♾️ Infinity Nikki Developers Share: The Vision, Challenges, and Future of the Game

The development team recently sat down with Digital Trends for an interview and wanted to share highlights with our stylists! Dive deeper into the stories behind the game's creation.

1. Was there a specific moment when the team thought: "Now is the perfect time to have a Nikki game for PC and consoles?" Can you walk me through the process on how Infinity Nikki was first conceptualized?

Infinity Nikki is the fifth installment in the Nikki series by Infold Games. Since its announcement, it has attracted significant attention — not only for continuing the series' signature charm, but also for its innovative advancements. This game carries the expectations of over 100 million players worldwide, and releasing it on PC and consoles was a carefully considered decision—resulting from years of technical expertise and deep engagement with player feedback. For years, players have longed for a more immersive and more free experience, and Infinity Nikki directly responds to that demand.

The concept for the game emerged during the pandemic — a time of uncertainty. The development team envisioned Infinity Nikki as a journey of "reconciliation"—both with oneself and with the world. Deliberately avoiding an emphasis on combat, the game focuses instead on elegant styling and stunning environmental details, encouraging players to find peace and beauty through exploration.

As a new chapter in the Nikki series, Infinity Nikki retains the beloved dress-up gameplay while boldly incorporating open-world exploration and platforming mechanics. Picture traversing vast landscapes, guiding Nikki across mountains and rivers, all while curating the perfect outfit. Additionally, the newly introduced "Snapshot Hourglass" feature allows players to capture and share treasured moments from their journey with friends, adding an extra layer of interactive joy.

To bring this warmth to an even wider audience, Infinity Nikki supports cross-platform play across PS5, PC, and mobile devices. Whether enjoying the immersive experience on a large screen or the convenience of playing on the go, the game aims to deliver joy and connection to every player. This commitment reflects the core mission of the Nikki series—to warm the hearts of players through the beauty of the experience.

2. How difficult was it to go from mobile-only games to developing one for PCs and consoles? How did the team adjust to these changes?

Transitioning from mobile-only games to developing for PC and consoles was a challenging process. The team encountered difficulties in areas such as technical development, design philosophy, and player experience.

1). Shifting from mobile game development to PC and console platforms was a complex transition, requiring the team to adapt to the unique characteristics of each platform.

Technical Differences:

Mobile platforms have limited hardware resources, requiring highly optimized development to ensure smooth performance. In contrast, PC and console platforms offer more powerful hardware, but also demand higher graphics quality and more complex system designs. This meant the team had to relearn and adapt to new development tools and engines to meet the needs of these platforms.

Differences in Player Habits:

Mobile players tend to prefer quick, casual gaming experiences that can be enjoyed anywhere, whereas PC and console players seek deeper, more immersive content. The team needed to adjust gameplay and design to cater to these different player preferences while preserving the game's core fun.

Adapting to New Development Tools:

The shift from mobile development to PC and consoles required the team to familiarize themselves with new development environments and toolchains. This took time and extensive hands-on practice.

2). In the face of these challenges, the team invested considerable time and resources into technical research and design optimization to ensure the game's performance met expectations across multiple platforms.

Technical Research:

To achieve cross-platform compatibility, the team continuously refined their toolchain, optimized the development process, and made breakthroughs in key technical areas. For example, they conducted extensive research and experiments in graphics rendering and performance optimization to ensure smooth gameplay across different platforms.

Player Feedback:

The team places great value on player feedback, especially concerning mobile adaptations. They actively made adjustments and optimizations based on the issues and suggestions raised by players. For instance, in response to feedback on mobile controls, the team is working to improve touch control sensitivity and response speed to enhance the overall player experience.

Balancing Cross-Platform Experience:

The team is committed to providing a consistent gaming experience across platforms while also leveraging the strengths of each one. To achieve this, they considered the specific features of each device during the design process and conducted numerous internal and player tests to ensure the game performed as expected on all platforms.

3). We acknowledge that there are still some challenges with mobile adaptation, and player feedback has been a key driver for improvement. The team is fully committed to addressing these issues and will continue to optimize the gaming experience. Currently, the focus is on improving performance and controls for mobile platforms, including but not limited to:

Enhancing game stability on lower-end devices

Improving the accuracy and responsiveness of touch controls

Optimizing the mobile UI and control prompts to ensure easy navigation on smaller screens

Despite the challenges with mobile adaptation, the team has received a great deal of positive feedback from players regarding the game's content and innovative gameplay, which motivates us to keep moving forward.

3. During the development process, were you often worried that players would unfairly compare Infinity Nikki to Genshin Impact (or other free-to-play open-world games), or were you counting on this comparison to be made–i.e. Perhaps as a means of giving the player a sense of familiarity?

Given Infinity Nikki's genre and high-quality production, we anticipated it might be compared to free-to-play open-world games like Genshin Impact. However, our goal has always been to emphasize its unique features, rather than relying solely on a sense of familiarity.

The main distinction with Infinity Nikki lies in its core gameplay and experience:

It is not an RPG centered around combat, but rather an open-world adventure game rooted in platforming, with an integrated dress-up mechanic. The gameplay revolves around relaxed exploration, puzzle-solving, and interactions with abilities granted by outfits, rather than intense combat.

The game's art style and emotional tone are more focused on warmth, healing, and self-expression, setting it apart from many open-world games that prioritize combat and character progression.

While comparisons are inevitable, Infinity Nikki ultimately provides a fresh open-world experience that encourages players to explore and express themselves at their own pace, rather than simply completing quests or combat challenges.

4. Many free-to-play games look for ways to keep players engaged daily, including the concept of "fear of missing out" (FOMO). In comparison, Infinity Nikki seems more cozy and laid back. How do you balance this concept with wanting players to feel engaged often?

Our original intention has always been to create a relaxed, casual, and enjoyable open-world game filled with fun and the joy of collecting beautiful things, offering players a space to unwind in the midst of their busy lives.

During the development of Infinity Nikki, we've always prioritized player enjoyment and experience. We deliberately avoided using mechanisms like "fear of missing out" (FOMO) to pressure players into logging in. We want them to return because they genuinely enjoy the game. To achieve this, we focused on making the game itself the reason players want to log in day after day.

To achieve this goal, we've incorporated various elements within the game to keep our players interested:

Consistently Updated Content: We regularly release captivating new storylines, charming characters, and exciting events, ensuring that players are always greeted with surprise and anticipation each time they enter the game.

Play at Your Own Pace: We've designed the game with player-friendly mechanics, allowing them to enjoy the game at their own pace. Whether playing for short periods every day or diving into deep sessions occasionally, players won't feel like they've missed out on anything important.

Our Monetization Approach: We're not a pay-to-win game. Paid content will never impact the game's balance or core experience. It's an optional addition that allows players to enrich their experience based on their personal preferences. We want every player—whether paying or not—to feel that they're experiencing the full joy of the game.

Through these approaches, we aim for Infinity Nikki to be not just a game, but a relaxing open world that players can enjoy at their own pace.

5. Infinity Nikki is not a very combat-intensive game. That said, are there plans to beef up the combat systems or add difficult encounters, or would these ideas go against the core principles of the game?

The core experience of Infinity Nikki has always been centered around "platforming and dress-up," which is why we've simplified the combat system. Future updates will focus on enriching the characteristics of monsters rather than increasing the complexity of combat. We believe that maintaining the relaxed atmosphere and core experience of the game is crucial. Any idea that might go against this will have to be carefully considered. Our goal is to ensure that players feel happy and content as they explore the world, rather than tense or stressed.

6. It's very challenging to manage live-service games. What are your key pillars when it comes to creating new content for future updates?

From the beginning of Infinity Nikki's development to its continuous updates, we've embraced the "Impression-Creation-Production" design cycle, aiming to enrich the "happy moments" that define the core experience. With the flexibility of our Feature Teams' agile workflow, we can efficiently incorporate player feedback. Seasonal changes, weather shifts, and other ecological features within the open world offer players plenty of reasons to come back. Through regular updates, we strive to surprise and touch our players each time they log in.

7. Speaking of updates, Infinity Nikki version 1.2 has the New Bloom Festival/Fireworks Season, a celebration of Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival. As a Chinese studio, how important is it to showcase Chinese culture in some way, shape, or form in the game? What are some facets in games that make you feel that the culture is represented authentically and genuinely?

As a Chinese studio, integrating Chinese culture into our game is a natural expression, not a deliberate choice. It is deeply embedded in our team's DNA—an inseparable part of each member's upbringing. The Spring Festival, for example, is more than just a holiday; it carries precious memories for all of us.

Therefore, when we create the idea of "sharing happiness with everyone," we naturally want to reflect that feeling in the game's version of this special time of year because it is a part of who we are. We want to share that feeling with players around the world, so they too can experience it.

For the New Bloom Festival, we focused on authenticity and emotional resonance. Drawing inspiration from our own life experiences, we designed content that lets players truly immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Spring Festival. This includes familiar elements like traditional Chinese clothing, firecrackers, traditional Chinese instruments, and lanterns—each one not only a visual detail but also a meaningful symbol of cherished memories and deep significance the holiday holds for us.

With these additions, we hope players not only experience the richness of Chinese culture but also feel the warmth and emotion of the holiday itself. After all, culture is more than symbols—it's about the shared emotional experiences of a community. Through Infinity Nikki, we hope to share our experiences with players around the world.

8. One of my main critiques when I reviewed Infinity Nikki was how the gacha felt a bit too egregious. It's true that there are several ways to earn currencies, as well as a slightly more generous pity mechanic. Unfortunately, each outfit consists of multiple pieces (often eight or more parts), which can compel a player to pull more often just to get a full set. Can you walk me through how the team first envisioned the gacha system compared to what we see now? Are there any plans to have more player-friendly improvements?

When it comes to Infinity Nikki's current gacha system and any future changes, we will focus on three key aspects:

Freedom of Customization and Personal Expression:

We have adopted a "piece-by-piece" gacha system that encourages players to mix and match fashion styles, allowing for unique character designs instead of being confined to pre-set outfits.

Clear Guarantees for a More Reassuring Experience:

Our gacha system includes a guaranteed 4-star item every 10 pulls and a guaranteed 5-star item every 20 pulls. This system incorporates the feedback we received from our previous title, Shining Nikki, ensuring a more transparent and reassuring experience.

Content-Driven Innovation:

Moving forward, our priority is to expand gameplay focused on fashion themes. Through more creative approaches, we aim to let players experience the charm of styling beyond simply adjusting probability rates.

9. Everyone loves the dazzling outfits in Infinity Nikki. Can you tell me more about the artists who design the dresses and outfits in the game? Are they digital artists or are some of them also independent/self-employed fashion designers?

The Infinity Nikki costume design team consists of passionate and creative artists, including professionals with deep expertise in the fashion industry as well as self-taught, cross-disciplinary talents who entered fashion driven by their love for the Nikki franchise. We firmly believe that the essence of design lies in the perception of beauty and the emotional connection it fosters. For this reason, when selecting team members, we prioritize "passion" and "growth potential." Many of our team members joined the project right after graduation and have grown alongside Infinity Nikki.

In-game costume design goes beyond technical execution; it's an emotional expression. Each outfit reflects the team's meticulous attention to detail—from the texture of the fabric and the logic behind the cuts to the cultural Easter eggs that tie into the game's rich mythology and history. When players wear these outfits and discover the hidden design nuances, the joy and connection they experience is the true essence of our creative vision. Looking ahead, we are excited to continue designing outfits rich with emotional depth that allow us to build Infinity Nikki's fashion narrative alongside our players.

10. It's easy to think that a game with a female character and dress-up mechanics would be marketed more towards female audiences. However, Infinity Nikki also manages to attract male gamers. What are the factors that help sell this idea: "Infinity Nikki is for everyone."

Although Infinity Nikki incorporates a dress-up mechanic, its core experience extends far beyond that. The game appeals to players of all genders and interests in a variety of ways:

1). Platforming and Exploration Gameplay

The game features a platforming mechanic inspired by Nintendo-style games, delivering a fun and immersive exploration experience. This element is especially appealing to those who enjoy action-adventure gameplay.

With its open-world exploration, Infinity Nikki offers a wealth of interactive elements. Even players new to dress-up games can find satisfaction through solving puzzles, collecting resources, and unlocking outfits with unique abilities.

2). High Degree of Player Freedom and Variety in Gameplay

Outfits in the game aren't just about looks—they're a core part of the gameplay. Each outfit comes with unique abilities, allowing players to approach exploration and challenges in different ways.

This ability-driven system feels more like an RPG gear system than a traditional fashion game, which helps broaden its appeal to a diverse audience of players.

3). A Carefree and Relaxing Gameplay Experience

In contrast to high-intensity combat or competitive games, Infinity Nikki provides a stress-free and immersive environment, making it ideal for players looking to unwind while enjoying the joy of exploration.

Recently, "Cozy Games" (casual games) have surged in popularity across all genders, and Infinity Nikki stands as a shining example of this trend.

In conclusion, with its diverse gameplay mechanics, freedom of self-expression, and a soothing, enjoyable world to explore, Infinity Nikki successfully breaks down gender boundaries, offering an experience suited for anyone who enjoys creativity and adventure.

11. BONUS QUESTION: What makes Momo an endearing companion, aside from being a cat (because cats are awesome)?

First of all, Momo is not actually a cat. In the world of Infinity Nikki, Momo belongs to a unique race of its own. As such, we generally avoid referring to it as a cat. Now, to answer the  question:

1). A Companion That Warms the Heart

Momo is Nikki's closest and most trusted companion, and the bond between them radiates warmth, resonating deeply with countless players. Whether aiding in the exploration of the Wishing Woods or standing steadfastly by her side during challenges, Momo is always there to watch over Nikki. Their unbreakable bond provides players with a deep sense of unconditional support and trust. Momo is not just a companion on the journey, but a family member to Nikki, offering warmth and reassurance that fills every adventure with affection.

2). Infusing the Journey with Joy and Laughter

Momo's playful personality adds endless joy to the world of Infinity Nikki. As the team's designated humorist, Momo lightens the mood with clever quips and amusing reactions. His wit and curiosity often lead to comical moments, whether he's exploring new things or proudly showcasing his "great discoveries." And then there's his endearing, slightly proud nature—every time Nikki praises him, Momo's smug little expression is guaranteed to make players smile. These traits bring the journey to life, ensuring that players are grinning as they explore the wonders of Miraland.

3). A Reliable Guide, Bringing Comfort and Assurance

In their dynamic, Nikki is the bold, adventurous dreamer, while Momo plays the role of the calm and dependable guide. Nikki charges ahead with enthusiasm, but Momo always offers thoughtful, rational advice, carefully analyzing situations to ensure their journey remains smooth. Whether solving puzzles or confronting the unknown, Momo is there to remind Nikki to pay attention to the details and avoid unnecessary risks. This complementary dynamic not only highlights their synergy but also gives players a reassuring sense of security—Momo ensures Nikki's bravery never devolves into recklessness, empowering her to act with confidence. This sense of security invites players to fully immerse themselves in the magical adventure of Miraland.

Momo perfectly embodies the core values of Infinity Nikki—spreading happiness, warmth, and comfort. Whether by Nikki's side, providing unwavering support, or lightening the atmosphere with his playful humor, Momo makes the game feel vibrant and emotionally connected. He is not just Nikki's partner; he represents the emotional heart of the game, symbolizing the comfort and joy that Infinity Nikki strives to bring to every player.