A gene is a hereditary trait that is passed from parent to offspring. In Niche, there are 21 different types of genes, each of which affects a different part or ability of the nicheling. These types of genes are:
Ear, Horn, Eye, Nose, Body Type, Paws, Hind Legs, Tail, Albinism, Melanism, Fur Color, Eye Color, Horn Color, Pattern Color, Pattern, Pattern Shape, Pattern Density, Pattern Size, Blood Clotting, Fertility, and Immunity.
Each nicheling has two copies of every gene (except for Blood Clotting, which is an X-linked trait, so males only have one due to possessing a single X chromosome). They inherit one copy from their mother and one from their father. When they breed, each parent will randomly pass on one copy of each gene. If a gene is dominant, then only one copy is needed for it to be expressed. If it is recessive, then two copies are needed. In the case of co-dominance and incomplete dominance, both genes are expressed. Note that if there are multiple variations of the same gene, some genes are more dominant than others. For example, brown eyes are dominant to green eyes, but recessive to black eyes. Therefore, a creature with genes for brown and green eyes will have brown eyes, but a creature with genes for brown and black eyes will have black eyes.
When looking at a nicheling's genes, genes that aren't being expressed will be shaded. This may be because they are a recessive trait, like the Big Nose gene in the picture to the right, or because they are being repressed or masked by a different gene, like how the Spiky Body trait disables tail genes.
Mutation[]
- Main article: Mutations
All unlocked genes are able to be mutated into your population through breeding. Some genes are available to mutate from the start, while others must be unlocked by meeting a certain condition or completing a requirement. Unlocking all genes will earn you the 'Natural Selector' achievement.
Genes and Gene Dominance[]
Albinism and Melanism[]
Melanism in a Nicheling
Albino Nichelings have white fur and red eyes, while melanistic Nichelings have black fur tinted with midnight-blue. Both albinism and melanism will mask pattern, fur color, mane color, and horn color. Albinism will also mask eye color.
Albinism in a Nicheling
Dominance order: No Albinism > Albinism & No Melanism > Melanism
Therefore, if a nicheling has two genes for albinism and two for melanism, the creature will visually be albino.
Breeding an albino creature will unlock the 'Albinism' achievement, and having a melanistic nicheling will unlock the 'Melanism' achievement.
Blood Clotting[]
Blood clotting affects how long nichelings bleed after being injured. It is a sex-linked gene; females have two copies and males only have one.
Dominance order: Normal Blood Clotting > Hemophilia
| Gene | Unlock Conditions | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Hemophilia | Auto unlock | Animals take high damage from blood loss |
| Normal Blood Clotting | Number of generations (10) | Wounds heal normally |
Fur Color[]
Fur color genes affect the overall color of a creature. The creature's fur color will be a mix of the two genes due to incomplete dominance. For example, two white fur genes will produce a white animal, and two black fur genes will produce a black animal, but a black gene and a white gene will produce a grey animal. Fur color can also provide camouflage in different environments.
| Gene | Effect |
|---|---|
| Black Fur | +2 Camouflage in Jungles +2 Camouflage in Swamps |
| Chestnut Brown Fur | +2 Camouflage in Savannas +2 Camouflage in Grasslands |
| Moss Brown Fur | +2 Camouflage in Grasslands |
| White Fur | +2 Camouflage in Snow |
| Red Fur | None |
| Beige Fur | +2 Camouflage in Savannas
+2 Camouflage on Sand |
| Yellow Fur | None |
| Red Brown Fur | +2 Camouflage in Mountains |
Pattern Color[]
Pattern Color genes affect the color of a nicheling's pattern and the mane color on male creatures. Due to incomplete dominance, the mane and pattern color is a mix of the creature's two genes.
|
Mane Color Combination |
Image |
Mane Color Combination | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black and Black | 
|
Brown and Brown | 
|
| Beige and Beige | 
|
White and White | 
|
| Red and Red | 
|
Brown and Red | 
|
| Black and Red | 
|
White and Red | 
|
| Beige and Red | 
|
Beige and Brown | 
|
| Beige and Black | 
|
Beige and White | 
|
| White and Black | 
|
White and Brown | 
|
| Brown and Black | 
|
Patterns[]
The Niche pattern project is located here!
There are 3 patterns: Dots, Stripes, and Mask, as well as the No Pattern gene.
Dominance order: No Pattern > Dots > Mask > Stripes
The pattern system has 4 layers: Pattern, Pattern Type, Pattern Density, and Pattern Size. Each pattern has 4 types: A, B, C, and D, and these types influence how the pattern looks. The Pattern Density and Size genes change how the pattern is distributed on the nicheling.
Patterns can affect camouflage when the nicheling is standing on certain tiles.
| Gene | Effect |
|---|---|
| Dots | +3 camouflage when the nicheling is standing on a jungle tile |
| Stripes | +3 camouflage when the nicheling is hiding in long grass |
| Mask | None |
Ears[]
Ear genes affect the abilities Hearing, Cold Resistance, and Heat Resistance.
Dominance order: Medium Ears > Big Ears > Round Ears > Bearyena Ears
Head[]
Head genes affect the abilities Collecting, Strength, Digging, Cracking, Feeding from the Bottom, Venomous, Strong Voice, Purring, Hearing, Smelling, Underwater Breathing, Distasteful Appearance, Poison Resistance, and Insect Collecting.
Dominance order: Derp Snout > Short Snout > Big Nose > Cracker Jaw > Poison Fangs > Platypus Beak > Gills > Sticky Tongue > Saber Tooth Fangs > Bat Head > Purr Snout > Digging Trunk > Bird Beak > Bearyena Snout
| Gene | Effect | Unlock Conditions | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bearyena Snout | +2 Strength
+1 Distasteful Appearance +1 Strong Voice +2 Smelling |
Invite animals with this gene into your tribe or breed with a friendly Bearyena. |   |
| Big Nose | +3 Smelling | Perform: Explore on Grass (100) |  |
| Cracker Jaw | +2 Cracking +2 Smelling |
Perform: Crack (50) |   |
| Derp Snout | +2 Smelling
+1 Distasteful Appearance |
Auto Unlocked |  |
| Digging Trunk | +3 Digging +3 Smelling |
Unlocked when found in
ice block. |
 |
| Gills | +2 Underwater Breathing | Perform: Swim (50) |   |
| Short Snout | +2 Smelling | Auto Unlocked |  |
| Platypus Beak | +1 Feeding from the Bottom
+1 Smelling |
Perform: Water Dig (70) |   |
| Poison Fang | +2 Venomous +1 Smelling +1 Poison Resistance |
Unlocked after traveling to the Sleepy Reeds island. |  |
| Saber Tooth Fangs | +2 Strength
+2 Smelling +1 Distasteful Appearance +1 Strong Voice |
Unlocked when found in
ice block. |
 |
| Bird Beak | +1 Smelling
+1 Collecting +1 Digging +1 Insect Collecting |
Perform: Fly (50) |   |
| Purr Snout | +1 Purring
+2 Smelling |
Perform: Lick (30) |   |
| Bat Head | +2 Insect Collecting
+2 Smelling +3 Hearing Disables ears |
Perform: Collect insects (40) |   |
| Sticky Tongue | +2 Insect Collecting
+2 Smelling |
Perform: Collect insects (20)
Spend time in: hot climate (20) |
  |
Horn[]
Horn genes affect Strength and Weather Prediction.
Dominance order: No Horns > Ram > Savanna Horns > Antlers > Megaloceros Horns > Antenna
Horn Color[]
Horn Color genes affect the color of the horns and claws on creatures, as well as the spotted pattern on the Scorpion Tail gene. Due to incomplete dominance, the Horn Color is a mix of the creature's two genes.
The colors are White, Black, Brown, and Red.
Eyes[]
Eye genes affect Eyesight, Smelling, and Hearing. You will rarely start a game with two nichelings that have 100% normal eyes.
Dominance order: Eyes > Shortsighted Eyes > Blind Eyes
| Gene | Effect | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Eyes | 2 Eyesight |  |
| Shortsighted Eyes | 1 Eyesight +1 Smelling |
 |
| Blind Eyes | 0 Eyesight +2 Smelling +1 Hearing |
 |
Eye Color[]
Eye Color changes the color of a creature's eyes. It is a cosmetic gene and has no other effects.
Dominance order: Black > Brown > Yellow > Green > Blue > Violet > Orange
| Gene | Image |
|---|---|
| Black Eyes |   |
| Blue Eyes |   |
| Brown Eyes |  |
| Green Eyes |   |
| Orange Eyes |   |
| Violet Eyes |   |
| Yellow Eyes |   |
Body[]
Body genes affect Speed, Swimming, Flight, Strength, Defense, Stealth, Scentless, Stealth, Scentless, Poisonous, Underwater Breathing, Spikyness, Distasteful Appearance, Poison Resistance, Cold Resistance, Heat Resistance, and Heat Radiation.
Dominance order: Medium Body > Lean Body > Water Body > Spiky Body / Big Body / Toxic Body* > Armored Body > Heat Body
*The dominance order of these bodies is not linear: Spiky Body > Big Body | Big Body > Toxic Body | Toxic Body > Spiky Body
| Gene | Effect | Unlock Conditions | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armored Body | +3 Defense | Unlocked when found in
ice block. |
 |
| Big Body | +2 Strength +1 Defense -1 Heat Resistance +2 Cold Resistance -1 Flight |
Spend time in: Cold climate (50) |  |
| Lean Body | +2 Speed +3 Heat Resistance +2 Stealth +3 Scentless |
Spend time in: Hot climate (50) |  |
| Medium Body | +1 Strength +1 Speed +1 Stealth +1 Scentless +1 Heat Resistance +1 Cold Resistance |
Auto unlocked. |  |
| Spiky Body | +2 Strength +1 Scentless +1 Spikyness Disables tail |
Receive: Attack (30) |   |
| Toxic Body | +2 Poisonous +1 Distasteful Appearance +1 Poison Resistance |
Perform: Collect on Toxic berry bush (50) |  |
| Water Body | +2 Swimming +1 Scentless +2 Underwater Breathing |
Perform: Swim (50) |  |
| Heat Body | +4 Cold Resistance
+1 Heat Radiation |
Spend Time in: Cold Climate (35) |   |
Toxic Body Colors (Old & New)[]
| Color | Image |
|---|---|
| Blue |     |
| Green |     |
| Magenta |     |
| Orange |     |
| Yellow |     |
Paw[]
Paw genes affect Speed, Swimming, Flying, Collecting, Strength, Digging, Cracking, Fishing, Defense, Stealth, and Cold Resistance. The genes are co-dominant, meaning both paw types will be present. Left paw genes will always come from the mother and right paw genes will always come from the father[1], though this is purely a cosmetic effect, as paws will give the same abilities no matter which side they're on.
Hind Leg[]
Hind Leg genes affect Speed, Swimming, and Strength.
Dominance order: Hind Leg > Webbed Hind Leg > Bearyena Hind Leg
Tail[]
Tail genes affect Swimming, Strength, Cracking, Fishing, Venomous, Attractiveness, Distasteful Scent, Poison Resistance, and Cold Resistance.
Dominance order: Medium Tail > Swimming Tail > Fishing Tail > Stinky Tail> Tailfin > Hammer Tail > Scorpion Tail > Peacock Tail
| Gene | Effect | Unlock Condition | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fishing Tail | +2 Fishing | Perform: Fish (30) |  |
| Medium Tail | +1 Cold Resistance | Auto unlocked. |  |
| Hammer Tail | +1 Strength
+1 Cracking |
Unlocked when found in ice block. |  |
| Stinky Tail | +1 Distasteful Scent | Perform: Collect on Smelly Fruit Tree. (30) |   |
| Swimming Tail | +1 Swimming | Travel to new islands (Oasis) |  |
| Peacock Tail | Male: +1 Attractiveness
Female: No Status Effect |
Perform: Call to attract wild animals (40) |     |
| Scorpion Tail | +1 Venomous
+1 Poison Resistance |
Spend time in: Hot Climate (50)
Perform: Attack (40) |
  Dotted coloring determined by horn color gene |
| Tailfin | +2 Swimming
-1 Cold Resistance |
Perform: Swim (100) |   |
Fertility[]
Each creature has 2 copies of the fertility gene. A nicheling's fertility will be the sum of both copies of the gene; e.g. an animal with a high fertility gene (+3) and a medium fertility gene (+2) will have 5 fertility. Breeding success depends on the fertility of both partners; infertile animals (0 fertility) are unable to breed at all.
Fertility also affects the likelihood of twin births, with higher fertility meaning a higher chance of twins. The highest amount of fertility is 6 (per creature) and 12 in a pair.
| Gene | Unlock Conditions | Effect | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Fertility | Number of days survived (100) | +3 Fertility |   |
| Normal Fertility | Number of days survived (50) | +2 Fertility |   |
| Low Fertility | Auto Unlocked | +1 Fertility |   |
| Infertile | Auto Unlocked | +0 Fertility |   |
Immunity[]
Each creature has two genes for immunity, which they inherit from their parents. Creatures with two identical immunity genes are born with a genetic illness. As genetic illnesses can't be cured, it causes them to live for half the amount of days they normally would (a 25-day lifespan reduced to 12).
The immunity genes are A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and Home Island Immunity. Immunity J is the rarest immunity you can get in the game, as it is almost always found exclusively in the jungles, and the most common immunity will depend on how you play/breed your nichelings.
| Image | Immunity |
|---|---|
  |
Immunity A |
  |
Immunity B |
  |
Immunity C |
  |
Immunity D |
  |
Immunity E |
  |
Immunity F |
  |
Immunity G |
  |
Immunity H |
  |
Immunity I |
 |
Immunity J |
  |
Immunity K |
  |
Home Island Immunity |
Special Genes[]
Ancient Genes[]
To unlock these special genes, you must travel to the mountain biome and find an ice block. Once the ice is broken, a frozen nicheling with one of the ancient genes will appear and join your pack. Unlocking all six prehistoric genes will earn you the 'Ice Age' achievement. Breeding a single creature that possesses the Sabertooth Fangs, Mammut Feet, Hammer Tail, and Megaloceros Horns genes will unlock the 'Prehistoric Hunter' achievement.
Hybrid Genes[]
Hybrid genes are unlocked by breeding a nicheling to another species. Currently, nichelings can only breed with bearyenas. The 'Hybrid' achievement, which requires breeding an animal with 12+ strength, can only be achieved with hybrid genes.
Potential/Unknown Genes[]
There are a few genes that show up through console commands but as of now are unavailable through normal gameplay and are not rendered.
|
Gene |
Effect | Unlock conditions | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triceratops Shield | N/A | N/A |   |
| Snow Body | N/A | N/A |   |
