"Infinity Nikki is without question "A Game for Girls", and that is in no way a bad thing."
Infinity Nikki is one of just a few games I have encountered that was clearly created with female gamers in mind. Before I go on, I must clarify, this is in no way saying masculine games are “boys only” or feminine games should only be enjoyed by girls. Rather, it is a title in which almost every part of its design has been catered to appeal first to female gamers.
Can boys play and enjoy Infinity Nikki? Sure! But its appeal is limited when it comes to mainstream gamers, regardless of gender, especially those who do not already enjoy cosy games, which have always been a niche product, with a few very notable exceptions (Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing etc).
Infinity Nikki is a very slow-paced game that places greater emphasis on aesthetic beauty and narrative depth than many traditional JRPG-adjacent titles. Honestly, it is rather slow-paced at times, to the point I feel most of the female gamers I know would find it tedious.
However, this is an issue of pacing, not gender, and after sitting through the long and barely interactive introductory cutscene, my initial reactions were as follows:
Once I finished the intro and gained full control over my character, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it felt. Being able to gain new powers and abilities via outfits was honestly really fun, and despite recognising it is clearly a game designed to appeal to female gamers, as a huge fan of JRPGs (and titles inspired by them), I found Infinity Nikki to be exceptionally high quality, and I can certainly see how it will be very appealing to fans of cozy games.
However, that is not to say it is a game without issues, chief among them being its business model.
I must admit, the amount of currencies, gacha systems, and RNG mechanics in Infinity Nikki is very off-putting. While it is certainly far from the most egregious gacha game out there, and could even qualify as one of the more consumer-friendly examples, I personally have a strong dislike for games where players are incentivised to spend money, especially when many of the items they pull affect gameplay performance.
While most of the premium outfit sets are cosmetic in nature, some outfits also offer a minor functional advantage, which I am not a fan of in any way, shape, or form.
What is most unfortunate about Infinity Nikki being a gacha game is that at its core Infinity Nikki is a very high-quality title made to cater to a woefully underrepresented demographic with a potentially massive audience who could easily keep it afloat with cosmetics alone, yet they chose to go this route.
Infinity Nikki is first and foremost a cosy game, and while there are enemies to “purify” and even boss battles, combat is very much a means to an end. It primarily exists to move along the narrative and is in no way the main reason anyone would choose to play Infinity Nikki.
Infinity Nikki allows players to matchmake with random players or invite friends to visit each other’s worlds so they can explore and complete quests together.
As of Update 1.9, players can own their own house, which can be decorated to their heart’s content. In addition, players can visit other players’ homes, a fantastic addition to an already cozy and surprisingly social game.
I personally hope the developers lean even harder into the social aspect, as this and the extreme levels of outfit customisation are what will keep players coming back long after they have seen all there is to see and had their fill of Infinity Nikki’s functional but ultimately basic combat mechanics.
Infinity Nikki allows players to mix and match clothing and accessories to create a unique look while also offering outfits that grant Nikki abilities such as gliding or purifying, in addition to skill-based outfits that allow her to fish, catch bugs, and even groom animals.
As I said, it is all rather adorable, and while one of the core outfit styles is indeed labelled “sexy,” these outfits are not sexy in a way that caters to the male gaze. Rather, they are elegant and dazzling ensembles that look like they belong on the red carpet.
While some would dismiss this as a non-issue, there is nothing funny or acceptable about how often female characters are designed with titillation in mind, and it is refreshing to see a game that understands that fashionable and stunning costumes do not require female characters to dress like strippers.
Still think it is a non-issue? Jesus Christ had this to say about lust in the Gospel of Matthew:
Infinity Nikki is a free-to-play 4x strategy game developed and published by Papergames, it released on 5 December 2024, and is available on Android, IOS, PC and Playstation 5.
Infinity Nikki supports:
Infinity Nikki offers the following matchmaking options:
The Infinity Nikki in-game store sells:
Infinity Nikki supports the following peripherals:
Infinity Nikki is rated PEGI 7+ and contains no offensive content.
Infinity Nikki is a fantastic game that caters to a woefully underrepresented demographic. While it can easily be enjoyed by both male and female gamers, it is unlikely to appeal to those who are not already looking for a game like Infinity Nikki.
Ultimately, a charming and beautifully crafted cosy game that is certain to appeal to fans of the genre, though it is unlikely to find a mainstream audience regardless of gender.
We found Infinity Nikki to be a great game, meaning it delivers a memorable experience with only minor imperfections that don't detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
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