Calico

Calico is a puzzle game that requires very advanced strategic thinking, despite its adorable 2D graphics and laid-back ambiance. It turns quilt-making into a complicated art form of multitasking. Arrange colourful hexagonal fabric tiles cleverly to make a warm quilt, lure cute kitties, and get the highest score.

How to play Calico

Your goal is to fill your game board with hexagonal fabric tiles. Each tile possesses two attributes: color and pattern. The gameplay unfolds in a recurring cycle.

Design Goals

Your quilt has three special aim spots, each surrounded by 6 empty spaces. Your goal is to arrange the six surrounding tiles to fulfil that objective's unique colour or design requirements. If you are super super good and meet both the colour and pattern criteria, the game will give you points for the highest value condition. They do not stack.

Colourful Buttons Collection

If you manage to link 3 or more of the same colour tiles, you receive a button worth 3 points. There are no extra buttons for extending an existing colour cluster; you have to make a whole new cluster of three tiles of the same colour to get another button of that colour. Little secret: Collect a complete set of buttons in every colour, and you will receive a "Rainbow Button" for bonus points!

Attracting Cats

Each cat in the game is a rather demanding guest. They only care for two specific types of patterns and require you to arrange them in a particular shape or quantity. Once you’ve created a qualifying area, select the corresponding cat objective and place a cat token onto your quilt to score points. Cats with more complex shape requirements offer significantly higher point values.

Controls

Mouse Movement: Navigate and inspect your quilt board.

Click: Select a quilt tile, confirm its placement, or acquire a new tile from the Market.

Hover: Preview how a tile will look once placed.

Interaction: Click a Button or Cat Token when the requirements are satisfied, then click the relevant region of ​​your quilt to confirm and score.

Tips for Becoming a Master Quilter

Always look for tiles that serve multiple purposes. An ideal tile might provide the right color to form a button, feature a pattern that attracts a cat, and fit perfectly into a specific spot in your design plan.

Don’t overlook the patterns or colors printed along the edges of your quilt board; they can serve as anchors to help you complete button clusters or attract cats more easily.

Don’t just focus on the tile you need right now. Consider all three available options and anticipate which one will help fill tricky gaps in your long-term strategy.

Plan for the six spaces surrounding an objective tile early on—as the game progresses, you’ll have less room to correct any mistakes.

Do you think you have what it takes to become a master of Calico?