Rome — a world guide
Rome wasn't built in a day, and the cats here haven't finished napping on it yet. Ancient columns stand tall, fountains burble, and every so often a Vespa buzzes past — the only thing in this whole city, as far as we can tell, that's in a hurry. Above it all sits Julius Cae-purr, emperor cat, surveying his empire with the calm of somebody who has never once been told no. And down in the crowd, if you look closely, a cheesy slice of pizza is grinning right back at you.
The game works the way it always does here, which is to say gently. One special critter is hiding somewhere in the happy crowd, and your job together is to find it. There's no losing and no accounts — progress simply saves itself on your device. Keep your eyes open while you hunt, though. This city has six treasures of its own, and every one of them carries itself like it personally founded Rome.
What to look for in Rome
All six of Rome's treasures are rare ones, which means they blend right into the crowd — no bobbing, no waving, just standing there being quietly magnificent until somebody sharp-eyed taps them. (The usual world-wanderers, like Cameow Sandiego and Schrödinger's Kit, drift through Rome too, but these six are the locals.) Here's who to look for:
- Julius Cae-purr — he came, he saw, he knocked a goblet off the table; emperor of all the warmest sunbeams in Rome.
- Pizza Pie-cat — a perfect slice with a cheesy grin, extra pepperoni, and even more attitude.
- Gladi-cat-or — won every battle in the Colosseum, then got hopelessly distracted by a piece of string.
- Gladi-Rover — a brave little arena pup who has never lost a tug-of-war; victory nap first, then snacks.
- Gladi-Paw-tor — undefeated champion of the laser-pointer arena; the crowd chants his name, but he only wants the red dot.
- Wolfgang Amewdeus — a pint-sized musical genius whose greatest symphonies of meowing premiere at 3 a.m. Bravo. Encore.
Tips for grown-ups
Rome rewards slow looking. All six of its treasures blend into the crowd, so try scanning together — top to bottom, like reading a page — and let your little one call out anything that looks fancier than usual. Point at the columns, the fountains, the buzzing Vespa, and practice the big words: emperor, gladiator, Colosseum. A hearty "bravo!" or "encore!" makes a fine cheer when a treasure turns up. And since none of Rome's own hiders ever runs off, this is a good world for winding down — no rush, no losing, just a happy crowd with a grinning slice of pizza somewhere in it.
One more thing…
Rome employs three whole gladiators, and not one of them is thinking about battle. One is after a piece of string, one is chasing a red dot, and one is planning a victory nap. Are you not entertained? They certainly are.