I commissioned some cats 10

I Commissioned Some Cats 10 is a meditative hidden object puzzle game developed and published by Follow The Fun, released in January 2024 for Windows, where players search for cats concealed within detailed scenes using point-and-click mechanics and a free camera view, offering a relaxing zen experience as part of the ‘I commissioned some…’ series focused on animals.

I commissioned some cats 10: Review

Introduction

Imagine drifting into a fantastical realm where every brushstroke conceals a whiskered secret, and the simple act of spotting feline forms amid swirling colors becomes a portal to pure, unadulterated calm. I commissioned some cats 10, the tenth installment in Follow The Fun’s beloved hidden object series, embodies this serene seduction. Released on January 12, 2024, for Windows via Steam, it continues a legacy that began with earlier cat-themed entries and has ballooned into a sprawling franchise encompassing bunnies, bees, butterflies, and beyond. As a capstone to the “10” trilogy alongside bees 10 and bunnies 10, this game refines the formula to hypnotic perfection. My thesis: In an era dominated by high-octane blockbusters, cats 10 stands as a masterful testament to minimalist indie design, proving that commissioning artists to hide 1,500+ objects across 15 bespoke artworks can deliver profound relaxation and replayable joy, cementing its place as essential cozy gaming.

Development History & Context

Follow The Fun, a solo or micro-team indie outfit operating under the “I Commissioned Some Series” banner, crafted I commissioned some cats 10 using the accessible GameMaker engine—a choice emblematic of the post-2020 indie boom. The studio’s vision is disarmingly straightforward yet brilliantly executed: commission freelance artists to populate fantasy worlds with hundreds of cats and wool skeins, then challenge players to unearth them. This iterative approach traces back to the original I commissioned some cats (circa 2021, inferred from bundle listings), evolving through nine sequels into a niche empire of over 70 titles bundled together, from snails to pigeons.

Technological constraints were minimal, befitting GameMaker’s lightweight prowess—requiring just 2GB RAM and 100MB storage on Windows 7+. No cutting-edge graphics or multiplayer ambitions here; instead, the focus was on free-camera navigation and meditative pacing, optimized for keyboard/mouse inputs with WASD movement and arrow-key zooming. Released amid Steam’s 2024 indie deluge, where cozy games like Animal Well and Unpacking thrived, cats 10 slotted into a landscape craving antidotes to soulslikes and battle royales. Priced at a humble $3.99 (often bundled at discounts up to 15%), it targeted cat lovers and zen seekers, launching quietly on Steam App ID 2635740 with multilingual support spanning Greek to Japanese—evident in its 17+ aka titles like Ich beauftragte ein paar Katzen 10. This global localization underscores Follow The Fun’s savvy in cultivating a dedicated, if small, international following.

The Iterative Vision

The developer’s brief to artists—”create a fantasy world, and hide as many cats and wool as they can”—remains unchanged across the series, fostering consistency while allowing artistic flair. By installment 10, refinements like per-artwork music and object restoration addressed player feedback from predecessors, transforming a gimmick into a polished ritual.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Lacking traditional plotlines, characters, or dialogue, I commissioned some cats 10 weaves its “narrative” through implication and immersion. The premise unfolds via a succinct ad blurb: You, the player, inherit paintings from a whimsical commissioner, tasked with scouring 15 unique fantasy tableaux for every concealed cat (750+) and wool ball (750+). No protagonists emerge beyond the anonymous viewer; instead, cats embody mischievous archetypes—stealthy tabbies lurking in foliage, regal Persians atop spires—while wool evokes tactile domesticity amid otherworldly chaos.

Thematic Layers: Whimsy, Zen, and Feline Mystique

At its core, themes orbit relaxation as rebellion. In a gaming culture fixated on urgency, the game’s “Warning: Relaxing” tagline subverts expectations, promoting meditative zen over adrenaline. Fantasy settings—vibrant, hand-drawn realms blending nature, psychedelia, and abstraction—symbolize escapist reverie, with cats as elusive muses of chaos and comfort. Wool adds a tactile pun: felines “playing” with yarn mirrors the player’s hunt, theming domestic joy amid epic scales.

Deeper still, motifs of discovery and impermanence shine. Objects vanish upon clicking, leaving emptier canvases that heighten scarcity’s thrill—echoing life’s fleeting joys. Unlimited hints and restoration mechanics temper frustration, philosophically affirming persistence without punishment. Subtle nods to the series’ lore (e.g., escalating numbers from cats 1 to 11) build meta-narrative continuity, positioning 10 as a triumphant plateau. No voiced dialogue disrupts; instead, per-artwork soundscapes narrate emotionally, from ethereal flutes evoking misty forests to playful harps underscoring cartoonish glades.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

The core loop is elegantly sparse: Select a painting, pan/zoom freely, spot and click cats/wool until none remain. With 15 levels unlocked from the start, progression feels liberating—progress auto-saves, timers track personal bests, and 16 Steam Achievements (e.g., completion percentages) gamify mastery without pressure.

Core Systems Breakdown

• Exploration & Interaction: Free camera (mouse-drag panning, scroll/arrow zooming) offers fluid navigation. Keyboard fallbacks ensure accessibility. Clicking reveals satisfying disappearance animations, with a counter tallying finds.
• Progression & Replayability: No leveling; challenge scales organically as objects dwindle (last 10% is fiendishly tough). Restore feature randomly respawns a handful, enabling infinite loops. Three save slots support multiple runs; full reset invites fresh starts.
• Aid & UI: Infinite hints highlight one object—no cooldowns, preserving zen. Clean UI overlays counters, timers, and menus without cluttering art. Point-and-click purity shines, though no Steam Deck optimization is noted.
• Innovations & Flaws: Restore mechanic innovates on hidden-object stalwarts like Mystery Case Files, adding roguelite spice. Unlimited hints eliminate rage-quits, but purists might crave harder modes. Minor flaw: Rare overlaps demand pixel-perfect clicks, mitigated by zoom.

Pacing masters meditative flow—no timers pressure completion, fostering “just one more painting” sessions.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Each of the 15 artworks constructs a micro-fantasy universe: psychedelic forests teeming with camouflaged cats, cosmic abstracts where wool orbits starry voids, hand-drawn cartoons bursting with color. No overarching lore binds them; instead, standalone immersion reigns, with free-camera revealing hidden depths—cats peeking from branches, wool tangled in ruins.

Visual direction dazzles in cozy psychedelia: Artists’ styles vary (tagged “hand-drawn, comic book, abstract”), from lush naturescapes to cute caricatures, all 2D splendor. Colors pop—vibrant greens, fiery oranges—evoking user tags like “colorful, nature, fantasy.” Atmosphere builds tension/release: Early abundance yields to sparse hunts, amplifying “eureka” highs.

Sound design elevates: Unique music per artwork—soothing ambient drones, whimsical melodies—syncs emotionally, deepening connection. No SFX overload; subtle clicks and purr-like chimes suffice, reinforcing zen. Together, elements craft a tactile dreamscape, where art isn’t backdrop but playground.

Reception & Legacy

Launch reception was whisper-quiet: No Metacritic score, MobyGames n/a, zero critic reviews. Steam boasts 4-5 user reviews (100% positive from small sample), praising relaxation and value. Player counts peaked at 3 CCU (January 2024), averaging near-zero since—niche triumph over blockbuster failure.

Commercially, bundles like Hidden Cats (11 titles, $44.94) and Series 10 ($9.97) sustain it, with 71-game megabundles hinting at fervent superfans. Reputation evolved from obscurity to cult cozy staple; Wikidata and MobyGames entries (added Jan 15, 2024) preserve its footprint.

Influence ripples subtly: Pioneering “commissioned hidden object” model inspired micro-indies, boosting GameMaker’s cozy wave. Precedes cats 11, solidifying the series as Steam’s feline I-Spy dynasty—impact measured in relaxed evenings, not charts.

Conclusion

I commissioned some cats 10 distills hidden-object gaming to its zen essence: 15 artworks, 1,500 secrets, infinite calm. Follow The Fun’s vision—artist commissions yielding playful hunts—overcomes minimalism’s pitfalls via smart aids, replay tools, and immersive polish. Flaws are negligible against overwhelming charm.

Verdict: A landmark in indie relaxation sims, earning a resounding 9.5/10. Essential for cat enthusiasts and stress refugees; it etches cozy permanence into video game history, proving whimsy endures. Buy it, unwind, and lose yourself in the woolly whiskers.