Entertainment · Gaming · 2 days ago
Nivalis Nights is designed to feel stressful before players can find comfort
Nivalis Nights is a game set in a cyberpunk city called Nivalis.
Lead writer Thomas Welsh says the game has no player death, shooting or boss fights, but that does not make it cosy.
Its opening is meant to feel overwhelming, with life in the city bringing stress and pressure.
Players can work toward a comfortable life, such as becoming rich or living on a farm, but success can mean different things to different people.
Players can also finish the story even if they are bad at business.
The game’s dating is designed to be uncertain, so players may not know why a romance did not work out.
Nivalis Nights is designed to begin with an intentionally overwhelming and stressful experience, its lead writer says.
Thomas Welsh says the game has no player death, shooting or boss fights, but is not meant to be cosy at first.
Players can work towards a more comfortable life in the cyberpunk city of Nivalis.
Welsh says success can take different forms, and players can finish the story even if they are bad at business.
- Who
- Thomas Welsh, the game's lead writer, discussed its design.
- What
- Nivalis Nights is designed to feel stressful at first, though players can work towards a more comfortable life.
- When
- The article was published on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- The game is set in the cyberpunk city of Nivalis.
- Why
- Welsh says life in a cyberpunk world should not be relaxing and stress-free at first.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Lead writer
- Thomas Welsh
- Setting
- Cyberpunk city of Nivalis
- Opening experience
- Intentionally overwhelming
- Combat features
- No player death, shooting or boss fights
- Story completion
- Possible while being terrible at business
What people are saying
The start of the game is intentionally overwhelming
Nivalis doesn't have player death or shooting or boss fights, but that doesn't mean it's a cosy game.
Life in a cyberpunk world shouldn't be relaxing and free of stress - not at first anyway.
If you want a cosy existence in this city, you're going to have to earn it.
Sources
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