Fans of Infinity’s Nikki show that dress-up games are suitable for all genders

The deep dark goblins disappeared, but all the sparkles and rhinestones remained inside. Infinity NikkiI dress my heroine in abundant frills, sheer layered silk pastels, and a variety of outfits perfect for the most glamorous of Disney princesses. Even the towns in the game, with their charming cottages, overgrown flowers and vines, exude the kind of coziness and “cottage” aesthetic that I’ve seen popularized by women on social media sites like Tumblr and TikTok.

Because of details like this I would say Infinity Nikki draws on what I would associate with traditionally feminine or “high feminine” aesthetics and fashion. And although it can be said that this game may be aimed at a female audience, this certainly did not stop a wide range of people from playing it. Since the release of Infold Games Infinity Nikki On December 5th, gaming’s largest subreddit became a platform for new—and exciting—debates about gender and video games.

The conversation started something like this: After the developers released Infinity NikkiSeveral men who identified themselves posted on the subreddit saying they were playing and enjoying the game. While these posts vary in wording and tone—some seem much more light-hearted than others—they each address, to some degree, the fact that grown men are playing dress-up as girls here. One person wrote: “Omg finally a man’s game. Let’s have fun,” while another said: “I’m a 35 year old man. (…) This game is much better than I could have hoped for. Absolutely in love!”

When I first saw one of these posts, I thought it was a nice way for men to celebrate playing dress-up and their more feminine side. I think it’s because it seems like gender norms are being enforced more than ever. Lately we have seen constant harassment of people who are seen as challenging gender norms. The past decade has seen the emergence of several male subcultures, such as “sigma males” and crypto bros. I had to go through a period where somehow Harry Styles in a dress became the most talked about and analyzed cultural event on the internet.

But as others on the subreddit have pointed out, these posts can also have the exact opposite effect. One post, which has now become the most popular post in the entire subreddit, discussed posts in which men expressed their love for Infinity Nikki.

“The moment a girl’s game becomes popular, it’s like, ‘I’m 25 and I love this game’ (and) ‘I hope no one knows I’m playing this girl’s game,'” IntrinsicCarp said on Reddit. “This game doesn’t deserve to be your dirty little secret, not even as a joke.”

Another replied: “It was nice to see the first two times, but not after the 29th same post…”

Instead of normalizing the fact that men can and do enjoy activities that are typically considered feminine, posts like these can perpetuate the idea that it is somehow remarkable that men dare to enjoy dress-up games. Moreover, women have long been playing what some might call men’s games.

“You won’t see us saying, ‘Hee hee, I’m playing Red Dead Redemption, what a shame.’ Please grow up and just play the girls game without acting like this,” IntrinsicCarp said.

Infinity Nikki inspired some men to celebrate their feminine side And others to draw attention to the potential pitfalls of such publications. I’ve seen people comment on everything from the performance to Infinity Nikki women who value the game for giving women the opportunity to express themselves the way they want. At the end of the day Infinity Nikki is a game that allows players to dress up however they want, be it cute, sexy, adventurous, or anything else. Whatever style each person chooses is his personal choice.