Skip to main content

Infinity Nikki launches in December after racking up 30 million preregistrations

Infinity Nikki Official Release Date Announcement Trailer

Infinity Nikki, set to be one of the most-played games of 2024, just got its long-awaited release date. The open-world gacha game will hit PC, mobile devices, and PlayStation 5 on December 5.

Recommended Videos

This date is actually special for the team at Infold Games (a part of Papergames) as it celebrates the 12-year anniversary of the series, which started with Nikki Up2U: A Dressing Story in 2012. Infinity Nikki is the fifth game in the series, but is the first one to make the jump from exclusively being on mobile. It’s also the first Nikki game to not be solely a dress-up gacha game. There are dress-up elements in Infinity Nikki, but it’s grown from being a free-to-play casual mobile title to a platforming, open-world exploration game with gacha elements.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Check your inbox!

Infinity Nikki has been marketed as the “coziest open-world game” ever, and that seems to be the case from some recent previews. Our writer found it to be very laid-back compared to other free-to-play gacha games like Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero, and it was laos one of the best games we played at PAX West this year. In it, the titular Nikki goes on an adventure throughout Miraland with her cat, Momo, where she’ll explore by platforming, taking pictures, and engaging in simple combat.

Nikki producer and studio founder Runhao Yao posted a letter posted on X announcing the release date, saying that it’s been a “one-of-a-kind” project that has proved challenging for the developers, who moved to Unreal Engine 5 and had to create a whole new type of game.

“It’s been tough, but our determination carried us through,” Yao wrote. “Our team  has always believed in taking on the impossible, and because this was a Nikki project, we were even more motivated and inspired to pursue ‘infinity’ with everything we had.”

A letter to stylists from the producer of the Nikki series.#InfinityNikki #InfinityNikkiOfficialRelease pic.twitter.com/4NCsahHUjh

— Infinity Nikki (@InfinityNikkiEN) November 14, 2024

Infold Games announced that the game has already brought in over 30 million preregistrations after a closed beta in October that the developers say was “wildly successful.” This means players will get all the announced preregistration milestone rewards: 50,000 Blings, 300 Threads of Purity, 20 Resonite Crystals, and a four-star outfit called Far and Away. Infinity Nikki has drawn a ton of hype, so more rewards will be revealed soon.

Carli Velocci
Carli is a technology, culture, and games editor and journalist. They were the Gaming Lead and Copy Chief at Windows Central…
Infinity Nikki might be the coziest (and most stylish) open-world game ever
Nikki looks out at an open world in Infinity Nikki.

I have played plenty of open-world games over the years. I’ve run over pedestrians in the Grand Theft Auto series and slayed minions of the Templars in Assassin’s Creed. I’ve done the never-ending grind of free-to-play offerings with gacha mechanics, such as Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves. In these titles, I was always actively on the move, going from point A to point B and tackling every objective imaginable. Now, there’s Infinity Nikki, which is a different (and much gentler) beast entirely.

Marketed as the “coziest open-world game,” the upcoming title brings the popular Nikki mobile series to consoles in style. After playing the Infinity Nikki demo at a special media session during the Tokyo Game Show, and speaking to Infold Games global public relations manager Zexu Shi, I can see the appeal. The world activities themselves are relaxing, and the grind isn’t nearly as incessant as games like it. Even the treatment of animals is humane. All of those choices confirm that the marketing pitch isn't an exaggeration; Infinity Nikki really is a cozy change of pace that the open-world genre needs.
Exploring in style
My one-hour-long play session began with the titular Nikki and her pet cat, Momo, trapped inside an instanced dungeon. There, I had to make my way across train cars by jumping off ledges and gliding to reach the next platform. What surprised me initially was how Nikki’s clothing instantly changed whenever I glided, from something that looked like a white bridal gown to that of a shimmering blue summer dress.

Read more
3 games leaving Xbox Game Pass you should play this weekend (December 20-22)
A custom car built drives around Lego 2K Drive.

No more new games are coming to Xbox Game Pass for the rest of 2024. In fact, the service is going to lose some games at the end of the month. All of the games leaving the service on December 31 are very entertaining, and the lineup encompasses wacky racing games, hardcore strategy games about the history of humanity, and goofy fighting games where players control cute animals. These games are worth checking out this weekend as they're leaving Microsoft's gaming subscription service very soon.
Lego 2K Drive
LEGO 2K Drive | Awesome Reveal Trailer | Coming May 19

Racing games are some of the most approachable ones out there, so it makes sense that the genre would be a perfect fit for a Lego game. Visual Concepts and 2K went a step further than they had to with Lego 2K Drive, though, adding large open areas full of missions and minigames to experience. Lego 2K Drive is a light and breezy arcade-like racer that doesn't ask too much from players unless they want to spend a lot of time building vehicles piece by piece. After this game leaves the service at the end of the month, Forza Horizon 5 will be your only option when it comes to open-world racing games on Xbox Game Pass.

Read more
3 new PS Plus games that you should play this weekend (December 20-22)
Frey in Square Enix's Forspoken.

The latest batch of new PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium game catalog additions was released this week. As a result, PS Plus subscribers have a ton of new options when it comes to what to play as we approach what is many people's holiday break. Games from this most recent batch are what I'm recommending people check out this weekend. One of the titles is technically a Christmas game, so it's fitting to play this time of year, while my other recommendations are good options if you're looking for something to play with others.
Forspoken
Forspoken - Official Launch Trailer

Square Enix's Forspoken is a high-profile action RPG console exclusive that was released on PlayStation 5 in 2023. While its quip-heavy dialogue definitely isn't for everyone, the way it incorporates the player's magical abilities into combat and traversal is truly exhilarating. Dashing through large fields, surfing on top of water, and launching bullet-like streams of rocks at enemies is immensely satisfying. Forspoken's Isekai adventure technically begins with the main character, Frey, being whisked away from New York City around Christmas. That technically makes this a Christmas game, giving you all the more reason to check it out this weekend.

Read more