Nature / Type: Board game
Who would love this: Kids / adults that enjoy dexterity games
Nekojima from Unfriendly Games - I’m a sucker for a good dexterity game, especially when it’s as adorable as this one! Bright, colourful, packed with charm, it doesn’t just play well - it looks amazing on the table too. Thank you Let's Play Games for providing a copy for review.
Why I love ❤️ it:
(1) Dexterity Game Inspired By Japan's Cat Islands
Nekojima is a 1–5 player dexterity game inspired by Japan’s cat islands. On your turn, you roll two dice to see which districts you’ll be building in, then draw a cube from the bag to decide the colour (and length!) of the string between your wooden poles — the Denchuus. Place them carefully in the matching quadrants: poles can stack on top of others, but the string can’t touch the board, other strings, or wrap around the poles. To spice things up, sometimes you’ll pull a black cube - which means a cat must be hung from the wires, either by you or by a rival player depending on the mode. Play solo, cooperatively, or competitively; in co-op you’ll climb levels together, while in competitive there’s just one unlucky loser and everyone else gets bragging rights.
(2) Challenging - Different Pole Lengths / Cable Sizes/ Cats Of Varying Poses
Nekojima isn’t just cute chaos. Different pole lengths, cable sizes, and cat shapes keep every placement unpredictable. At first it feels easy, but soon you’re weaving a wild web of wires, balancing poles on top of each other, and fighting against cords that never sit quite where you want them. Add in cats of varying poses (some much trickier to hang than others) and even a few fun variants like bird nests that cap your stacks, and suddenly this ‘simple’ game feels like a high-wire act!
(3) Adorable Cats With Colourful Table-Top Appearance
Theme-wise, Nekojima nails it. The cats are adorable, and we love the tangle of colourful strings stretched between wobbling poles. It looks fantastic on the table and the whole balancing act fits perfectly with the quirky ‘cat island’ vibe.
(4) Solid, Durable, GREAT Components
The wooden poles are solid and satisfying to handle, the cords are thick and durable, and the circular board is sturdy with clear quadrant divisions. Even the wooden cubes and custom dice have a nice weight to them, while the chunky cardboard cats add a playful touch. Everything in the box feels well-made and built to last - exactly what you want in a dexterity game.
# gifted in exchange for review
Where to buy this:
https://www.gamesworld.com.au/product/nekojima-board-game/
Find your local game stores here: https://www.localgamestores.com.au/
Enjoy the video!