Shining Nikki is a dress-up game that is played through styling. In its battle mode, there are five attributes: Sweet, Fresh, Elegant, Sexy, and Cool. The player has to choose clothing with the highest scoring attributes to increase their Styling Power in order to win against the opponent. After choosing, the player is directed to select a Designer's Reflection, artwork of different set designers, which each have different skills. After selecting a Designer's Reflection, gameplay of Nikki's outfit is shown, where the player has to press buttons on the corresponding outfit piece that the player has selected. If the player fails to click the button in time, they cannot click it again. To increase the Styling Power of a Designer's Reflection, the player can go to the Ark. To level up a Designer's Reflection, the player can go to Clock Workshop, where a certain number of exp can be collected depending on the level. A Designer's Reflection also has Stars that correspond with its rank, which can be increased through the use of Memory Keys, which can be collected through Neverfall; Passive Skills, which can be increased with Outfit Crystals, obtained by decomposing extra pieces of clothing the player already owns; and Call of Reflection, a Designer's Reflection's personal skills increased through a specific Designer's Reflection. Designer's Reflections can also be increased through the use of Concepts. Using Concepts from the same series creates resonance. Styling Power can also be increased by developing a player's bond with Nikki through watching events in the Home and using gifts. In order for Nikki to use gifts, the player has to buy her snacks to increase her vigor. To obtain clothing, the player can collect from Apple Apparel, where the clothing can be purchased with Gold or Pink Gems; the Gate of Heart, which houses Sea of Fantasy, requiring Fantasy Tickets or Pink Gems, and Sea of Mystery, requiring Mystery Tickets or Gold; and Workshop, where the player has to collect materials from different story stages to craft certain items.