As I browsed through the upcoming games on the Nintendo eShop, I came across this title, SnapCat: Mia’s Cozy Adventure. Immediately, I was reminded of another game, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure. I really enjoyed that game, so I decided to give this new one a go. It didn’t take me long to finish SnapCat at all, in a roughly two-hour playthrough. What did I think of it? Let’s explore in this review.
SnapCat: Mia’s Cozy Adventure is now available on Nintendo Switch for $12.99.
Story – Mia on Vacation
Although SnapCat: Mia’s Cozy Adventure is a simple game, it does have a suitable story to go with it, one that is actually very charming. You step into the shoes of Mia, who has gone on vacation to a Mediterranean destination, full of seaside islands that are brightly colored with interesting architecture and beautiful flowers and scenery.
Aside from feeling like you’re on an endless blissful summer vacation, Mia has a goal in mind: to photograph all the cats she comes across on the islands, documenting them in her album.
It’s a cute setup for an equally cute game. Why wouldn’t you want to go abroad to a beautiful series of islands and take photos of all the cats? (Unless you hate cats.)
The story isn’t the main focus of SnapCat, but it’s good to have it there to set up the gameplay, and it gives a little more purpose to your mission.
Gameplay – Taking Photos of Cats on Vacation
The gameplay of SnapCat: Mia’s Cozy Adventure is simple. You travel across different islands, snap photos of all the cats you can find there, and then move on. It’s as easy as that. How you choose to interpret this easygoing gameplay is entirely up to you, depending on your interests and how you approach this game.
Exploring the Island
SnapCat features 17 islands, or levels, including a tutorial section. Although the levels are visually similar, having the same Mediterranean setting, they at least vary in the layouts, as well as their sizes.
As you go through each level, you’ll have more cats to find and photograph. Some are pretty easy to spot, sitting or lounging out in the open, or they may be cleverly tucked away, sheltering under some crates or in a pot, or sitting atop a windowsill or pergola. Sometimes, you have to interact with the object to lure out the cat for a photo.
Tracking and Locating Cats
With the levels having so many different cats to find, you wonder how you can possibly keep track of them. Fortunately, SnapCat has an easy-to-see number tracker in the top corner, reminding you how many cats you’ve photographed so far and how many there are altogether. Also, the camera tells you if you’ve already snapped a cat’s photo, noted with a green checkmark when focused on them.
One thing I was concerned about was being able to locate all the cats in a level, especially as there are more to find as you go along. Thankfully, SnapCat has a very useful tool in which with the press of a button, the nearest still-unlocated cat will audibly meow, complete with a visual cue, to help you locate it. You can keep using this until the cat is found, so you don’t have that worry as you would in any hidden objects game of missing that one final cat.
Some cats are very well hidden and hard to find.
The Chillout Package
As noted, SnapCat: Mia’s Cozy Adventure is designed to be a cozy chillout game, with no time limits, no combat, no pressure whatsoever. You can take your time photographing all the cats you find. If you just want to take in the sights and unwind in the gorgeous setting, sit on a bench or a rug and enjoy the view, you can! There’s also the option to fill water bowls for the cats around the islands, and you can also pet the cats, which is especially sweet.
Another feature is the ability to name the cats you come across. All photos of all the cats are stored in your album, which you can view anytime. You can give the cats names if you wish to give them a little extra personality or make their finding more memorable. However, this is completely optional and you are never forced to name your cats. There’s no benefit or reward for doing so except for personal choice.
It’s important to remember that SnapCat is at its core a cozy game designed to be relaxing, so if you’re looking for action and drama, you’re not going to get it here. Compared to similar titles like Alba: A Wildlife Adventure and Dolphin Spirit – Ocean Mission, which also involve animals and photography in a cozy environment, SnapCat is arguably the simplest in terms of gameplay, as well as narrative.
Petting a cat on vacation is a great way to unwind.
Graphics & Audio – A Gorgeous Setting for a Chill Photography Game
To match its simple nature, SnapCat: Mia’s Cozy Adventure has nice and simple graphics that are attractive to look at. You really feel as if you’ve been whisked away to a beautiful Mediterranean destination. Everything from the architecture, the cobbled streets, the vibrant flora, make the islands feel alive.
Vacation-themed music plays as you explore the islands and locate the cats, further immersing you in the Mediterranean setting and getting you in the mood to just slow down and unwind.
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- SnapCat is very easy to play, ideal for a chilled-out game.
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- All the photos you take of the cats are saved in an album.
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- The islands are nicely designed and decorated.
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- Cats will appreciate you filling their water bowls, especially in the hot climate.
SnapCat: Mia’s Cozy Adventure was played and reviewed on Nintendo Switch.
