Kaitou Rousseau

About

Kaitou Rousseau is a puzzle game for Nintendo DS where you play a thief who can alter his face by drawing on the touch screen. Your goal is to evade police by blending into environments, sketch a passerby to disappear in a crowd or mimic a wall’s texture to avoid detection. Each level requires quick thinking and precise drawing to stay hidden, balancing speed with accuracy as officers close in. The game’s standout feature is its clever use of the DS’s touchscreen, turning the act of sketching into a core mechanic. While not widely discussed in modern circles, it remains a niche example of early touchscreen innovation. The challenge lies in adapting to dynamic settings, making every escape feel like a creative puzzle. Its simplicity and reliance on player ingenuity keep the gameplay tight, even if the overall experience is brief.

Storyline

In Kaitou Rousseau (aka. Rousseau the Thief), you take the role as a thief who is trying to hide from the police. Rousseau has one very tricky ability, which is to change the shape and look of his face. By drawing images on the Nintendo DS touch screen, you can adapt Rousseau to the current surroundings and thereby evade his chasers. For example, you can draw a picture of a girl to throw off the cops when in a crowd or quickly sketch what's on a nearby wall to blend in with the background.