idea if it's because I was lucky or because it's designed this way. But where the experience clashes the most with its cozy promise is the overall “relax” factor. Background elements move constantly and can be distracting and aren't optional, cats flash neon green, some screen flicker still happens when zooming near certain edges (no it's not fully patched in the January 30th update), and finding side-quest items triggers loud, sudden sounds that really break the mood. The English translation is also pretty rough, though thankfully it barely matters in a hidden cat game. In the end, it’s a solid hidden cat title with nice art, fair pricing, and good variety, just not the chill escape it seems to sell at first glance. I enjoyed my hour with it, but it’s clearly better suited for players who don’t mind a bit of visual and audio noise along the way, with a hint of unescapable competitivity. [quote]For more reviews like this one, please check out [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45639970-Ele%2527s-Little-Recommendation-Corner/][b]Ele's Little Recommendation Corner[/b][/url]![/quote] [quote]For reviews covering all types of indies, recent and old, don't hesitate to drop by [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32732116-IndieGems/][b]IndieGems[/b][/url]![/quote]

[b]My Playtime:[/b] 0.8h (100% achievement, finished the game) [b]Grindy Achievement(s):[/b] No. [b]Optional Achievement(s):[/b] No. [b]Difficult Achievement(s):[/b] No. [h1]Intro[/h1] [i]Silktrails 2: Cats in the grove[/i] is a hidden object game where you need to find a number of the same objects in one big, black-and-white image. It consists of 10 levels. [b]Pros:[/b] - 10 levels - Hints when you're stuck [b]Cons:[/b] - Delay after finishing a level - Looks rough; objects tend to be drawn on top of the background [b]Specs[/b] AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 16GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT [h1]Should you buy this game?[/h1] [i]The game can be too pricey for its playtime, so buy it on sale.[/i] [hr][/hr] [h1]In-Depth Review[/h1] [h3]The Game[/h3] [i]Silktrails 2: Cats in the grove[/i] is a hidden object game where you need to find several objects in a level. By default, you need to find a number of cats, although the game also offers some "side quests" by talking to the colored NPCs in each level. There are 3-4 "side quests" that you can find, which require you to find another set of objects. However, unlike the cats, these images are more static and have few variations. The images look rough; I can see parts of them being erased, objects having different blurriness despite being next to each other, and several layering issues. The latter one was the worst since it makes some cats look as if they are drawn on top of the background, making it harder to notice. They look better once you find them; the game will color the cats, and the background lines won't overlap with them, although I wish the game would do that from the start. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3656291178 There is a slight delay after you finish each level. The game will show a level complete screen where you can go to the main menu. Despite the main menu showing each level lined up after the other, there is no option to go to the next level after completing one. Moreover, exiting the game right after finding all objects and before the level completion screen shows up will just make the game not mark the level as completed, and when you return to the level again to get that completion mark, your time won't be listed on the leaderboard. The game can be noisy. It will play a sound effect after you find an object, and one of the side quests' objects has a ringing alarm as its sound effect. It's way too loud compared to other sounds and can make you deaf if you play the game at a high volume. [b]Length and Difficulty[/b] Despite being a paid game that costs ~$3, it can be finished in less than one hour. Most objects are easy to find, and even if you have a problem finding them, you can use the hint to find where they are located. Sadly, the hint system still behaves the same way as its first game, telling the location of the object directly instead of giving an actual hint. [h1]Conclusion[/h1] [i]Silktrails 2: Cats in the grove[/i] can look rough around the edges, but it still gives the same enjoyment as other hidden object games. It's meant for casual players who just want to play easy ones, where they are more overwhelmed with clicking the objects rather than finding them. However, due to its short playtime, I'd rather recommend buying it on sale. [quote]This game was reviewed with a key provided by the developer for free through Curator Connect.[/quote] [quote]Follow our curator page: [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32732116-IndieGems/]IndieGems[/url] if you like and want to see more reviews like this one.

[b]I was originally critical of the claim that this game was "perfect for anyone who loves relaxing games and cute cats". But you gotta hand it to the devs, they are very responsive to feedback. Most of the things I didn't find chill have been fixed![/b] - No, it's not "perfect for anyone who loves relaxing games and cute cats". I guess it will be good enough for most people, especially if you've always wanted some PvP in your cat games. It's probably the least relaxing hidden-object game I've played so far ([b]UPDATE[/b] devs are working on improvements). I don't even think you can opt out of the competitive side with appearing in leaderboards. The backgrounds are very busy, with fast-moving parts that I found really distracting (you can disable some of them now). Sometimes my screen blinked for a fraction of a second? Your found cats and other objects turn neon green, not exactly a calm color. On the plus side, the music is indeed pretty chill. The cats are probably the most cat-looking ones I've seen in this kind of game. The "hint" symbol zooms in on the cat and makes it blink very fast. It doesn't work for the 3-4 extra search quests that people in the level give you. The English translation is pretty poor, but it has a certain charm in these genAI times. The achievement titles and descriptions all sound very serene, but most of them seem to have nothing to do with the stuff you get them for. [strike]You can't access the settings from within a level[/strike]. ESC will quit the current level and get you back to the overview. Not that there are many settings anyway. If you enjoy time pressure, you can choose between several different limits. Thankfully, there are separate sliders for music and sound effects. I was hoping I could turn off the distracting animations, but no such luck. The devs were quick to add more laptop-friendly controls after feedback, so maybe they'll implement an option for this, too. [b]-UPDATE: In a test after "Day 0 patch", I could pause some, but not all animations in the settings that are now accessible in each level.[/b] So I guess the main selling point for this game is the multiplayer/leaderboard function. You're also getting a decent amount of content for the price, compared to many other cat-finding games. Note that my playtime isn't for the whole game - I quit. I was looking for something very relaxing to look at, and this was not it for me. I can imagine it would be fun for slightly less exhausted players, though! [i]More cozy and combat-free recommendations? > [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45583336/]Treefrog wants to chill[/url] < [/i]

Finally multiplayer p2p option in hidden cat games. Leaderboard is a cherry on the top. Would definitely want to top the leaderboard one day. It was fun to play this with my wife.

[h1]Cats in the Cradle[/h1] Lange habe ich mich gegen diese Katzensuchspiele gewehrt, nun konnte ich nicht anders und ich stelle mir die Frage warum? Macht Spaß, sind beruhigend und dieses hier vom indischen Studio Gallic Entertainment hat sogar noch etwas mehr als der Durchschnitt. [b]Cat people[/b] Das Prinzip ist schnell erklärt: 10 schwarz-weiß gezeichnete Level, in denen bis zu 100 Katzen versteckt sind, die man suchen muss. Jedes Level umfasst einen Bildschirm mit einer Zoomstufe als Hilfe. So weit, so geläufig. Womit sich [i]Silktrails 2[/i] (ein kostenloser Appetithappen fungiert wohl als 1. Teil) von der Masse abheben will, ist ein Mehrspieler-Modus, in dem man mit seinen Steam-Freunden die Wimmelbilder lösen kann, sowie Bestenlisten für die einzelnen Levels. Ersteres habe ich nicht probiert – ich bin halt so ein Singleplayer-Typ – die Bestenlisten sind nett, bringen aber auch nicht allzu viel. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3660884309 Was für meinen Spielspaß ausschlaggebend war, sind die wirklich detailliert gezeichneten Level mit allerlei kuriosen Szenen und die wenigen, aber das Suchen auflockernden Animationen. Dazu gesellen sich je 3 Sidequests mit anderen Dingen zum Suchen und eine recht angenehm zu lauschende musikalische Hintergrundberieselung. Insgesamt hatte ich also gute knappe 2 Stunden mit Silktrails, das sich im Übrigen ein Universum mit der Solarpunk-Welt von Silkgrove teilt, einem Open World-Spiel desselben Entwicklers. Kleinere technische Ungereimtheiten und Probleme mit der Lokalisierung hat der Entwickler von einem Tag auf den Nächsten mit Updates aus der Welt geschafft. [code]Ein entspannendes Katzensuchspiel im Waldo-Stil, das sich durch Präsentation, Sidequests und einen Mehrspielermodus von der Masse hervorhebt.[/code] Lust auf Reviews mit einmal mehr und einmal weniger archäologischen Anmerkungen? Probier doch meine Kuratoren-Gruppe [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/archaeoplays#curation]The Archaeologist plays…[/url] aus!

Cute hand drawn game. Devs listen to players and update bugs very soon. :)

Hey, if you're looking for the most chill, adorable game to just unwind with, you have to check out Silktrails: Cats in the Grove 2. It's a beautifully hand-drawn, cozy adventure where you just wander through these 11 gorgeous, peaceful levels. The whole vibe is super relaxing—no pressure, no combat, just exploration and charm. Your main mission? Finding over 1,000 hidden cats (yes, really!). They're tucked in the funniest, most creative spots in the world of Silkgrove. It’s the perfect game to play with a cup of tea after a long day. The art is lovely, the music is soothing, and it’s just pure, wholesome fun. If you liked hidden object games or anything cozy like A Short Hike, you'll love this cat-filled paradise. Highly recommend for a guaranteed dose of calm and cuteness.

This is a fine addition to the hidden-object genre, where the main task is searching for cats. Games like this rarely provide a story or a reason for all the cats’ presence, and this one is no exception. However, the ten stages, which can be played in any order, are displayed on a well-designed map, giving at least some sense of connection between them. Each stage represents a distinct location, such as a seaside or a farm. With the exception of a few objects that turn or move, the scenes are static, almost frozen in time. The artwork is in black and white, filled with intricate details. You can zoom in for a closer look, but the feature is basic, offering only a single zoom level. This means you can either view the full scene or a default close-up. Regardless of which stage you choose, the goal remains the same: find all the cats. Clicking on a cat colors it in. The cats are easy to spot because they reveal their full bodies—you won’t have to search for a tail sticking out from behind a bush or a head peeking over a fence. The stage ends once all the cats are found, and the total number is always visible. Stages also include additional tasks. Characters stand out from the scenes, colored and marked with a large exclamation point, making them hard to miss. Each character provides a brief instruction, asking you to find several copies of a specific item, with the required number clearly displayed. Items are often repeated across stages, such as plants or satellite dishes. If a cat proves trickier to find than you expected, a hint feature highlights its location. The hint takes only a few moments to recharge, but you can use it as often as needed. Items given by characters also have hints, but due to their limited quantity, the hint can only be used a set number of times per character. After completing a stage, your time is recorded and compared with other players on the leaderboard. This is purely for personal satisfaction and has no impact on gameplay. The game offers a relaxed mode with unlimited time, as well as more challenging modes where you must find all items within a set time limit.

This is an elaborate find cats (and other objects) game, with 11 levels well worth it's price. Recommended for who likes these kind of games.

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