Nivalis Nights launches on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, and the cyberpunk life sim from developer ION LANDS and publisher 505 Games has been building serious momentum. The game crossed one million Steam wishlists just 12 days before launch, which tells you the appetite for a slow-paced, city-living experience set in a neon-drenched future is very real. Here's everything you need to know before it goes live.
When does Nivalis Nights release?
The Steam launch goes live on September 29, 2026. The release times by region are listed below:
| Region | Release Time |
|---|---|
| PDT (Pacific) | 8:00 AM |
| CDT (Central) | 10:00 AM |
| EDT (Eastern) | 11:00 AM |
| UTC | 3:00 PM |
| BST (UK) | 4:00 PM |
| CEST (Central Europe) | 5:00 PM |
The game is a PC-exclusive at launch, available only through Steam. An Epic Games Store version is confirmed but has no release date yet.
What platforms is Nivalis Nights on?
Right now, the answer is Steam only. The Epic Games Store version was confirmed alongside the June 30, 2026 rename announcement (the game was previously just called Nivalis), but ION LANDS has not set a date for that version. No console ports have been announced.
If you want to play on day one, Steam is your only option.
What is Nivalis Nights, and what will you actually be doing?
Nivalis Nights is a first-person, single-player adventure simulation set in a sprawling cyberpunk city. You start with nothing but a noodle stand and work your way up to owning full restaurants and nightclubs. The game runs on a daily structure where every choice you make shapes how your story plays out.
The core loop covers a lot of ground:
- Business management: Source ingredients from markets, grow your own, or go fishing to supply your establishments
- City exploration: Move through Nivalis on foot or by boat
- Social systems: Build friendships, rivalries, and romantic relationships with the city's residents
- Home customization: Buy and decorate apartments, then invite friends over
- Mini-games: Challenge NPCs for unique rewards
What makes the setup interesting is that Nivalis has a darker undercurrent alongside all the slice-of-life activity. CorpSec crackdowns and a mysterious serial killer running loose in the city add genuine tension to what could otherwise be a purely cozy experience. You are not just running a ramen bar in a safe, sanitized world.
Nivalis Nights Exact Release Date & Start Times
How long has Nivalis Nights been in development?
The game was first announced back on June 13, 2022 as a cyberpunk life simulation. The road to launch has not been a straight line. A Spring 2025 release window was announced in June 2024, but the game missed that target. ION LANDS shared a development update in May 2026 specifically addressing optimization challenges that came from the growing scale of the city.
The rename from Nivalis to Nivalis Nights happened on June 30, 2026, alongside the confirmed September 29 release date. A "Day in the Life" preview dropped on September 4, 2026, showing off the player's first apartment and daily activities in more detail.
Reaching one million Steam wishlists on September 17, 2026 confirmed the audience has stayed patient through the delays.
Is there a demo or early access period?
No. There is no demo and no early access. The September 29 Steam launch is the first time anyone outside ION LANDS will be able to play. The full game drops at the times listed above, and that is it.
What to do right now before launch
If you have not already wishlisted Nivalis Nights on Steam, do that now. It keeps the release notification in your Steam queue and takes about three seconds.
For the full breakdown of guides covering business management, city exploration, and daily decision-making once the game is live, the Nivalis Nights guides collection will be your best resource as the community figures out the optimal paths through the city.
Nivalis Nights sits comfortably in the adventure games space but brings a cyberpunk edge that separates it from the typical cozy sim. The combination of business building, social mechanics, and genuine city-level danger is an unusual mix, and September 29 is when we find out if ION LANDS pulled it off.
