We’ll be working on a review for NIF NIF, so I got in touch with Masah from Springfox Games to talk a bit about the game and its development. Come check it out!
PS4Blog: Good morning! Thank you for joining us. Could you please help us get started by telling our readers a bit about yourself and your work?
I am Masha. I have been a hardcore strategy gamer since the 80s. I started gaming with war turn-based games, card games, and Sid Meier’s classics. I have two children, one of them on the spectrum, and I decided to create Springfox Games to allow more children to experience strategy games, as opposed to usual 3D platformers, which don’t suit everyone, particularly children with fine motor skills issues, ADHD, ultra-sensitivity and so on, like my son, without being “educational” – gameplay first. If it incidentally teaches you maths, good for you!
PS4B: On that note, NIF NIF is out on Nintendo Switch. What can you tell us about this game?
NIF NIF is a family-friendly take on Slay The Spire. Slay the Spire has long been my favorite game, but the duration of each run, the darkness of the atmosphere, and the difficulty curve can sometimes make it uninviting to newcomers to the genre, particularly cozy gamers and children. The idea is really to foster an interest in the genre, like an introduction to roguelike deckbuilding games to an audience that wouldn’t naturally be drawn to them.
NIF NIF is a game in which, instead of beating up animals, you use your cards to clean your opponents. As you play, you slowly discover the hidden background of the characters, unlock hats and skins, as well as a little garden and kitchen that will allow you to win achievements to add to your collection. As you use your cards, you unlock card skins, and if you play enough, you might even unlock alternative art made by children for your cards! Each run is very short, so you can play it during a short break, which is compensated by a legendary card given at the start of the run to orient your build quickly.
PS4B: How long did it take to develop the game? Were there any major changes introduced between the start of development and when the game launched on Nintendo’s console?
The game has been in development for two years – since July 2023 – with a very small team. It is our first game! The core gameplay loop has been the same from the start. For the Nintendo Switch, most of the enhancements were related to the controller support and optimizing the game as much as possible so that it runs smoothly on all devices. We underestimated the many issues that can arise in development by integrating controller support too late.
PS4B: Is there any chance we can get a physical release for NIF NIF on Nintendo Switch with a manual/art book?
We would have loved to, but the physical release of Nif Nif is not planned at this stage. Regarding the art book, it’s funny you ask! We did make it as a Kickstarter campaign reward, so it does exist, and we are very proud of it. We also did a coloring book for kids. It is a pretty limited edition, but if someone is interested, drop us an email through our website!
PS4B: And now it’s time for us to go. Is there something else you’d like to add before we end this one?
We loved the experience of making NIF NIF. However, we couldn’t find a publisher to help us fund and market the game, and this is one thing we need help with! If our project resonates with you, consider getting NIF NIF and talking about us with your friends who have children or who you think should try deckbuilders but never dared to so that we can add content to NIF NIF and make more cozy strategy games!
