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Game Info
Year
2024
Players
1-5
Age
6+
Playtime
30 min
Collection
Your Tier
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Description
"Hang on Mama, I'm on my way!" Toto the black cat said, skittering towards the lopsided tower looming before him.
Having been told that his mother left the world of the living to become a star in the sky, Toto and the rest of his feline friends bound unwaveringly for the top of the tower in the hopes to meet her again.
In Cat and the Tower, you will work together with other players to help Toto the cat on his way up a perilous tower to reach the stars, where he believes his mother is waiting for him.
Each turn will have you choosing options from the cards available to either build the tower ever higher, or testing how steady you can keep your hand by performing dexterity challenges that will help Toto climb up higher to his destination.
It is up to you and the other players to build the tower yourself, which will require a constant balancing act of mismatched walls and moving Feline Friends.
Depending on the luck of the draw, you may be stuck with options forcing you to build with walls of extremely varying height that can send the entire tower toppling over if you are not careful.
Toto’s Feline Friends will also come along for the adventure, and their presence can both help and hinder you. Adjusting their location will let you rebalance the tower, but they may also end up in inconvenient spots that get in the way of you placing walls to build new floors.
When Toto sees his friends making it to the floor above him, it gives him the bravery needed to climb up higher and higher himself.
The game may start off seemingly easy, but you will soon find that it is unsurprising to see the tower fall apart once you start building from the 5th floor and beyond.
Build up the tower, place the Feline Friends and get Toto to reach his goal to win the game!
If you get Toto to the 10th floor, you clear the first stage and get to see more of Toto’s story as he journeys to reunite with his mother.
The challenge doesn’t end there, however. If Toto wants to reach the stars, he will have to reach heights that seem almost impossible, but with your help he can surely do it!
Cat and the Tower has cute cats, engaging gameplay, and a storyline that will tear at your heartstrings and leave you giving it your all to help Toto complete his adventure.
—description from the publisher
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Review
Cat and The Tower
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 9
This page: 9
Sentiment:
pos 9 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–9 of 9
Video kMB1oqFmGYg
Tabletop Tokki Discussion at 15:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86885 · mention_pk 226391
Click to watch at 15:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- stunning, whimsical art and tangibly appealing components
- compact set with punch-out windows and cat figures
Cons
- text on cards and rules is in Japanese; translations may be needed
- English printing status unclear
Thematic elements
- cats, towers, stacking, and whimsical art
- Fantasy tower with cat-themed dexterity play
- cooperative, tactile, and visually striking
Comparison games
- Challengers
- Manara
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — players work together to achieve stacking/objective goals
- cooperative play — players work together to achieve stacking/objective goals
- dexterity / stacking — build stacks/towers with cat-themed pieces and platforms
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I am so excited for this game you have no idea
- I'm going to rate this 11 out of 10 on BGG so excited
- coffee shop pocket um it looks like it's one or two players 20 minutes ages N9 and up
- Cat in the Tower first of all look at that freaking art
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8drfVgNzWUY
Man vs Meeple Top List at 24:47 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84972 · mention_pk 216810
Click to watch at 24:47 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Charming theme and artwork
- Cooperative and competitive modes available
- Engaging dexterity and puzzle elements
- Miniature cat figures
Cons
- Potentially sad theme for some
Thematic elements
- A cat building a tower to reach heaven to see its deceased mother
- Story cards with narrative elements
Comparison games
- Rhino Hero
- Nikoma
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players draft cards and place walls.
- Competitive mode — A competitive version designed by the creators of Nikoma is new for the US release.
- Cooperative — The game is cooperative by default.
- dexterity — Involves stacking and balancing components.
- Story-Driven — Players progress through story cards, with narrative elements to read.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a list in no particular order.
- We wanted to give kind of a guide of things you could go see.
- This is not a train game. Like if you were to tell people this is a train game, they might have very specific.
- It's a Euro bag builder.
- And you're going to choose one of those cards to add to your active deck.
- So, the two characters you take, you take their starting cards, you put those in whatever order you want, and Ryan would do the same. And we flip our first card, and we resolve those cards. Then, we flip our second card and resolve those cards. Then, before we do that again, we're going to have taken all the cards for those characters, the other cards, shuffled them up.
- So it kind of counters that or or fires off first and foils him.
- It's a shedding game.
- The goal of a shedding game is to get rid of all the cards in your hand.
- This is probably the heaviest on our list.
- It looks beautiful.
- This is a racing game that's sort of like dirt rally racing but it doesn't look as though there's like a big board with a track that you're racing around.
- It's a mixture of deck building and dice placement.
- You're going to be rolling dice and then you're placing dice on this sort of like dashboard that where you place your cards and then you're going to be doing when you're when it's your turn, you're taking all sorts of actions.
- It's a cutesy animal game, but you play as beavers building your little like dams, but they're like cities.
- it's all about the timing of grabbing these buildings.
- This is a giant first and foremost in my opinion, this is a giant box to store everything Lost Ruins of Arnac plus and and nicely.
- It's a nice big sturdy box with a a lot of nice trays to hold everything. several.
- It's a two-player game that has vibes that feel a little like, you know, a duel sort of game like a seven wonders duel thing where there's like a few different win conditions.
- this gave me Bellatro vibes because it looked kind of roguelike where you're like going against all these you're dueling in the Wild West via poker hands and kind of demonic looking poker hands uh against these bosses.
- When the cat gets to the top of the tower, do they re and then mom's not there and they realize there's no heaven and their mom's just worm food.
- I'm kidding. I'm kidding.
- This is our fourth annual event.
- I will have Nana. Uh, I will have Tichu.
- So, uh, we have 10 most anticipated and I think me even more than 10.
- Let us know what games you're anticipating for Gen Con yourself or if you think we were completely off base on any of our picks.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2ZcRsjHDqP8
Discussion at 6:19 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84022 · mention_pk 212882
Click to watch at 6:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- tower-building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a really great time.
- I hope I get to see you at Design Day next year cuz I'm definitely going
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video v1UsqaQ-B_I
Grant Lyon Other at 3:20 sentiment: positive
video_pk 82055 · mention_pk 205858
Click to watch at 3:20 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Cooperative game with a dexterity element
- Wonky, different-sized walls add to the challenge
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- building a tower with cats
Comparison games
- Babel
- Rhino Hero
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative — It's a cooperative game, so but if you like, you know, a little dexterity element, a little sort of group building kind of like a rhino hero type of thing, but with wonky, different-sized walls.
- dexterity — And this is cooperative game with a dexterity element to it.
- Stacking — And so, you'll sort of build these walls and put a put a roof on it, but everything will be a little wonky.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Hello, I'm Grant with Grant's Game Rex.
- So, if you go to UKGE, I would love to see you at the show.
- So, yeah, fun little quick game.
- Wow, round of applause. Uh 40 years of Tales of the Arabian Nights.
- So, while it does play one to six players, you would need to purchase some of the additional solo content if you want to do it solo.
- This is distilling the classic game Diplomacy down to a card version of the game.
- So, you can get it down to a couple of hours or less depending on how many people you are playing with.
- So, if you like Risk and you want to try a new version of it, then check out GI Joe Special Missions.
- And it's very silly and energetic and fun.
- So, those are 15 new additions coming to retail here in the month of March.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Vb2xRgrxPOI
Game Night Picks - Pair Of Dice Paradise Top List at 11:33 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80938 · mention_pk 198730
Click to watch at 11:33 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Cooperative dexterity game.
Cons
- Noticeably crooked pieces that need manipulation.
Thematic elements
- Helping a courageous cat reach the top floor of a tower
- A tower
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Play — Action cards are played to add floors, add cats, and move Toto.
- cooperative play — Players work together to help the cat reach the top.
- dexterity — Players manipulate crooked pieces and need to gently touch cats without knocking the tower down.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Recall is our penultimate pick, because this is a deep strategy game from the designers of 2022's massively popular network building game Revive.
- Recall focuses on engine building and exploration as various tribes explore the lands and discover traces of ancient civilizations.
- Then, at three different points during the game, players must choose one of two paths, with the chosen path providing an immediate bonus as well as boosting one of the end-game scoring options.
- just like those players, we have reached our end game with this month's bestest bet, which is the super puzzly two-player maze deduction game Layers.
- Layers is full of both dungeon building and simultaneous dungeon exploration.
- It's a game that tests players to build a dungeon dangerous enough to confuse their competitor, while deftly defying a dungeon of their own.
- If you'd like to find even more great games to discover, well, then continue on to our latest episodes of our High Rollers or Hot Picks and Cool Recommendations videos.
- There are a lots more games that are ready for you to enjoy as your next game night pick.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video oLF5a_mNhD8
Review at 0:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 72338 · mention_pk 170559
Click to watch at 0:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fun game
- Great time
- Looks so cool
- Can be played with pretty much anybody's age
- A lot of fun
Cons
- Difficult to build due to slightly different piece heights
- The tower can become wobbly
Thematic elements
- A cat climbing a tower to reunite with its mom.
- The game has a story that progresses as players reach higher floors.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — On their turn, players choose between two actions: placing pieces and a floor tile, or placing a feline friend.
- Competitive play — Players compete to get their individual cat the highest as the tower collapses.
- cooperative play — Players work together to build the tower and reach a target floor.
- Debris management — Fallen pieces are considered debris, and accumulating too much leads to losing the game.
- goal completion — Players complete goal cards to advance Toto (or their own cat in competitive mode) up the tower.
- Set Collection — Players need feline friends of specific colors or arrangements on certain floors to achieve goals.
- tower building — Players place various pieces and floor tiles to construct a tower.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- So, Cat in the Tower is a great time. You can play this with pretty much anybody's age, and it's just a lot of fun.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video J03Nk4UMuUo
Event Coverage at 1:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 68527 · mention_pk 164796
Click to watch at 1:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Really cool dexterity game
- Sad but awesome theme
- Unbalanced tower construction adds challenge
- Play through story missions
Cons
- The tower will fall down
Thematic elements
- Helping a cat climb a tower to get to heaven to see its mom.
- Series of story missions
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dexterity — It's a 'really, really cool dexterity game'.
- Mission-based — Players 'have to play through like a series of story missions'.
- tower building — Players are 'kind of building this tower'.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- We're going to show you some cool things to check out on the floor.
- They literally brought a fully functional tattoo booth with professional tattoo artists.
- We love Crokinol.
- This game is so satisfying
- This is the new game that pits giant Godzilla monsters against each other in big epic battles.
- This is coming out at Gen Con, but we got a hands-on preview of this really, really cool dexterity game with kind of a sad theme.
- which is sad, but the game is awesome.
- It's really kind of a board that can be used in a lot of different ways.
- This is a brand new game about making board games with this awesome component in the middle that actually kind of spins to unlock new placement spots for your forklifts.
- They licensed all of your favorite board games
- So, that is everything we have to show you on the floor here at Origins.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video de3c9goN5-o
Allies or Enemies Review at 0:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 60994 · mention_pk 153383
Click to watch at 0:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Elegant and appealing production with a book-like box presentation and chunky, varied cats.
- Strong thematic integration; storybook feel with a sad but charming backstory about Toto.
- Cooperative mode provides collaborative fun and a different social dynamic from Rhino Hero.
- Solid candidate for families and party/gaming nights; accessible but with enough depth for adults.
- Nice balance between strategy (tile/layout decisions) and luck (card draws and cat availability).
- Competitive variant adds pace and direct competition while retaining the core tower mechanic.
Cons
- Not strictly a kids' game; complexity and tension may be off-putting for very young players.
- Reaching level 10 can be challenging due to card availability and goal constraints.
- Some players may prefer Rhino Hero’s Uno-like feel; this does not replace that itch for everyone.
- The theming includes a surprisingly melancholic backstory which may not resonate with all players.
Thematic elements
- Array
- A narrative tower-climbing journey to the stars with a cat protagonist
- Story-driven with a somber backstory about Toto and a quest to find a mother in the stars
Comparison games
- Rhino Hero
- Rhino Hero: Super Rhino Hero
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players select from a small set of action cards to guide their move each turn.
- card drafting / action selection — Players select from a small set of action cards to guide their move each turn.
- Cat placement / pawns — Cats are placed on floors as the tower rises; in competitive play each participant has their own cat and goals.
- Cooperative Game — The base mode is cooperative, with a separate competitive variant that introduces personal goals and rival actions.
- Cooperative play / competitive variant — The base mode is cooperative, with a separate competitive variant that introduces personal goals and rival actions.
- Goal cards / scoring objectives — Goal cards drive scoring and determine when Toto or a player’s cat reaches a target level.
- Stacking and Balancing — The tower can topple, creating a tangible balance and risk element that affects everyone.
- Tile Placement — Players add walls and floors to build a shared tower as they act on their chosen cards.
- Tower stability / risk — The tower can topple, creating a tangible balance and risk element that affects everyone.
- Variable player components / private objectives — In competitive play players use their own cat and private goal cards, increasing personal strategy and risk assessment.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a cooperative game, although there is a competitive variant.
- The box looks like a book. It is weirdly sad. This is Toto climbing to find his mom who has gone to the stars.
- the cats with their scarves are just like really cute.
- I could definitely see us bringing this right alongside it [Rhino Hero].
- the rule book says if the tower topples, however, you have to start again at zero.
- level 24 is kind of the super winniest win that you can get as in competitive as well.
- there's a lot to like here.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video gvdheqB4ZL0
Sir Thecos Top List at 3:26 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5702 · mention_pk 16941
Click to watch at 3:26 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- excellent dexterity experience
- cooperative and thematic
- strong components
Cons
- table space required
Thematic elements
- Adventure and narrative through cooperative play
- Tower-based dexterity game
- Alite sad theme with a strong story feel
Comparison games
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative play — players work together to achieve goals
- dexterity — players manipulate a tower or tower-like components in a cooperative task
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Dungeons of Doria is an amazing game.
- This is amazing. This is like one of my most favorite dexterity games at the moment.
- A Wild Venture is my personal highlight of spiel this year.
- Wingspan, of course, this is clearly Srank.
- Distilled will always be an S probably.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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Showing 1–9 of 9