Nivalis Nights, the latest offering from developer Ion Lands, boldly merges the atmospheric dystopia of Cyberpunk 2077 with the relaxed simulation gameplay of Stardew Valley and Dave the Diver. The game invites players into the rain-slicked, neon-drenched city of Nivalis, where the player takes on the role of a noodle bar owner burdened with debt.
A City of Contrasts
The game begins with the player's AI assistant, Ava, informing them of a district lockdown and an active serial killer. However, within five hours, players can become entangled in various complex narratives, including aiding child trafficking victims, befriending oil rig separatists, navigating a romance with a CorpSec agent, and encountering individuals who offer new identities to criminals. These intricate plots unfold while the player also manages their fledgling noodle business, which starts as a humble, al fresco dining setup inherited from the previous manager along with their debts.
Entrepreneurial Ambitions
The core gameplay loop involves expanding the noodle bar business. Players must strategically purchase furniture to accommodate more customers, which in turn increases demand for ingredients. The cook assists with both kitchen duties and front-of-house operations. As the business grows, players are encouraged to upgrade the menu, enhance decor, and hire additional staff, including cooks, waiters, cleaners, and managers, to maintain customer satisfaction and profitability. The game also introduces mechanics for managing wages, schedules, and staff morale. Further expansion can involve growing crops in an inherited greenhouse, producing goods like cheese and meat substitutes, and potentially opening secondary businesses, such as a nightclub.
Beyond the Business
Despite its focus on business management, Nivalis Nights encourages exploration and interaction outside the immediate scope of the noodle bar. Players can travel to different districts of Nivalis via taxi or skytrain. A significant departure occurs when players acquire a trawler, allowing them to explore the city's waters for exotic fish or ancient plunder, a mechanic reminiscent of Dave the Diver. This exploration can lead to unexpected encounters, such as discovering the aforementioned oil rig.
The narrative depth is a notable feature. Side quests range from assisting an old woman convinced her husband's personality has been uploaded into a hooverbot, to managing relationships with characters like Danny Danetti at his doughnut shop, all while potentially clashing with the CorpSec agent. The game also features fully voiced dialogue that can be influenced by player choices, affecting potential romances or relationships. Nighttime gameplay offers the option to engage in stealth missions, such as robbing competitors.
Technical Considerations and Atmosphere
While the game's ambition and unique blend of genres are compelling, some technical issues have been noted, including an inconsistent framerate and occasional bugs. The user interface can also be fiddly, with overbearing overlays and unhelpful waypoint markers.
Despite these drawbacks, the game's atmosphere and departure from typical life-sim tropes are highly praised. The developer's creation of a richly detailed and evocative world, inspired by Blade Runner and accompanied by a Vangelis-esque soundtrack, contributes significantly to the player's immersion. The game concludes by emphasizing the surprisingly homely feeling the player develops for this unusual dystopia, even amidst its bleak setting.