Safety
Editor's Review
Neko Atsume 2 adds a subscription tier, the Cat's Club which is an entirely new business model that fundamentally changes the free-to-play nature of the franchise, both in the form of novel personalization options as well as troubling monetization concepts. To have a perspective on how this subscription model influences the experience of playing a game, it is important to analyze what this type of subscription offers and how they affect the main cat-collector loop.
The three levels at which Cat’s Club operates are Leisurely Course (0.99 per month, one Myneko), Friendly Course (2.49 per month, two Mynekos) and Satisfactory Course (2.49 per month, three Mynekos). Every level also features Helper, a support cat which replaces two food bowls automatically when you are unavailable, a long-standing player demand that the game should have automated maintenance. The centerpiece feature, however, is Myneko—fully customizable cats that occupy a dedicated yard section visible only to subscribers.
Myneko customization offers remarkable depth unavailable elsewhere in the game. Players select cat color patterns, customize eye colors and patterns with up to four choices, add accessories, and choose pedestals that determine personality traits. These personalized cats remain permanently in their dedicated space rather than visiting randomly like standard cats. One reviewer poignantly described creating two Mynekos based on cats that passed away earlier that year, finding emotional comfort in seeing "silly cartoon versions of them playing with toys or napping on beds." This emotional connection represents the subscription's strongest advantage—transforming generic cat collecting into deeply personal memorial experiences.
The subscription's technical implementation reveals thoughtful design. The dedicated Myneko space utilizes the yard expansion area if unpurchased, or creates a third section if players already bought the expansion, ensuring no spatial conflicts. When subscriptions lapse, Mynekos transition from permanent residents to occasional visitors, allowing continued interaction without completely removing purchased content. The one-month free trial provides risk-free exploration of features before financial commitment.
However, significant disadvantages emerge upon closer examination. The subscription creates a two-tier player ecosystem where free players cannot access Helper automation or Myneko personalization, fundamental quality-of-life and emotional engagement features. This contradicts the original game's philosophy where all content remained accessible through patience rather than payment. The pricing structure appears arbitrary—why does Satisfactory Course cost identical amounts to Friendly Course while offering an additional Myneko? This suggests inconsistent value proposition across tiers.
Worse still, the subscription format is an indication that the monetization will change further. In contrast to the original game, which used a single purchase premium currency system, Neko Atsume 2 permanently puts unlockable features under recurring payments. Gamers who have been accustomed to having full experiences by purchasing a game once now have to pay a recurring fee or see less functionality. The Helper cat particularly exemplifies this issue—automated food refilling represents essential convenience for busy players but remains subscription-exclusive rather than a purchasable permanent upgrade.
The subscription service is effective in creating recurrent revenues and offering real emotional appeal with Myneko customization. Nevertheless, it undermines the accessibility of the franchise by developing the high-end experiences that cannot be accessed by free players, which fundamentally changes the identity of the game as it was formerly a universal casual entertainment and transforms it into a service model where a constant monetary investment is necessary to enjoy everything it has to offer.
By Jerry | Copyright © JoyGamerss - All Rights Reserved
Comments