Deep, darkish goblins are out, and all issues sparkles and rhinestones are in. In Infinity Nikki, I costume my character in copious ruffles, sheer layered silk pastels, and numerous outfits excellent for probably the most glamorous of Disney princesses. Even the cities within the sport, with their cute cottages and overgrown flowers and vines, effuse a kind of coziness and “cottagecore” aesthetic I’ve seen popularized by ladies on social media websites like Tumblr and TikTok.
Due to particulars like these, I’d say Infinity Nikki leans into what I’d affiliate with historically female or “excessive femme” aesthetics and vogue. And whereas it’s nice to say that this sport could possibly be aimed toward a feminine viewers, that definitely has not stopped all kinds of individuals from enjoying it. Since Infold Video games launched Infinity Nikki on Dec. 5, the biggest subreddit for the sport has grow to be the platform for a brand new — and engaging — debate on gender and video video games.
The dialog began kind of like this: After the builders launched Infinity Nikki, a number of self-identified males posted on the subreddit saying that they’ve been enjoying and having fun with the sport. Though these posts range in wording and tone — some appear to be far more lighthearted than others — each kind of touches on the truth that grown males are out right here enjoying a girly dress-up sport. One particular person posted, “Jesus, lastly a manly sport. Having a blast,” and one other mentioned, “I’m a 35 yr previous man. […] This sport is so significantly better than I may have hoped. Completely in love!”
Once I noticed considered one of these posts for the primary time, I assumed it was a candy manner for males to rejoice a dress-up sport and their extra female aspect. I believe that’s as a result of it appears like gender norms are being enforced greater than they ever have been. Not too long ago, we’ve seen the continuous focusing on of people who find themselves perceived as difficult gender norms. The previous decade has seen the emergence of a number of masculine subcultures, like “sigma males” and cryptocurrency tech bros. I needed to stay by means of a interval the place in some way Harry Types carrying a costume grew to become probably the most debated and analyzed cultural occasion on the web.
However as different members of the subreddit have identified, these posts can even have the exact opposite impact. One message — which has now grow to be probably the most upvoted publish on all the subreddit — took challenge with the posts the place males flexed their love of Infinity Nikki.
“The moment a lady sport turns into standard it turns into ‘i’m a 25 yr previous man and i like this sport’ [and] ‘hope no one is aware of i play this sport for ladies,’” IntrinsicCarp mentioned on Reddit. “This sport doesn’t should be relegated to your soiled little secret, whilst a joke.”
One other responded, “It was good to see the primary 2 occasions, however not after the twenty ninth of the identical publish…”
Slightly than normalize the truth that males can, and do, take pleasure in actions sometimes seen as female, posts like these can perpetuate the concept that it’s in some way outstanding that males dare to love a dress-up sport. What’s extra is that girls have lengthy performed what some would possibly categorize as masculine video games.
“You don’t see us saying ‘tee hee i’m enjoying purple lifeless redemption how shameful’. Please develop up and simply play the sport for ladies with out performing this fashion,” IntrinsicCarp mentioned.
Infinity Nikki has impressed some males to rejoice their female aspect and others to carry consideration to potential pitfalls of these sorts of posts. I’ve seen individuals touch upon the whole lot from illustration in Infinity Nikki to ladies who rejoice the sport for the way it empowers ladies to specific themselves in whichever manner they need. On the finish of the day, Infinity Nikki is the sort of sport that enables its gamers to decorate up in any manner — whether or not that prioritizes seems which can be cute, attractive, adventurous, or one thing else solely. No matter type every particular person embraces is as much as them.