Calico is a puzzle game about filling a quilt board with colorful hexagonal fabric tiles. Each placement can support a design goal, connect matching colors for buttons, or help attract a cat with the right pattern combination. Since placed tiles cannot be moved, check the spaces around each goal before committing.
How to Play Calico
Select a patch from your tiles, hover over an empty space to preview it, then click to place it permanently. After each placement, choose a replacement from the three tiles in the market. The remaining tiles shift left, and the cat beneath the board takes the leftmost leftover tile before the market refills.
Continue until every space on the quilt is filled. The changing market means each draft affects your next options, so prioritize patches that advance more than one scoring plan.
How Scoring Works
Each quilt has three design goal tiles surrounded by six patch spaces. Match the required color distribution, pattern distribution, or both. If both conditions are met, only the higher point value counts.
Connect at least three patches of the same color to earn a button worth 3 points. A larger connected group does not automatically earn extra buttons, so create a separate qualifying group when you want another button of that color. Collect one button of every color to unlock a rainbow button worth 3 points.
Cats prefer two fabric patterns and require a specific group size or arrangement. Build the required combination, select the matching cat goal, and place its token on a matching patch. Cat goals award different point values, so plan valuable cat combinations alongside your color groups and design goals.
Tips for a Higher Score
- Check all six spaces around a design goal before placing a patch.
- Look for tiles that advance a button group and a cat goal at the same time.
- Use preprinted edge patches when they help complete a matching group.
- Watch the market and draft patches that fill gaps in your current scoring plans.
Game Controls
Use the mouse to navigate and interact with tiles. Hover over an empty space to preview a patch. Left-click to select or place a patch, draft a replacement, or select a completed button or cat token before placing it on a matching patch.