Rushing into the Top 8 of the Best-Sellers Chart—Has DiDi Paper Pulled Off Another Comeback?

Today, the 2.0 update for *Infinite Warm Warm*, titled “Prayers Rise from the Earth,” was released, reigniting players’ enthusiasm and propelling the game into the Top 8 of the iOS Top Grossing Chart—a new record since the game’s launch.

As the first "open-world × dress-up adventure" game, *Infinite Warm Warm* has been the subject of much attention.

Now that the game has been live for a full year, it has not only won the Apple Design Award and earned a nomination for “Game of the Year” at the 2025 App Store Awards within its first six months, but has also garnered international accolades such as the Gold Award for “Best Art Direction” and the Gold Award for “Best Open World” at the NYX Game Awards, as well as the Best Mobile Game Award at Gamescom. These achievements have lent even greater weight to the label “Chinese open-world dress-up adventure.”

The Version 2.0 update, released just ahead of the game’s first anniversary, demonstrated a high level of dedication. The developers invited Idina Menzel, the original English voice actress for Elsa in the *Frozen* series, to perform the Version 2.0 theme song, “Kuna! Land of Izan!” They also released multiple promotional trailers and gameplay videos well before the update’s launch.

2.0 Preview Stream: Players Moved by the Music

In-game, Version 2.0 of *Infinite Warm Warm* not only introduces the largest map expansion since the game’s launch, but also brings a “completely refreshed” feel to adventures on the Continent of Miracles through its new world setting, gameplay, and visual design.

As I wandered between the giant trees and Snail City in the Land of Izan, I was reminded more than once of what veteran players often say: “Nuan Nuan always finds a gentle way to make us fall in love with exploring the world.”

Nearly a year after its launch, why does *Infinite Warm Warm* continue to surprise us? Perhaps the answer lies hidden within the mists and ruins of the Land of Izan.

01

The Land of Izan: "Memories and Truth" in the New World

Before the release of Version 2.0, I was first drawn in by the preview trailer for "Land of Izan"—unlike the fantastical splendor of the Star Sea, this new map is steeped in an atmosphere of "wildness and mystery":Mist shrouds the Celestial Tree, bare skeletons slumber in the wilderness, clusters of Mushroom People dwell in the thickets, and snails crawl through the countryside…….

This design instantly struck a chord with longtime *Nuan Nuan* players, evoking a sense of nostalgia. One player remarked, “I never expected to unlock the wilderness region—a place that took so much effort to reach in the original IP—first in *Infinite Nuan Nuan*.”

Following the main storyline, Nuannuan has journeyed to the Land of Izan at the request of a goddess who is about to fade away. She told Nuannuan that the faith of this land has long been distorted and exploited, and that, with her powers nearly exhausted, she is no longer able to set things right.

Though this opening sequence isn’t particularly complex, it cleverly ties together plot threads from previous versions—the clay pot clue from the auction in Version 1.11 and the top-secret videotape from the press conference all point to this moment. This narrative approach of “planting and resolving clues” clearly demonstrates the development team’s dedication to building a more cohesive world.

The exploration experience in the Land of Izan is one of the most delightful open-world experiences I’ve had recently, thanks in large part to *Infinite Warm Warm*’s consistently stunning visual artistry.The entire area consists primarily of two sub-regions: the Forest of Giant Trees and Snail City. The former is home to the ruins of the Giant tribe, while the latter serves as the "happy hometown" of the Mushroom People, complete with treehouses, plazas, and markets—it’s practically a "mushroom-themed Disneyland."

In the Forest of Giant Trees, we must use bows and arrows to clear away the vines tainted by magical energy before we can open the gate leading to the ruins; while in Snail Town, we’ll follow the Mushroom People’s customs and try “Snail Riding”—floating down the stream on the back of a snail. As we pass by the treehouses hung with lanterns, we’ll also see the Mushroom People dancing in the square.

As our exploration deepens, we will uncover a long-forgotten tale: the Giants once lived alongside the Mushroom People, but were wiped out overnight by a catastrophe, leaving behind only skeletal remains and symbols carved into the stone walls. Our mission is to follow these clues to find evidence of the “Great Stone Cult’s” deception of the Mushroom People and reconstruct the ancient history of the Giants and the deity Ikeros.

This approach clearly aligns with my understanding of *Infinite Warm Warm*’s narrative style: it never relies on intense conflicts to drive the plot, but instead lets you gradually piece together the truth as you explore the world. It is precisely this approach that allows Version 2.0 to maintain the freedom of an open world.

Overall, the world-building in Version 2.0 remains true to the core theme of “a young girl saving the world,” but the deep dive into history and the search for the truth has also given me much food for thought.

As one player put it: “The storyline in Version 2.0 perfectly captures the essence of *Infinite Warm Warm*: using the beauty of exploration and discovery to unravel the mysteries of a vast world, ultimately bringing hope and redemption.”

02

“New Game”: More Diverse Gameplay

If the immersive storyline is the framework of Version 2.0, then the new core abilities—the bow and arrow, the ability to grow larger, and the sticky claws—are the flesh and blood that bring this land to life.

First, let’s talk about the “Bow System,” which really blew me away. At the start of Version 2.0, as soon as we arrive in the Land of Izan, we’ll unlock the bow ability and receive the 4-star bow ability set, “Izan’s Wind Dance.”

This isn’t just a simple adjustment to the stats; it introduces an entirely new combat system for bows, with each bow equipped with two minor skills and one ultimate skill. Specifically, when you attack Magic Energy Monsters with a bow, you’ll accumulate blue “Bow Energy.” Once you have enough energy, you can unleash the first skill, “Fantasy Battle Technique,” and the second skill, “Fantasy Secret Art.”

At the same time, collecting new materials allows you to unlock and equip different bows. Each bow has unique abilities, such as the ability to track enemies and explode, or heavy bows that can be used as sledgehammers or pickaxes.

The "Grow Larger" ability has finally fulfilled players' long-held expectations—as early as the first teaser trailer in 2022, there were scenes of Nuan Nuan growing larger, and now this feature has finally been implemented. After putting on the "Forest Mushroom" outfit, Nuan Nuan's body will expand to more than three times its original size, her movement speed will increase, her field of view will widen, and she'll even be able to let out a "roar" to scare off giant beasts.

The most practical ability is undoubtedly "Sticky Claws." After equipping the "Shadow Shuttlecock" set, Nuannuan can fire grappling hooks at anchor points in the environment, just like Spider-Man, allowing her to swing through the air or hover in place.

The sticky "Sticky Claw" is reminiscent of the sticky palm toys we played with as children, sure to bring back childhood memories. Beyond just "jumping," this new tool has become an indispensable skill for tackling new levels. For example, in the "I-Shanshan's Treasury" level in Snail City, the Sticky Claw will play a crucial role.

In addition to the core features mentioned above, Version 2.0 also introduces "low-gravity gameplay" and a "cooperative combat system."

In the Mushroom People’s “Mushroom Forest,” gravity is reduced, causing Nuannuan to float uncontrollably. She can only stay on the ground by “growing larger,” and during this time, we can only use the bow and arrow for normal attacks and charged attacks, unlocking new combo moves.

What’s most interesting is that when we’re outnumbered in battle, we can use the “Cooperative Battle System” to summon our previous monster allies and harness the spiritual energy they emit to help us quickly clear away the demonic energy.

These little features aren’t exactly hardcore, but they make the exploration process full of surprises. No wonder some players have said, “The combat and adventure are way more fun now—it’s like a brand-new game! It looks so much fun!”

While watching the preview livestream and the promotional video, I couldn’t help but wonder: with a single update offering access to so many classic and fun gameplay modes, might the game’s ambition be so great that it actually diminishes the enjoyment of *Infinite Warm Warm* itself?

My initial reservations were quickly put to rest by the actual gameplay experience. The new abilities blend seamlessly into the open-world exploration and add an extra layer of fun to the new sandbox-style gameplay. In fact, while experimenting with these abilities, I found myself so engrossed that I didn’t even have time to think about the mechanics. My overarching impression was this: “The development team didn’t innovate just for the sake of it; every single ability is designed to enhance exploration.”

03

One Year Since Launch: Creating a Free, Healing "Non-Violent Open World"

Ever since the PV and promotional videos for Version 2.0 were released, I, like many other players, have been refreshing the official account every day, eagerly awaiting updates.After playing the new version, not only were my expectations met, but I also gained a deeper appreciation for what makes *Infinite Warm Warm* so unique—every time you log in, you feel a sense of “relaxation and healing”: no pay-to-win events, no complicated stats systems, just the freedom to ask yourself, “Where do I feel like exploring today?”

Since its launch a year ago, *Infinite Warm Warm* has seen its reputation fluctuate considerably.In the early days after launch, some players chose to quit the game due to “difficult jumping mechanics,” “insufficient mobile optimization,” and “limited map size.” However, judging by the performance of Version 2.0, the development team has clearly taken player feedback to heart: not only have they optimized the game for mobile devices, allowing it to run smoothly even on mid-to-low-end phones, but they’ve also responded to players’ expectations for “open-world depth” with a map twice the size and diverse gameplay updates.

In the past, we often said that *Warm Warm* was operating in a “market with no competitors.” What we actually meant was that, within the untapped genre of “open-world dress-up adventures,” the game remained committed to delivering a “cross-platform experience” and “console-quality graphics.”This path has not been easy—to ensure clothing displayed realistic fabric physics in the open world, the development team created their own OIT algorithm; to balance “dressing up” with “exploration,” they repeatedly fine-tuned the compatibility between ability sets and map puzzles. Yet it is precisely this dedication that has allowed *Infinite Warm Warm* to cultivate a new generation of female single-player gamers, with some players even purchasing new computers specifically to play the game.

From today’s perspective, *Infinite Warm Warm* has not only achieved a high-quality, multi-platform experience and become a pioneer in the “open-world x dress-up adventure” genre, but has also taken the concept of a “healing journey” to its fullest potential.For instance, in the Land of Izan, a giant Warm can scare off a colossal beast without harming it—instead, she can even help groom its fur. This design, which embodies “non-violence yet strength,” infuses every exploration in the game with a sense of healing. Leo Zhu, Global PR Manager at Paper Games, stated in an interview with foreign media that this aligns with players’ growing interest in non-violent, relationship-driven, heartwarming experiences.

For *Infinite Warm Warm*, Version 2.0 is not the end.The developers have already announced that more maps and features will be unlocked in the future. What I’m looking forward to, perhaps, is being moved once again by NuNu’s words, “Let’s go collect beautiful things together,” the next time I log in to a new world. After all, in this fast-paced era, having a game that makes you want to slow down and take in the sunlight filtering through the giant trees or the scenery from a snail’s back is, in itself, a rare form of happiness.