Infinity Nikki: My current hyperfixation

I never knew I wanted a game like Infinity Nikki in my adult life. Hell, I didn't think I NEEDED a game like this so badly until it ended up in my life, and is now one of the main games I play in my current day to day life.

For those who don't know, Infinity Nikki is an open world fashion game developed by Infold, a company you may already be familiar with if you've heard of a little game called Love and Deepspace. You play as a young girl named Nikki, who is suddenly isekai'd into a magical world that operates under 2 things: wishes and styling. This world, known as Miraland, is in danger. Our protagonist, Miss Nikki, is the one who will alter the course of the world's history with the use of the miracle outfits and use her powers as a stylist (aka this games equivalent of a magic user...but with fashion) to help everybody. Travelling alongside her is her best friend Momo, a BBQ obsessed cat that can speak human language, that might not REALLY be a cat? He insists that he isn't, and it appears his background is shrouded in a little bit of mystery...but he's cat adjacent.

The game reads as a cozy, child friendly fairytale world where things never get too bleak and optimism runs high. A lot of it reminds me of the old Barbie movies, which I loved as a little kid. There's something so soft and inviting about Infinity Nikki...it's familiar, nostalgic despite being a modern AAA game that isn't marketed to retro gamers. It's a "cozy game" in every sense of the word, and while I have loved and still love a cozy game here and there, Infinity Nikki is taking the cake by a large margin. It's a open world exploration game, a dress up game, a 90s collect-a-thon platformer, a minigame collection & a story-driven single player experience all wrapped up in one beautiful package. 

This game celebrates not only fashion, but femininity. It's no wonder that female gamers have embraced this game, as it is quite literally a GFG made in the modern era. There's no fanservice and all the most powerful people in the world are women. While there is conflict between different societies and races, misogynoir isn't even an afterthought. If you're looking for media that is safe to consume in this respect, this is a perfect match!

This game has fed a part of my inner child that I honestly forgot about. The little gay boy that was obsessed with dolls, was infatuated with Barbie, Bratz and Polly Pocket, and was finely attuned to his feminine side. Not to say that I've become less feminine or have made myself more masculine over time, but I feel like a grown version of my 4 year old self on Infinity Nikki. It's like playing with my favorite barbie dolls all over again, and letting my imagination run wild while channeling my own divine feminine energy.

On the topic of imagination, that's another thing about Infinity Nikki: I feel like it's been a really healthy outlet for my creativity. One thing i struggle with and fear with my age is making sure I don't lose my imagination. To continue being creative and not let go of my ability to make things and conceptualize. This game has felt like such a joyous exercise in that area, by using the dress-up mechanics as a canvas for me to paint on. Making my own unique looks for Nikki from scratch and slowly taking the most meticulously edited photos of those looks itches that creative part of my brain in such a particular way. 

Before I end this ramble, I should mention that this is a Gacha game. I know, immediate red flags are popping up for some of you. But take it from me, someone who has and currently plays other gacha games, that Infinity Nikki truly feels F2P friendly, and just friendly in general to a more casual player. Yes, there's limited banners with shiny 5 star outfits, and while this game does have it's own take on a "meta" with the game's major "battles" being styling challenges where you put together an outfit with the highest score to beat your opponent, it doesn't feel like the devs are suffocating you into submission to wish on the newest banner to "get good". There is a form of end game content called the Mira Crown, which doesn't ENTIRELY omit the suggestion of having the best high rarity ensemble, but once again you are able to enjoy this game to the fullest without feeling pressured to gamble every 3 business days. Obviosuly there will be parts of the game that will nudge you to have some rare clothes as this IS a gacha game and devs need to make money to keep this thing alive somehow, but moral of the story is that the game is nowhere near as grimy and disrespectful to its players like some others. Truly, whether or not Infinity Nikki's gacha becomes problematic to you is entirely up to your own self-control IMO. At the end of the day, if you are IN LOVE with the latest limited outfit, then go ahead and wish. Limited outfits also have their own abilities, but they are all cosmetic and the abilities you actually NEED to make progress in the game are given to you in the beginning of the story. So, unless you are absolutely OBSESSED with the thought of becoming a fairy to float across platforms and want to see that instead of the default blue bubble outfit, there is absolutely no direct punishment for NOT visiting the gacha page. 

So yeah, I love this game so much and it has been making me very happy. Highly reccomend it to everybody!!