When I first started playing Infinity Nikki, I was just kinda pressing buttons. The actual gameplay I had down – this open world gacha is pitched mainly at those after a casual experience, and so its platforming, dungeons, and puzzles are never overcomplicated. But the monetisation, while never manipulative, can feel overwhelming. I’m 30 hours in and haven’t spent a dime and have never needed to, but my wife gave up after a few hours thanks to the game endlessly explaining its multiple strands of currency.
I didn’t really get it. I understood that there was one set of dresses that were permanently in the shop, and another few that were only available for a limited time, and they used different coloured gems. But whenever I got ten of either gem, I rolled the dice in the store. You’re guaranteed an item from one of these headline outfits every ten pulls, so I did them in bulk. It was interesting, but I didn’t really care. After the latest update, I get it. I get all of it.
Croaker’s Whisper And Bubbling Affections Have Won Me Over
The latest update for Infinity Nikki adds two new limited time outfits, replacing the old ones. I got bits and bobs of all four previous outfits, but never really committed to one. Like I said, I was kinda just pressing buttons. This time though, I was locked in. One of the outfits is a new Electrician outfit (Froggy Fashion) that is basically a frogified raincoat. It’s cute, I see the appeal, but it’s a bit whatever. The Electrician outfit is the worst of all the Ability outfits, so I suppose an upgrade would be welcome, but it’s also the least used. Long story short: meh.
But the other outfit? Ooh baby, the other outfit. Dreamy Glimmer replaces the Violinist outfit, so again won’t get too much use in the narrative, but it’s also the sort of thing my Nikki would just wear running around. It’s a ’30s cocktail dress, a very femme fatale, cigarette holder, bishop breaking windows sort of number. It’s gorgeous, from the pink flowing gown to the fur shawl to the electric little bob. I need this dress in my life. And I almost have it.
While I hadn’t deliberately saved up much currency (again, just pressing buttons), I had enough between the gems and in the in-game currency to roll for ten pulls. In what may be a miracle and may be the algorithm manipulating my dopamine receptors, I got not one outfit item, but two. At this point, I realised the odds had dropped to one guaranteed item in five, not ten, and thus the outfit became extremely attainable. Unfortunately, these were the socks and earrings, but progress is progress. These items, unlike the rest of the pulls, do not repeat, so it sent me on my way. And on my way I went.
Gacha Understands The Art Of ‘Must-Have’
In another stroke of luck that was almost certainly player retention tactics in action, these new dresses coincided with other events starting. Going through all of the daily checklist stuff in the menu, before I had even done anything, got me enough for three more pulls. Thankfully, I hadn’t realised before I logged off last time that my Mira Level, Stylist Level, and Compendium Level (I did say it is needlessly complicated) had all levelled up. That was enough for eleven tugs on the ol’ bandit.
This time we got some real prizes. The dress, the centrepiece of everything, landed in that first ten. With a carefree spirit singing in my heart, I rolled the eleventh shot as well – now the shoes were mine. 21 pulls and I had 4/9 items. You’re guaranteed one every five, so I just need another 25 in ten days. Ignoring the froggy gal, and with some high level narrative quests on the horizon plus a lot of side quests I’d ignored and this new, resonance-heavy event to look forward to, and the outfit is basically mine.
Unfortunately, it would also mean ignoring friends and family, as the next ten days covers both Christmas and my very own birthday (what I want this year is Infinity Nikki’s blonde bob – I simply must have it). Having won big – possibly by design – I’m now a lot more plugged in. Sure, I like the outfit enough to try my luck, but if I had socks and earrings to show for 21 pulls I’d be writing this outfit off. Now I yearn for it. If I find myself on 8/9 with time running out, I’m not above breaking my self-made rule and spending money to get it. And now I really wish I had just saved it up when the last set didn’t do it for me.
I played close to 100 hours of Genshin Impact, mostly at launch but sticking around for the first few expansions too. I had a pretty bad team and never even considered putting money into the game. By the end I’m not even sure I was going for pulls when I should. If I logged back in now I’d probably have a load saved up to buy whichever anime doll is currently on sale.
I like the basic gameplay motions, but I never really connected with it. I have with Infinity Nikki, despite a similar detachment from the narrative, and this new outfit only solidifies that. One way or another, it will be mine by the new year.
- Top Critic Rating:80/100
- Released
- December 5, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Papergames , Infold Games