Infinity Nikki is all about fun, fashion, and feline friendships

I’ve spent countless hours playing live-service games over the years. The vast majority tend to follow a simple tenet: You need to keep playing (and pulling for the gacha), or you’ll miss out on cool rewards. There were times when I had to stop and discern whether I was still playing for enjoyment or if the tasks I was undertaking had turned into chores. You’re nudged to stay engaged, as the notion of the sunk-cost fallacy encourages you not to step away from all that you’ve acquired and achieved.

Then, there’s Infinity Nikki, an open-world adventure title developed by Papergames. What makes Infinity Nikki stand out from the pack is that its cozy atmosphere lends to a more laid-back approach. You can play at your own pace and progress at your leisure, all while tackling numerous activities in the vastness of Miraland.
 

Multiple minigames and plenty of puzzles

Early in my Infinity Nikki playthrough, I was tasked with entering a dungeon area in the sewers. Along the way, I gathered collectibles known as Whimstars—there are hundreds of these scattered throughout the game’s regions, so finding them took a bit of work, but there’s an unrivaled sense of joy whenever I stumbled upon a Whimstar or puzzle in the surrounding countryside.

Infinity Nikki has several puzzles known as Curio Domains found in separate locations that are accessible via gateways. Somewhat akin to shrines in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, these bite-size brain teasers reward you with Whimstars and aren’t too overly difficult.

Just as well, there are plenty of simple minigames that you can do whenever you feel like it. Some are fairly straightforward, such as Hoop Hopper (jump through rings and land on platforms), Whimcycling (pass through rings while riding a bicycle), and Crane Flight (move a paper crane and avoid obstacles). Others are more involved, such as Flock Frenzy (herd sheep in the right direction while inside a pen), Move and Groove (press the correct buttons based on a sequence), and Shoot-a-Scarecrow (use your Purifying Orbs to hit targets). My favorite by far is the Wishing Orb Express, where you move Faewish Sprite figurines to match colored plates on the board.

All in all, Infinity Nikki’s fun minigames and optional activities are meant to offer a change of pace from general exploration and the grind of acquiring materials or completing daily tasks. They’re a worthwhile way of passing the time if you’re not questing.
 

Friendship with a “non-cat”

Nikki’s adventure throughout Miraland wouldn’t be complete without her trusty companion Momo. This cute pal resembles a cat, though I’ve been told that Momo belongs to a unique race of his own.

What makes Momo endearing—apart from resembling a cat (because we all know that cats are awesome!)—is that he doesn’t wear out his welcome. He’s there to aid Nikki and chime in during quests without being the center of attention.

Momo is also a playable character, as I found out upon reaching the game’s Wishing Woods region. The area has obstacles and terrain features that make traversal difficult for Nikki. Thankfully, one of Nikki’s outfits allows her to turn into a diminutive version of herself, which lets her ride on Momo’s head. I grinned like a Cheshire Cat as I saw this tiny non-cat rolling, hopping, and jumping around, all while a pocket-size woman held on to his colorful hat.
 

Showing off your fashion sense

One of Infinity Nikki’s core gameplay mechanics involves obtaining and crafting different kinds of outfits. Some provide unique abilities, like gliding in midair or playing musical instruments. Others are there purely to show off your sense of fashion. In challenges where you’re judged based on your overall style, it’s imperative that you also come up with the right combinations of outfits to improve your score.

There were instances when I had to choose from various clothes, including glittering headbands, frilled dresses, punk rock gloves, newsboy caps, snakeskin boots, different kinds of makeup, and even floating cosmetics known as Eurekas—all to find the perfect getup for a competition.

Even better, Infinity Nikki encourages you to mix and match clothing when looking at your wardrobe. While the game has gacha mechanics and you usually obtain individual parts of five-star outfits as opposed to the entire ensemble itself, you can still equip other clothes and accessories as you style and profile your way to victory. The gacha doesn’t have a “zero-sum” result that, too often, leads to disappointments in other free-to-play titles.

In the end, Infinity Nikki manages to captivate with its whimsical and carefree approach to a tried-and-tested open-world formula. Exploration and minigames are complemented by intricate dress-up mechanics and the presence of an endearing companion. It’s all about fun and fashion, combined with a laid-back and leisurely means of engaging with the world around you. 

If you want a cozy adventure game, be sure to download Infinity Nikki, which is free to play on the Epic Games Store. We also have a beginner’s guide to help you if you’re just starting out.