New Cyberpunk Game on Steam Essentially Lets You Own Cyberpunk 2077’s Afterlife Bar and Rewrite Nightlife

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I’m really excited about this new indie game called Nivalis coming to Steam! Simulation games are always so creative, and this one looks amazing – it’s a first-person sci-fi game with a really cool, glowing look. It’s set in a cyberpunk world and people are already talking about how different and special it could be, maybe even offering something we haven’t seen before in games like Cyberpunk 2077. It’s still a ways off, with a planned launch in 2026, but I’m definitely keeping an eye on it!

While Cyberpunk 2077 is a great game, it doesn’t fully fit the traditional RPG mold. It has choices and character building, similar to action-RPGs, but it’s less free-form than games like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Fallout: New Vegas. Those western-style RPGs, inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, really emphasize player freedom, letting you create your own story within the game’s world. You’re usually limited by the overall adventure and how the game is played – you can’t typically ignore the main story to start a business, for example. However, Nivalis lets you do just that, making it surprisingly more engaging than some of its competitors.

It’s kinda funny, actually. Cyberpunk 2077 started as a tabletop RPG, like Dungeons & Dragons, where you could really do anything. But when they made the video game, a lot of that freedom just… disappeared. It’s not nearly as open-ended as the original pen-and-paper game.

Nivalis Aims for Compelling Management Gameplay in a Fantastical World

Nivalis is a sprawling city constructed over the ocean, with massive skyscrapers that pierce the clouds. Like many classic cyberpunk settings, it’s a chaotic, complex place that feels alive – buildings are constantly patched together, businesses pop up and disappear quickly, and the population is always on the move. It’s a precarious and uneven city, but its sheer scale and density also make it strangely beautiful.

Nivalis takes place in the same world as Cloudpunk, a delivery game created by ION LANDS and released in 2020.

You arrive in the vibrant city of Nivalis and inherit a noodle stand from a friend in a working-class district. You’ll manage the stand, improving it with upgrades and making it your own. Eventually, you can grow your business, opening fancier restaurants and clubs. As you expand throughout Nivalis, you’ll shape the city’s culture and leave your mark.

Many business simulation games let players control everything like a miniature world or through simple menus. However, Nivalis aims to deeply connect players with the game’s world. In Nivalis, you don’t just manage a business—you are a person living and working in this sci-fi setting, and have to balance both roles.

Life Sim Conventions Make Nivalis a Uniquely Immersive World

With its charming voxel art style, clean 3D characters, and beautiful lighting, Nivalis is a visually stunning game. It goes beyond typical management games by letting you experience a full in-game day: you wake up, plan your activities, and travel to work on foot or by train. While it’s fundamentally a management game, Nivalis feels more like a story-driven life simulation, offering a different experience than games like Frostpunk or Two-Point Hospital.

Beyond simply running businesses, Nivalis offers a variety of optional activities. According to the game’s Steam page, players can also enjoy things like:

  • Managing a greenhouse to grow your own ingredients
  • Driving a boat in real-time to explore Nivalis’ waterways
  • Fishing
  • Purchasing personal real estate
  • Decorating your various homes

The game will also let you experience realistic social interactions, including the possibility of romance. While the core gameplay isn’t overly complex, it aims to create a complete and engaging experience in Nivalis, moving beyond a single focus. ION LANDS wants to build a believable and detailed world for players to live in, where you can achieve great things as an everyday person – like becoming a successful business owner – rather than a fantastical hero with an extraordinary, unbelievable backstory.

Most cyberpunk games, movies, and shows focus on action and intrigue, assuming those settings aren’t meant to be inviting. However, cities like Night City and the Los Angeles from Blade Runner actually have a strangely comfortable and appealing side, despite being dangerous. Nivalis is taking a different approach, leaning into that cozy feeling instead of constant action, and that could make it stand out as something truly unique.

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2026-02-13 14:10