Advertised with controller support. Neat! That's important for me. Waited 3 hours for 150GB+ download. Controller doesn't work. Game seems to recognize controller, but does not recognize controller inputs. Tried two different controllers in case there's an issue with my main controller. No luck. These controllers work with every other game I own that has controller support. Refunded. Will have to wait up to 30 days for the refund to process. Not happy.
I originally bought Niche not really knowing what to expect - it looked like a cute time waster. Immediately impressed with the graphics and overall aesthetic. The interface is minimal, the better to appreciate all the unique critters. Controls are simple and straightforward, although controller support would be nice. I've been running Niche at 4K (3140 x 2160), and the graphics and menus are sharp and readable. On to the gameplay - this was the most surprising aspect for me. I was expecting something along the lines of a cellphone clicker, but there's a lot of depth. Even after 10+ hours I'm still picking up new things. Niche is turn based, which allows for a more deliberate playstyle. At its core, gameplay centers around managing a randomly generated group of creatures by directing them to forage for food and nesting material. Each creature has physical attributes that give bonuses or penalties. Some are good at hunting/fighting, some can harvest nuts, roots, and/or berries, some have disease resistance, some can move/see/hear/smell further, and so on. Environmental hazards like poisonous food, predators, disease, and temperature extremes round things out nicely. Resource management is only a portion of the gameplay, however. You'll also need to weigh the pros and cons of your creatures' abilities when directing their breeding. It might be necessary to accept a weakness (like lowered immunity or blindness) in exchange for some perk. You can use "mutations" to drastically increase the likelihood of manifesting certain traits, which is helpful if you breed yourself into a corner. The game will also occasionally generate random creatures which you can invite to join your "tribe". New mutations unlock over the course of the game, generally by repeating X action Y number of times. Overall, Niche is a pleasant surprise, with a ton of depth and replay value. Under the cute exterior lies a pleasantly demanding yet still approachable rougelike experience. Recommended!
