Quilts and Cats of Calico

About

"Quilts and Cats of Calico" is a cozy board game inspired by the physical board game Calico. Players create quilts by strategically placing patterned fabric scraps, earning points for color and pattern combinations while attracting adorable cats with their own bedding preferences. The game offers solo play, as well as competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes for up to four players. Additional campaign play includes variations on rules and mechanics for Calico fans.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 604 reviews

story60 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features beautiful design and presentation, with charming music and adorable cat animations.
It's an easy-to-learn yet challenging puzzle game that offers a cozy and relaxing experience, perfect for cat lovers.
The addition of a cat customization feature and a story mode enhances the gameplay, making it engaging and enjoyable.

Some players find the story mode tedious and the AI opponents too easy, leading to a lack of challenge.
The constant pulsing of tiles can cause discomfort for some players, making the game unplayable for them.
There are technical issues, including crashes and frame rate problems, which detract from the overall experience.

story
290 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The story mode of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it whimsical and charming, centered around the theme of quilts attracting cats, while others criticize it for being tedious and poorly executed. Many appreciate the story mode as a helpful tutorial for learning game mechanics, but some feel the narrative is weak and tonally inconsistent with the game's aesthetic. Overall, while the puzzles are engaging, the story itself often feels like an afterthought, leading to a divide in player enjoyment.
- “It has a story mode that walks you through a series of puzzles and challenges with just a bit of a whimsical story about how quilts attract cats if they are good enough and that cats on quilts means good luck.”
- “The story mode is a fantastic introduction to the game and its mechanics, which while straightforward do require some adjustment.”
- “The story mode is so cute (and the plot unexpected lol), it added an extra layer to an online version of a board game I wasn’t expecting.”
- “The story mode is by far the biggest issue.”
- “But even by judging by those expectations, the story is awful. It's just a sequence of random NPCs you don't care about asking you to stitch equally random fabric items in order to 'attract the cats' and a bizarre plot about trying to outdo a mechanical quilting loom.”
- “Story mode has a weak plot that tonally just doesn't jive - I wish it was just a puzzle mode.”
music
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
42%
10%
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and cozy qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While many players find it soothing and well-suited to the game's aesthetic, some feel it can be underwhelming compared to other titles, with a few opting to mute it entirely. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's charm, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
- “The music is absolutely gorgeous.”
- “The music sets the tone quite right, is present but not overpowering; the sound effects are distinct and let you know what's happening in your quilt even if you're focusing on another part of the screen.”
- “A fun, relaxing puzzle game with some of the most relaxing and cozy music I've ever heard.”
- “Even the music is rather underwhelming.”
- “And I found the music and background crowd noise annoying right away, so I turned that off.”
- “Calico's music just isn't as good, for me.”
gameplay
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The gameplay is generally described as fun, engaging, and relaxing, with a strong emphasis on strategy and pattern recognition, reminiscent of chess in its simplicity yet depth. The story mode serves as an effective introduction to the mechanics, although some players find the tutorial lacking. While the game offers enjoyable multiplayer experiences and a charming aesthetic, it can be hindered by technical issues and a reliance on luck, making high scores challenging to achieve.
- “The gameplay is like chess, simple to learn, but very difficult to master and have an optimal score, due to, in part, how luck will affect your score.”
- “The gameplay is really fun and satisfying, the art is cozy and colorful, and there are tons of cats.”
- “The story mode is a fantastic introduction to the game and its mechanics, which while straightforward do require some adjustment.”
- “The gameplay is inexplicably determined not to be calico.”
- “It frequently freezes during gameplay and won't allow you back into the game to continue your game, and you lose not only the game but 'karma' points.”
- “Note that I did not say 'easy' -- the random draws mean you're not always going to get the tiles you want for any given strategy you concoct -- but the simplistic gameplay loop is just lacking in oomph.”
graphics
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
59%
6%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the charming and cozy art style, particularly the quilting visuals and overall aesthetic. However, some users noted inconsistencies, particularly with the cat designs, which can appear wonky or distorted. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the relaxing gameplay experience, enhancing the game's inviting atmosphere.
- “The adaptation has gorgeous visuals and a super cozy vibe.”
- “From the visuals, through animations, to the music - it's a really comfy, cozy experience that brings new excitement with every new quilt <3”
- “I think what I was most impressed by was the quilting graphics, where it sews the pieces together or on, it just looks really good and I loved the way they made that work.”
- “The graphics are a bit wonky sometimes on the cats, mostly seen within the cat editor, but it was good enough to create quite a solid version of my two boys I have at home.”
- “I end up using mostly the same body features on every cat because the extreme designs of the slider mechanic and the way that the 3D model is distorted does not look natural or aesthetically pleasing to the eye.”
- “A war story is just really tonally weird compared to the aesthetic of rainbow quilts and kitties... it would've made more sense to just have a lowkey friendly plot around quilting in a small town or something.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy and relaxing vibe, effectively capturing the essence of the original board game. While some players note that it doesn't quite match the serene ambiance of other titles like Wingspan, the overall sentiment is that the music and aesthetic contribute to a delightful experience, balancing relaxation with strategic tension.
- “I absolutely adore this game's atmosphere and play style.”
- “Cozy game, love the music and the vibe, overall atmosphere 10/10!”
- “It's not bad, but neither does it really create the relaxing atmosphere that Wingspan's music does.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is cozy and relaxing, which is a sharp contrast with the tension you feel as the quilt gets made and your strategy resolving the puzzle is put to the test.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game generally performs well with no significant bugs or glitches, and it boasts an appealing visual design. However, players have reported frequent freezing issues during gameplay, which can result in lost progress and "karma" points, detracting from the overall stability experience.
- “It frequently freezes during gameplay and won't allow you back into the game to continue, resulting in the loss of not only your progress but also 'karma' points.”
- “It frequently freezes during gameplay and won't allow you back into the game to continue, resulting in the loss of not only your progress but also 'karma' points.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is characterized as a relaxing and colorful experience that evokes heartwarming emotions, providing players with cute and wholesome fun. Its turn-based optimization mechanics contribute to a soothing atmosphere that enhances the overall emotional appeal.
- “A relaxing, colorful, and heartwarming turn-based optimization game.”
- “Cute wholesome fun!”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it runs smoothly and enhances the portable gaming experience. Players find it to be a relaxing and colorful turn-based game that performs well across platforms.
- “I've played it almost exclusively on Steam Deck, as the portability makes it a breeze and it's very well optimized.”
- “A relaxing, colorful, and heartwarming turn-based optimization game.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The humor in the game elicits mixed reactions; while some players find it genuinely amusing, particularly in moments that provoke unexpected laughter, others criticize it as overly inane and tiresome, lacking depth and coherence. Overall, the comedic elements can be hit or miss, appealing to those who enjoy silliness but potentially alienating those seeking more substantial humor.
- “Moved the mouse a bit fast across the screen, scared the crap out of my cats and made me laugh my butt off.”
- “Not funny-silly, which would be somewhat okay, just inane-silly and nonsensical-silly, which becomes quite tiresome in a hurry.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly in story mode, where the ease of AI opponents diminishes the challenge and engagement. Additionally, the lack of local couch co-op further detracts from the overall experience, making repetitive gameplay feel even more monotonous.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The character development in the game is highlighted by a robust character designer that allows players to create and customize their own cats, enhancing personal investment in the characters.
- “You can even create new cats in a character designer.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers surprisingly complex logic within compact gameplay sessions, enhancing its replayability while ensuring it remains accessible and not overwhelming for players.
- “Surprisingly complex logic with compact gameplay sessions makes it very replayable without being overwhelming.”

Buy Quilts and Cats of Calico

Videos

89%10.3kreviews

Wingspan

2020

Casual Strategy

93%2.1kreviews

Root

2020

Turn-based Strategy

86%2.5kreviews

Scythe: Digital Edition

2018

Turn-based Strategy

89%347reviews

Everdell

2022

Casual Strategy

79%1.1kreviews

One Deck Dungeon

2018

Role Playing

79%8.2kreviews

Armello

2017

Role Playing

+15

86%947reviews

Station to Station

2023

Casual Strategy

88%28.2kreviews

Dorfromantik

2022

Casual Turn-based Strategy

88%3.7kreviews

Clue/Cluedo

2023

Casual Strategy

94%2.1kreviews

Through the Ages

2018

Casual Turn-based Strategy

Quilts and Cats of Calico Tweets

Quilts and Cats of Calico

Platforms

About

Buy Quilts and Cats of Calico