- Nivalis Nights is a life simulator from the creators of Cloudpunk, officially released on Steam on September 29, 2026.
- Core loop: start from a noodle stand and expand into restaurants and nightclubs.
- Cooking depth: over 240 ingredients and 190 meals with real gameplay effects.
- Night curfew system: after dark, choose between staying safe or going out to sabotage competitors.
- System requirements: an RTX 4070 or RX 7800 XT is recommended for 1440p/60fps.
What Is Nivalis Nights Beta?
Nivalis Nights marks the first time players can truly live in the rain-soaked cyberpunk city of Nivalis instead of just delivering through it. Built by the team behind Cloudpunk, the game shares the same sprawling vertical metropolis — but this time you are not a courier, you are an entrepreneur. At the time of writing, the game has collected over one million wishlists on Steam ahead of its September 29, 2026 launch.
Video highlights:
- Nivalis has surpassed one million Steam wishlists
- Business progression from noodle stands to nightclubs
- More than 130 NPCs with branching storylines
- The nightly curfew adds risk-versus-reward decisions
- Seamless tracking of thousands of scheduled city residents
Core Features at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Ion Lands (the team behind Cloudpunk) |
| Setting | The city of Nivalis, shared with Cloudpunk |
| Story | A definitive ending plus ongoing plot threads |
| NPCs | 130+ characters with branching side stories |
| Simulation | Thousands of scheduled residents and 10,000+ tracked items |
| Price | $21.99 with a 10% launch discount |
The "beta" label is no longer accurate — Nivalis Nights officially launched on Steam on September 29, 2026. What you can buy now is the full retail release with post-launch updates.
Business & Cooking Systems
The most surprisingly deep system in Nivalis Nights is its restaurant management simulation. The trailers present a casual vibes game, but the systems underneath run much deeper.
Noodle Stand
- Low-cost entry point
- Simple menu, minimal risk
- Perfect for learning prep on day one
Restaurant
- The big mid-game leap
- Requires recipes, equipment, and staff
- Attracts higher-quality customers
Nightclub
- The late-game peak
- Highest profit potential
- Built around the night-time economy
Cooking Depth Explained
The cooking system is anything but a token feature. Recipes determine what you can make, equipment determines what you can cook, and the food you serve shapes the customers you attract.
| System Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | 240+ distinct ingredients |
| Meals | 190+ recipes to master |
| Ingredient sources | Buy, grow in greenhouses, or catch while fishing |
| Customer appeal | The food you serve influences your regulars |
| Staff management | Hire employees to expand the business |
Chain the greenhouse and the fishing minigame together: growing and catching your own ingredients has a far higher profit margin than buying from suppliers, and it gives you a reliable source of rare produce for more exclusive recipes.
Nightlife, Curfew & Risk
When night falls, Nivalis plays differently. The city-wide curfew turns your evenings into strategic decision points rather than downtime.
Night Activity Comparison
| Option | Potential Benefits | Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Stay indoors | Safe, no consequences | No income, no progress |
| Go out and explore | Discovery, secrets | Encounters with corporate security |
| Sabotage competitors | Weaken business rivals | High chance of getting caught |
Woven around all of this are two background storylines: corporate security is tightening its grip on the district, and a serial killer stalks the city. The developers have confirmed the game has a definitive ending, so your choices genuinely push the narrative forward.
Sabotaging competitors may be the fastest way to weaken a business rival, but getting caught during curfew carries a heavy cost. Assess your financial cushion before weighing a night out.
Relationships & Story
Over 130 characters carry their own side stories that shift based on how you treat them. Friendships, rivalries, and business partnerships are all possible outcomes, and each relationship type has mechanical consequences.
Relationship Types
| Relationship Type | How to Build It | Potential Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Friendship | Repeated positive interactions, helping with personal tasks | Loyal customers, support, and information |
| Rivalry | Insults, competition, or wrong choices | Locked content, business conflicts |
| Business Partner | Shared interests, reliable deals | Better supply prices, mutual benefits |
Identify Key NPCs
Work out which characters matter to your business niche and story goals.
Invest Time Consistently
Friendships are not one-off events — visit and help regularly as you expand.
Balance Story and Work
Decide whether each day goes to earning money or advancing storylines, because both compete for your time.
Reach an Ending
Choose your path based on the relationships you have cultivated and push toward the game's definitive ending.
System Requirements, Travel & Limits
Before buying, it helps to understand what the game actually does and what PC hardware it takes to run it.
PC System Requirements
| Target | Preset | Graphics Card |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p / 30 fps | Very Low | Minimum spec (see Steam page) |
| 1440p / 60 fps | High | RTX 4070 or RX 7800 XT |
Travel & World Structure
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| City structure | Large districts separated by loading screens |
| Inside a district | Free exploration, enter most business venues |
| Transportation | Taxis, trains, and your own boats |
| Driving cars | Not available |
| Simulation depth | Residents with scheduled routines, 10,000+ tracked items, and even real fish species |
The minimum spec targets 1080p/30fps on the Very Low preset, which tells you how demanding Nivalis' dense city simulation is. If your hardware is below the recommended configuration, manage your expectations accordingly.
Starter Checklist
Here is the essential checklist for your first few hours in the game:
Essential Day-One Goals:
- Open your first noodle stand
- Buy a starter batch of ingredients
- Learn three starter recipes
- Meet at least five local NPCs
- Plan your first fishing or greenhouse trip
- Decide on your first curfew strategy before dark
FAQ
Q: Is Nivalis Nights still in beta?
No. The 'Nivalis Nights beta' label only refers to pre-release community discussions. The full game launched on Steam on September 29, 2026 at $21.99 with a 10% launch discount, so what you buy now is the complete retail release with post-launch updates.
Q: How is Nivalis Nights different from Cloudpunk?
Both games are made by Ion Lands and set in the same city, but Cloudpunk is a narrative delivery game while Nivalis Nights is a life and business simulator. Instead of driving a delivery van, you manage businesses, hire staff, cook food, and build relationships.
Q: Does Nivalis Nights have an ending?
Yes. Ion Lands has confirmed the game has a definitive ending, along with ongoing storylines involving rising corporate control and a serial killer. Side stories vary based on how you interact with more than 130 characters.
Q: Can you drive cars in Nivalis Nights?
No. Travel between districts happens by taxi, train, or piloting your own boats. The city is divided into large districts separated by loading screens, but inside each district you can freely explore and enter most business venues.