Nif Nif

Colorful and cozy roguelike deckbuilder on Nintendo Switch

It's a nice game that appeals to both kids, those who are new to roguelike deck games, and those who want to take a breather and play a cute and stress-free game.

Honestly, the only complaint I have after playing Nif Nif is that I wish there were more to do in this charming world. Sure, there’s unlockable content and two playable characters, but the genre is all about immersive replay value. I spent more than a couple of hours playing the game and have unlocked a good chunk of it. I suspect you can unlock everything in less than 10 hours, which is great for those on a schedule, but bad if you want to unwind in this family-friendly world.

Light in subject matter, content, and difficulty, Nif Nif doesn’t do enough to stand out from the pack for adults, but might just be what you need to introduce the genre to a younger audience.

Nif Nif is precisely the entry-level rogue-like deck builder the genre’s been needing to usher in new players and offer a cozy change-up for long-timers. Its aesthetic is consistent and adorable, its tone is light and cheeky, with dorky in-jokes that bring smiles, and it’s quick and easy to play. It’s easy to assume that means the game isn’t ambitious — and really, it isn’t — but what it does, it does with a simple charm that’ll keep you coming back. Until my partner passed over the giant brick of a fantasy novel we both wanted to read, and he’d finally finished, I was making this my just-before-bed game. It was a great choice, leaving me perfectly happy to roll over and go to bed, whether I’d won or not, and still feeling I was learning new things about deck builder tactics. Just a super little game, honestly, and I hope you’ll love it, too.