Cloudpunk's life sim spin-off Nivalis Nights launches this September

Ion Lands and publisher 505 Games have set a September 29, 2026 release date for Nivalis Nights, the cyberpunk life simulator formerly known as Nivalis. The game is coming to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, with no console ports currently planned.

Set in the same neon-drenched voxel city as the developer's 2020 delivery game Cloudpunk, this new title trades the flying courier vehicle for a stationary storefront. Instead of viewing the metropolis from above, you play in first-person, navigating the crowded streets and rain-slicked pavement on foot.

Voxel architecture

The most immediate draw is the art direction. Ion Lands uses a specific style of voxel art that looks blocky up close but resolves into highly detailed, atmospheric cityscapes from a distance. Cloudpunk used this aesthetic to create a massive vertical city with flying cars navigating tight traffic lanes. Nivalis Nights reuses that setting but changes the perspective entirely.

Moving from a vehicle down to the street level means players will see the voxel models up close. The developer has spent the last few years building out the interiors of apartments, restaurants, and alleyways that were previously just background scenery. This shift in scale helps explain the long five-year development cycle, as building a walkable city requires far more detail than a backdrop meant to be seen at high speeds.

Running Ramen Noir

The campaign begins when an older character leaves the city and hands over the keys to Ramen Noir, a small noodle stand. From there, the goal is to build a hospitality empire that eventually scales up to large restaurants and premier nightclubs.

The business management side requires hiring staff, setting menus, and adjusting prices to keep customers happy. The UI looks dangerously close to an actual second job, which is exactly what management sim fans usually want. You can grow your own ingredients in greenhouses or buy them from local suppliers to keep the kitchen stocked.

The city itself is an antagonist of sorts. It operates as a pressure cooker designed to grind people down, with gangs and corporate security forces constantly causing problems for small business owners. A local figure named Septic is a persistent threat on the streets, though it is not yet clear how you interact with him.

Off the clock

When you are not running the noodle bar, the game leans into standard life simulation mechanics. You can pilot a boat around the city docks, go fishing in the glowing, probably toxic water, or play chess against NPCs. A character named Ava is a guide to the city's recreational side, pointing out the best fishing spots and vendors.

You also get an apartment to decorate. The housing system includes a placement tool for dropping potted plants, furniture, and electronics around your living space. The entire city runs on a day and night cycle with a simulated weather system, meaning you will likely spend a lot of time arranging furniture while virtual rain beats against the windows.

The project was originally announced in 2021 as simply Nivalis. After a few delays and a recent title change, Ion Lands is finally wrapping up production. We will find out if the business simulation holds up to the city's striking visual design when it hits Steam this fall.