Goddess of Victory: Nikke

Goddess of Victory: Nikke is a science-fiction shooter developed by the South Korean studio Shift Up and published globally by Level Infinite. It launched on iOS and Android in November 2022, followed by a Windows version in February 2023. Its story begins after humanity has retreated into an underground city called the Ark. The surface is occupied by Raptures, hostile machines that conventional human forces have failed to defeat. Players take the role of a newly appointed Commander who leads Nikkes: combatants built with artificial bodies and human brains.

The Commander’s principal squad, Counters, includes Rapi, Anis, and Neon. Their missions take them from the Ark to the surface, where the campaign gradually reveals more about the Raptures and the institutions directing the war. An early mission introduces Marian, a Nikke whose fate becomes one of the story’s central threads. The Ark is not simply a refuge: its Central Government controls military operations, while places such as the Outer Rim expose divisions within the surviving population. Nikke manufacturers also shape the setting. Elysion, Missilis Industry, and Tetra Line produce soldiers with distinct affiliations and public identities.

Combat is presented from behind the squad as its members fire from cover. Players can switch between Nikkes, aim at enemy parts, and use timed skills. Squads are built around Burst I, Burst II, and Burst III abilities; activating them in sequence triggers Full Burst, a period of concentrated fire. A Nikke’s weapon type affects how she fights. Shotguns favour close targets, sniper rifles reward precise shots, and rocket launchers can hit groups. These systems matter in boss encounters, where destroying a Rapture’s components can change the fight.

Beyond the main campaign, Nikke uses a character-collection system to recruit and develop additional squad members. Its roster includes Pilgrims, Nikkes who operate outside the Ark’s three major manufacturers and are closely tied to mysteries on the surface. The game has also hosted collaborations with other franchises. Its Chainsaw Man event introduced characters including Makima and Power, while its NieR: Automata collaboration featured 2B and A2. These events sit alongside an expanding original story rather than replacing its central conflict: the Commander’s effort to fight the Raptures while learning what the Ark, its leaders, and the Nikkes themselves have concealed. That combination of squad tactics, character stories, and an unresolved struggle for the surface defines the game’s continuing campaign.