Infinity Nikki offers so much to do that it can occasionally be too much to handle. You quickly discover that there are numerous in-game currencies, an infinite number of menus, and a plethora of colors after you have mastered running and jumping. Then there are the clothes: its lovely fantasy world offers hundreds of cute clothing items, accessories, and cosmetic choices. The Nikki games, a dress-up gacha series that was originally exclusive to mobile devices, have a lot of stuff built in. It features the typical optimism interspersed with sporadic melancholy in its narrative, as well as the cheesy images and costumes that range from the simple to the fanciful.
But in addition to moving from the static dress-up menus of its predecessors to an amazing open world full of diverse places to explore, innumerable items to collect, and endearing characters to become friends with, Infinity Nikki also leaps PC and consoles (along with mobile). Rarely does a series make such a dramatic change, but Infinity Nikki has managed to do it gracefully, landing securely on two feet while wearing a pair of glittering shoes.
Since 2012, Nikki’s games have revolved around creating a wardrobe and customizing the pink-haired (by default) Nikki any way you like. You would have to go from chapter to chapter, participate in styling competitions, and collect clothing and accessories in earlier entries, but most of that was accomplished by traversing 2D menus rather than pacing a 3D map. There is a lot of high-fantasy mythology that occasionally adds oddly high stakes for a game about pretty clothes, and she is constantly accompanied by her best friend and traveling companion, a brazen talking cat named Momo.
While Infinity Nikki shares the same ethos, it expands it into a sandbox world that feels as expansive and full as adventure games like Genshin Impact or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That is a cute formula meant to counteract reality by relying on hyper-girly aesthetics and the simple joy of putting on an amazing outfit and admiring it in the mirror.
Much of the Nikki series is set in the beautiful, colorful fantasy world of Maryland. Each component is made to be as delicate as possible. NPCs welcome you with enthusiasm, and flowers shine. Even though it rains, there is never any gloom. Even the foes are meant to be inconspicuous; in my more than twenty hours, the most menacing one I have come across is a gigantic wandering boulder. Not only do you “purify” these adversaries with a ball of energy, but you also “battle” them without using any physical force. Nikki herself carries on with her life practically unafraid; she may sustain injuries, but she always recovers rapidly when not in conflict and will always wake up safely at the closest fast-travel point if her health runs out.
(Since I never really died, I had to test this.) If I did not know any better, I would assume that all of the characters live off of sprinkle-covered ice cream cake topped with icing. That is how sweet the world seems, but there are also tidbits of destruction that creep into its corners, such as the Queen’s Palace at the beginning of the skillfully interwoven tale of war and refugees.
(I had to test this because I never actually died.) I would assume that all of the characters eat icing-topped ice cream cake covered in sprinkles if I did not know any different. The world appears to be so lovely, yet there are also hints of devastation that infiltrate its corners, like the Queen’s Palace at the start or the deftly woven story of refugees and conflict.
Infold Games, the developer, has meticulously crafted each ensemble.
Any Nikki game would undoubtedly aim to make its costumes stand out, but Infinity Nikki also applies that same level of sweetness to other areas. The different animals of Maryland, for instance, are round, fluffy, and occasionally given ridiculous names. Here, there are the norms, such as ordinary horses, but there is also a dog breed known as a Floof that resembles a Pomeranian. Nikki is not out to skin or pluck animals in this realm; instead, you can gently groom these creatures to gather their feathers and fluff for crafting using an unlockable ability costume. Bunnies allow you to brush their long ears and paws, while Floofs roll over for tummy rubs. Each animal receives a brief wash and its own distinct, aggressively adorable animation. As I played, I will admit that there were a lot of squeals coming from my office.
As soon as you launch Infinity Nikki for the first time, you will know if this tone suits you or not. Before you hear the flamboyantly perky original theme song by artist Jessie J, your eyes will be inundated with what seems like every color on the visible spectrum during a montage of moments you will eventually encounter, while the main menu compiles shaders (something it had to do every time I opened the PC launcher, which was annoying). Although it is a lot, it is all appropriate for a game that you could include in a dictionary next to the word “delightful.”
Fortunately, this has never been a weak point of the Nikki games. Infinite The theme song for Nikki sounds like a standard anime opener, a la Sailor Moon or “Jump Up, Super Star,” however it is offset with music that changes depending on where you are in the globe. Moving to the first town’s fishing area brings out a folksy guitar, while the main theme still plays a pop-poppy piano. The narrative is equally scattered, with a single scene in which the consistently upbeat and gentle Nikki uses her attire and styling skills to assist others with their issues, such as photographing a flower,
Simply by playing, you can always earn stuff.
For instance, Mira’s Journey—a fancy name for Infinity Nikki’s battle pass—has weekly activities you can complete to gain experience. It has two stages, just like other free-to-play games: a free level where you can earn some rewards and a premium level where you can get even more, such as exclusive clothing and premium money. The Mira’s Journey that was available during the review period was called Distant Anthem, another from a new cloak for Momo at level 30, and another when it was finished, it did not have many features on the premium track to entice me to purchase it.
Your Mira’s Journey levels and your Mira Level are somewhat confusingly different. These kinds of free-to-play mobile games, each with its own distinct goals and prizes, are constantly bombarding you because they keep you scrolling around even when you have nothing better to do. Additionally, it guarantees that you will always earn something from your gameplay, even if it is only a few coins or, in the case of Infinity Nikki, simple crafting materials. For instance, there are Daily Wishes, which you can complete by playing normally. If you accomplish five of the six objectives, you will receive some goods. You still receive a treat with no work on your side, and Infinity Nikki receives a few extra menu selections.
Speaking of which, the numerous currencies are much more difficult to understand than the options. The primary one, bling, is easily acquired by completing quests or by picking up glowing, floating crystals while exploring the globe. A premium currency, diamonds can be used to buy unique clothing or to obtain Resonite Crystals, which can then be exchanged for the gacha that grants you access to further cosmetics. If you spend a Shard, you can perhaps get separate items that combine to create four wildly imaginative five-star looks from a pool of apparel and accessories.
You get 10 Tranquility Drops when you pull three-star duplicates, To be honest, it took me a lot of menu searching to discover that they were utilized in a “Pity” mechanism to lessen the penalties for repeat pulls. Lastly, Stellarite can be used to acquire diamonds and other luxury items when paid for with actual money.
Verdict
Infinity Nikki is the final development of the immensely popular series that preceded it. Despite having a few too many currencies and all the gacha pulls you might expect from its mobile origins, this is the best free-to-play dress-up game available, and it is all for the sake of creating an amazing, enormous wardrobe that is worth getting excited about. It has some of the most elaborate, complex clothes of any game I have seen, and depending on the outfit, getting it may take a lot of grinding or actual money, but it is worth it for the time spent happily exploring the game’s crowded open world.
I have spent dozens of hours trying to figure out its mysteries, yet there is always something new to find that is either adorable or strangely sinister. Whether you have been looking for something like that or not, Infinity Nikki is the epitome of girlie positivism in a pink and glittery box.
