Honestly, I thought I was done with digital cat hoarding back in 2016. But then Hit-Point went and dropped Neko Atsume 2, and suddenly I’m back to obsessively checking my phone to see if a fictional tabby left me a used hand warmer.
If you're coming from the original game, you’re probably expecting a simple carbon copy with higher resolution. It isn’t. Well, it is still about putting out food and waiting, but the "2" in the title actually brings some surprisingly deep (and occasionally annoying) changes to how you collect these little guys.
The New Faces in the Yard
You’ve got your classics like Snowball and Sunny, sure. But the real reason we’re here is for the newcomers. Informeow and Survy are some of the early standouts that weren't in the OG roster.
Wait, did you see the new rare cat yet? Red Purrhood is basically the star of the show right now. She looks exactly like she sounds—a kitty in a little red cape. To get her, you’re going to need the Small Red Hat or the Big Red Hat (creative names, I know). She’s one of the first "new" rares people usually spot.
Then there’s the Myneko system. This is a bit of a curveball. Basically, it’s a customizable cat that lives in your yard. If you subscribe to the "Cat’s Club" (which is like a buck a month), you can actually design your own cat’s patterns and colors. It doesn't give you fish tips like the regular cats, but it’s a neat way to put your own actual pet into the game.
One thing that trips people up: some cats only show up if you’ve traveled to a friend’s yard. Yeah, there’s a social element now. You can generate a "Travel Ticket" and visit other people's setups.
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Why Your Toys Keep Breaking
This is the most controversial part of Neko Atsume 2. In the first game, once you bought a Cat Metropolis, you owned it forever. In the sequel? Your cats are actually destructive.
Items now have a "durability" stat. After a certain number of visits, your fancy silk cushion or heating stove will literally break. It looks all tattered and sad. You have two choices:
- Pay silver or gold fish to repair it.
- Trash it and buy a new one.
It sounds like a total cash grab, but it actually changes the "cat economy." You can't just set-and-forget your yard for three years. You have to actively manage your inventory. If a rare cat’s favorite toy breaks while you’re asleep, they aren't stopping by. Period.
Getting Rare Cats to Actually Show Up
The "Power Level" mechanic is still here, and it’s still mostly a mystery. Basically, if two cats want the same spot, the one with the higher power level wins.
If you're hunting for the new rares, here’s the lowdown on the gear you need:
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- Red Purrhood: Use the Red Hat (Small or Big).
- Informeow: She’s been spotted around the "Antique Compass" and "Journal."
- Classic Rares: Most of the old favorites like Tubbs and Xerxes IX are back with the same requirements. Tubbs still eats all your expensive food. Some things never change.
Pro tip: Put your expensive food inside the house once you get the yard expansion. Tubbs generally won't go inside to steal the Deluxe Tuna Bitz. He’s a lazy glutton, not a home intruder.
The Fish Problem
You might notice that gold fish feel harder to get this time around. In the first game, you could trade 500 silver fish for 10 gold ones. In the sequel, that exchange rate is... gone. At least for now.
This means you have to be way more strategic. Don't waste gold fish on expensive food early on. Stick to Frisky Bitz. It’s the best "return on investment." It costs 30 silver fish for 3 bowls, and cats tip enough to make a profit every single time.
Save your gold for the Yard Expansion. It's the only way to double your space and start seeing the high-tier rare cats.
Is It Better Than the Original?
It depends on what you want. The original Neko Atsume was a perfect "nothing" game. The sequel adds more "gameplay" in the form of repairs, traveling, and customization.
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Some people hate the repair mechanic. I get it. It’s annoying to see your favorite scratching post looking like it went through a blender. But it does make the yard feel more like a living space where things actually happen.
The visuals are sharper, the animations are a bit smoother, and the "Cat’s Club" helper cat is a godsend for people who forget to refill the food bowl at 2:00 AM.
How to Start Your Collection Right
If you're just downloading the game today, do this:
- Don't buy the expensive toys first. Get the Baseball and the Rubber Ball (Red). They are cheap and attract cats fast.
- Check the News. There’s a daily password hidden in the menu. Type it in to get free fish. Do it five times and you get a Sashimi Boat.
- Wait on Remodels. They look cool, but they don't give you more space. Buy the expansion first.
Once you’ve got a steady flow of silver fish, start looking for those Red Hats. Getting Red Purrhood in your Catbook is the first real "I’m playing the sequel" milestone.
Check your "Goodies" menu frequently for the "broken" icon. A broken toy is a dead slot that won't attract any cats, and in this game, an empty yard is the only way to lose.