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About Cats of the Ming Dynasty
Cats of the Ming Dynasty lets players explore a digital recreation of Qiu Ying’s ink painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” The artwork, housed in the Liaoning Provincial Museum, is rendered with a green‑blue palette and over two thousand figures, providing a detailed historical backdrop.
The casual, single‑player title hides 600 hand‑drawn cats across six scenes, offers relaxing background music and cute cat sound effects, and supplies random hints roughly every minute. Players can view the original painting in high definition by clicking the game logo, and Steam tracks progress with 100 achievement icons.
01 / THE GUIDE
Historical Artwork Setting
The game’s visual core is Qiu Ying’s rendition of the famed “Along the River During the Qingming Festival,” a Ming‑era ink painting now in the Liaoning Provincial Museum. This version follows Zhang Zeduan’s composition while applying a greenish‑blue colour scheme to depict Suzhou’s social life.
By reproducing the painting’s over two thousand figures, each with unique expressions, the game captures the original’s meticulous detail and vivid colours. Players can compare the in‑game scenery with the high‑definition view accessed via the logo to notice subtle artistic choices.
- Open the high‑definition view and note colour shifts that differ from the in‑game rendering.
- Observe how crowd placements in the painting influence where cats appear.
02 / THE GUIDE
600 Hand‑Drawn Cats
Six hundred uniquely illustrated cats are scattered throughout the six scenes. Each cat is hand‑drawn, giving it a distinct visual style that contrasts with the historic background while remaining consistent with the overall artistic direction.
Finding cats contributes to the game’s achievement system, encouraging players to explore every corner of each scene. The sheer number of felines provides a gentle, ongoing goal without imposing strict time limits or penalties.
- Take brief notes of cat poses you encounter to help locate similar ones later.
- Use the hint feature when a cat feels especially hidden.
03 / THE GUIDE
Scenes, Music, and Sound Effects
The title presents six separate scenes, each depicting a different scenario within the painting’s world. Background music plays continuously, creating a calm atmosphere that matches the casual nature of the game.
Cute cat sound effects accompany the visuals, adding a lighthearted auditory layer. While the sounds are not tied to gameplay cues, they reinforce the thematic focus on felines and enhance the overall relaxing experience.
- Adjust your volume to balance music and sound effects for a comfortable listening level.
- Observe how the music’s tempo stays steady across scenes to maintain a relaxed pace.
04 / THE GUIDE
Random Hint System
Hints for undiscovered cats appear at random intervals of about 60 seconds. The timing is not fixed, meaning a hint may arrive slightly earlier or later than a strict minute mark, providing occasional assistance without guaranteeing exact predictability.
Hints provide assistance for undiscovered cats, offering occasional help while you continue searching the scenes yourself. This design keeps the search engaging while preventing long periods of inactivity.
- Watch the screen for the hint notification rather than relying on a timer.
- Consider using a hint only when you feel stuck to preserve the exploratory feel.
05 / THE GUIDE
Steam Achievements
The game includes 100 carefully crafted achievement icons tracked through Steam. The specific milestones behind each achievement are not detailed, but the icons offer light progression for players who enjoy tracking their exploration.
These icons serve as a visual record of player activity and can motivate thorough exploration. Because they are tied to Steam’s standard system, they appear on the player’s profile and can be compared with friends’ progress.
- Review the achievement list early to set personal targets.
- Focus on scene‑based achievements to ensure balanced exploration.
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