There was a Barbie game at Gamescom, but I didn't go to check it out. Barbie: Project Friendship is (understandably) pitched at very young kids, but after the cross-generational success of the Barbie movie last summer, there is clear proof that a Barbieꦯ game could appeal♈ to a wider audience. Enter 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Infinity Nikki, which I did get to try out at Gamescom, and which could be the answ꧅er to my prayers.

I've had my eye on Infinity Nikki for a long time, and it has been heartening to watch it steadily gather momentum as its unique hook of being a dress-up open world game draws in curious eyes. It had a long queue at Gamescom, but that was ultimately its undoing. In the oppressive heat of the lower public halls, with Cologne going through a 31 degree heatwave (that's 88 in American), for a country that averages a breezy 19/66 in summer, too many desktops on the same online server felt the strain, and hard crashed. I heard of this happening to a couple of other public demos, but only personally experienced it with Infinity Nikki, and thus my time was cut slightly short.

Infinity Nikki's Adventure Mechanics Let You Absorb The World

Infinity Nikki, character in blue dress floating through the air

However, I saw enough to keep my hopes higher than the highest heels, and I'm eagerly anticipating my next chance to play. The game features a variety of mechanics like fishing, animal tending, and gliding, which all require their own outfit. Before we even get onto how they play though, I spent a lot of time in the menus customising different outfits, and I imagine my full experience of the game will be no different. The sign of a great dress up game is not just having a lot of options, but making you carefully consider your choices for each option, and that's what Infinity Nikki excels at.

The same is true of Nikki's default outfit. I had hundreds of individual items at my disposal, and while I imagine I won't start with quite so many when I boot the game up for real, this is a crucial aspect of the game that developer Infold Games is nailing. That's to be expected, given its background is in dress up titles like Love Nikki, but there were even some quests that required outfits to hit certain criteria (for example, 'Handsome'), and therefore needed specific items. The fact you could organise your clothes from most to least in any given criteria could make it feel a little more like a spreadsheet rather than actively engaging in the fashion aspect, but I know it’s going to absorb me and that's what counts.

Infinity Nikki Has Hundreds Of Fashion Options

A pink haired character holding a cat that is holding a camera

I had an array of short, long, and elegantly over the top hairstyles, as well as ball gowns, streetwear, overalls, countryfried denim, kawaii Lolita fashion, and casual looks to pair them with, and jewellery that went from plain studs to dripping diamond tiaras. Shoes spanned from sneakers to stilettos, and while make-up wasn't available in the demo, I expect there to be just as much range on the face as there is on the body.

After the relative let-down of Fashion Dreamer's shallow gameplay though, just having a lot of outfits is not enough. What's the point of 168澳洲幸🐻运5开奖网:getting all dressed up with nowhere to go? Thankfully, Infinity Nikki provides. Though the fishing is a little reductive, the world is teeming with activities due to a smattering of 'whimstars' - collectable currency you can find along pathways, inside jars, on rooftops, or even for solving puzzles. You might need to roll a rock down onto a cave from above to grant entry, glide through a system of windmills, or even just catch the right fish in order to get them all.

I'm not sure how many of these are in the game, but based on how many I saw, it will be heavily into the hundreds. You're likely to get most just by wandering around, and then will need to scout out the last few. Infinity Nikki describes itself as 'the coziest open-world game', and its pastel colours and peaceful charm certainly channel that, though there are still adventures to be had.

One of the quests took me into a platforming dungeon which seemed to be set to test my agility with the gameplay, but unfortunately this was when the heat became too much and the servers decided they needed to head backstage to change outfits. However, from what I saw it felt a lot less like Zelda (which I'd seen some comparisons to as an open world quest-driven adventure) and more like the collectathon vibes of Spyro or Jak and Daxter. Some clever puzzles and the constant twinkling pulling you in unexpected directions seem enough to sustain this sort of gameplay, even if it has gone out of fashion, and feels like an excellent pairing with fashion finesse.

Infinity Nikki was one of my most anticipated titles ahead of Gamescom, and while the taste I got didn't satiate, it did make me hungry for more. Though the game is still without a release date, it held a closed beta test in June and the next one is .

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Your Rating

168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Infinity Nikki
Adventure
Open-World
Dress-Up
RPG
Systems
Top Critic Avg: 80/100 Critics Rec: 88%
Released
December 5, 2024
ESRB
T Foꦏr Teen // Blood, Violence
Developer(s)
🤡 Papergames, Infold Games
Publisher(s)
Papergames, Infold Games𝔍, Fearless
Engine
Unreal Engine 5

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

Infinity Nikki is the fifth installment in the beloved Nikki series developed by Infold Games. Utilizing the UE5 engine, this multi-platform game seamlessly blends the series' signature dress-up mechanics with open-world exploration elements. It also offers platforming, puzzle-solving, and many other gameplay elements to create a unique and rich experience.

In this game, Nikki and Momo embark on a new adventure, traveling across the fantastic nations of Miraland, each with its own unique culture and environment. Players will encounter many characters and whimsical creatures while collecting stunning outfits of various styles. Some of these outfits possess magical abilities essential for progressing through the story.

Bright and fantasy-filled open world
The world of Infinity Nikki offers a refreshing escape from traditional apocalyptic landscapes. It's bright, whimsical, and filled with magical creatures. Wander through this wonderful land and explore the beauty and charm around every corner.

Exceptional clothing design and dress-up experience
Express your style with an extensive collection of beautifully designed outfits, some of which even grant unique abilities. From floating and purifying to gliding and shrinking, these outfits unlock exciting new ways to explore the world and overcome challenges. Each outfit enriches your journey, letting you mix and match for the perfect look.

Platforming with endless fun
In this vast, fantastic world, master skills like floating, running, and plunging to freely explore the land and tackle intricately designed puzzles and challenges. The joy of 3D platforming is seamlessly integrated into the game's open-world exploration. Each scene is vibrant and charming—from soaring paper cranes, speeding wine cellar carts, mysterious ghost trains—so many hidden secrets await discovery!

Cozy sim activities and casual fun
Relax with activities like fishing, bug catching, or grooming animals. Everything Nikki collects on her journey helps craft new outfits. Whether you're in a meadow or by a river, there's a great chance that you'll encounter enchanting creatures that bring a sense of peace and immersion.

Diverse puzzles and mini-games
Infinity Nikki is filled with activities 🌜that challenge both wit and skill. Traverse scenic paths, enjoy a hot air balloon ride, complete platforming puzzles, or even play a hopscotch mini-game. These elements add variety and depth, ensuring ♈every moment remains fresh and engaging.