Many games series have annualised releases, though there aren’t too many that release on an almost monthly basis. The Hidden Cats series and it’s spin-offs including Cats and Seek appear to be arriving on such a frequent release cadence that it’s becoming difficult to remember which cities we have found our fury friends in. Their recent gallivants have included Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and more. With no sign of slowing down the releases, publisher Silesia Games’ latest release in the series sees us heading to Istanbul.
Istanbul, one of Europe’s largest cities is a melting pot of culture. Spanning empires as recent as the Ottoman, the former Constantinople was once a capital of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire. A gateway between two of the world’s continents – Europe and Asia – Turkey and Istanbul have architecture and culture inspired from all across the Silk Road. With the series on a resurgence following recent positive entries, is Istanbul a city worth hunting kitties in? Here’s our review.
Gameplay – The Same old Hookah
Having written Hidden Cats reviews several times it’s hard to think of more ways to explain what’s on offer. Simply, they’re hidden object games where you’re looking for many hundreds of cheekily hidden cats and a number of other objects including cartooned famous natives and more.
Beautifully drawn maps begin to pop with colour as you find some of the wonderfully cute cats across the city and many stunning interior locations. The Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and a hookah café are included as locations for us to find the whisker blessed, domesticated cuties.
If you’ve played any of the ‘cats’ games – and I’ve played every one that has come to Xbox – then this is very much more of the same. A formula that I’m not yet ready to walk away from, yet.
Visuals – Bazaar and Wonderful
The colours, the drawings and the art style of Hidden Cats is some of my favourite in gaming. The attention to detail in the drawings of the cities is deep, the vibrancy of the palette and the cultural-relevant scenic features continue to impress me with each new title. Istanbul is no different and the city level is up there with Hidden Cats’ best.
The grandeur of Dolmabahçe Palace, the history of the Roman constructed Walls of Constantinople as well as some Sultan cats with turbans and more, developer Nukearts continue to pay homage and respect to every metropolis they portray.
Audio – Turkish Delight
Very much ‘cosy games’, Hidden Cats always has a peaceful soundtrack to accompany your cat hunt. Turkish-themed music overlays your virtual trip to Istanbul with music you would expect to hear in a regional hookah bar. It’s all very fitting, and like all games in the series, keeps you entertained enough for the brief 2- hour runtime.
Conclusion – I’ll be Baklava
By now, I thought I’d be tired of the formulaic cat hunting. Alas, I am still here and I know the community is still behind the series, for now. ‘Cats’ fans can expect more of the same, though with little innovation I wonder whether the cat-shaped bubble will burst in the near future. For now, Istanbul has been a visual pleasure.
This is slightly shorter than the last few released on consoles, though it’s just as fun as it always has been. Hidden Cats in Istanbul is a game I can recommend.
Hidden Cats in Istanbul releases on Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One on December 17 2025. The game launches on PlayStation 4 & 5 on December 18 2025 and Nintendo Switch (including Switch 2 via backwards compatibility) on January 8 2026. The game is also already available via Steam.
GSC would like to thank publisher Silesia Games for a code provided for review. The review was played on Xbox Series X.
