As someone with zero knowledge of the Nikki series of games, I was thoroughly surprised by what I saw during a PlayStation State of Play presentation from a few months ago. The trailer for Infinity Nikki from Infold Games popped up, and while I didn’t quite understand what I was watching, all I knew was that this “game” looked fantastic and had a doll-like quality to its character models.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, as an invite to try out the closed beta of the game was sent over. Finally trying it out, while I’m still unsure of what I actually played, I’ve come out with an unexpected appreciation of how Infinity Nikki lives up to its title of being the coziest open-world game.

Infinity Nikki Closed Beta Preview

Infinity Nikki is the latest addition to the Nikki series, following the highly popular Love Nikki and Shining Nikki titles for mobile devices. These games are well-known for their casual gameplay, focusing on crafting and dressing up characters. While the trailers for Infinity Nikki might suggest it is similar to other open-world gacha games, there are notable differences that set it apart.

Firstly, Infinity Nikki features minimal combat. Although there are some simple encounters and boss battles, combat is not the primary focus. Most enemies can be defeated with a single hit, serving mainly to provide a break from exploration and material gathering. Nikki also has a dash ability to evade attacks and an area-of-effect attack to break objects.

The game encourages players to explore the beautiful world of Miraland. The story begins with a brief introduction and a meeting with a mysterious figure named Ena the Curator, who sends the protagonist on a quest to revive all the Miracle Outfits. The wardrobe system is central to the game, with many of its mechanics revolving around it.

Miraland is exquisitely designed, and the game performs well even on a GTX 1060, indicating good optimization for a wide range of setups. The game features stunning vistas and vibrant fields, creating a cozy and peaceful atmosphere.

The attention to detail in Infinity Nikki is impressive. The focus on clothes and dress-up systems means that character models and fashion pieces are designed with dreamy aesthetics and sparkly effects, enhancing the overall cozy feel of the game.

The landscape is dotted with various collectibles, coins, and valuable items known as Whimstars, which can be used to acquire new skills. These Whimstars are often found along the beaten path, rewarding players who thoroughly explore every corner of the world. Additionally, there is a feature that allows players to highlight these items, making it easier to track and collect them.

Platforming is a standard element, but the wardrobe system plays a significant role. Instead of rolling for new characters, Infinity Nikki encourages crafting and rolling for new wardrobe pieces to form sets that grant new abilities. For instance, one ability allows Nikki to glide after a jump, granting access to previously unreachable areas. Each new set provides different abilities. Crafting these wardrobe sets requires blueprints and the necessary materials, rewarding players with a new suit upon completion.

Miraland offers a variety of activities beyond the usual side-quests from townsfolk. Players can engage in activities such as petting animals, solving environmental puzzles, and more. There are also dungeons that present a moderate challenge, though they do not demand excessive effort from the player.

Infinity Nikki, like its predecessors, may not appeal to everyone. While some players might not appreciate its relaxed and dreamy atmosphere, it has the potential to foster a community that shares fashion ideas, captures instagrammable screenshots in photo mode, and enjoys a stress-free gaming experience. While I haven’t been converted just yet, I am at least very interested to see what the later parts of the game will look like and figure out if I am hooked enough to see it through.

Infinity Nikki is coming to PS5, iOS, Android, and PC via Epic Games.