In a surprising twist, Infinity Nikki, a game that initially appears to be a high-quality dress-up gacha game, has been revealed to be a spiritual successor to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Despite its unfamiliar appearance, the game's core mechanics and spirit are eerily reminiscent of the beloved Nintendo classic. Developed by Infold Games, Infinity Nikki is available now on Android, iOS, PlayStation, and PC.

In the game, players take on the role of Nikki, an ordinary girl who is whisked away to the fantasy world of Miraland, where fashion is magic. Alongside her talking, bipedal, pantsless cat Momo, Nikki must use her styling abilities to combat the world's evils and other stylists. The game's unique blend of exploration, fashion battles, and mini-games provides an entertaining and engaging experience.

One of the most notable aspects of Infinity Nikki is its control scheme, which has been criticized for being clunky, unintuitive, and at times unresponsive. The game's menu system is also confusing, with the menu icon located in the top-right corner of the screen, but opened by holding the left shoulder button. Additionally, there is an issue with linking accounts on PlayStation that could result in being unable to use cross-progression, which is explained in detail in a Eurogamer article.

Despite these issues, the game's fashion-focused gameplay is where it truly shines. Players can collect materials to upgrade their ability outfits or obtain the clothing they want to customize their avatar. The game's robust photo mode and intricate clothing details add to the overall sense of style and novelty. Fashion battles against NPC stylists are also a highlight, with each piece of clothing assigned points in five categories: sweet, fresh, elegant, sexy, or cool.

What's surprising about Infinity Nikki is its monetization system, which feels more vestigial than critical. Unlike many gacha games, the game doesn't require players to spend money to progress, and there are many cash-free ways to obtain outfits. The cash shop is present, but it's not aggressively pushing players to spend money. This approach is a refreshing change from the typical gacha game model.

In conclusion, Infinity Nikki is a game that will surprise you with its unique blend of fashion and gameplay. Despite some control issues, the game's core mechanics and spirit are reminiscent of Breath of the Wild, making it a must-play for fans of the series. With its fair monetization system and engaging gameplay, Infinity Nikki is a game that's worth checking out.