About Aniimo
In the 1970s, in the suburbs of Tokyo, a young boy spent his days collecting beetles and other small insects. He enjoyed lifting rocks and searching through the underbrush to expand his collection and began trading them with his friends. Little by little, his friends started calling him “Dr. Bug” (Dr. Insect). You’re not dreaming. This is, of course, Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of the global Pokémon franchise that no one wanted—except for one company: Nintendo.
It was exactly on February 27, 1996, that Satoshi Tajiri found success with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue on the Game Boy in Japan. That first installment—released in two versions at launch—would change the world of video games forever. Since those early days, Pokémon has continued on its merry way, but it has also caught the attention of curious fans who, in turn, have taken up the virtual hobby of collecting these little creatures. Following Palworld, the latest entry comes from China and is called Aniimo.
Developed by the Chinese studio Pawprint Studio, Aniimo takes place on Idylle, a continent where humans live alongside small creatures of the same name. At the start of the adventure, the player creates their character—a Nomad, or adventurer—whose mission is to study these small beings and unravel their mysteries. At the Polaris Institute, a scientific organization founded for this very purpose, your role will be to capture as many creatures as possible to observe and interact with them.
While Pokémon is often criticized for its somewhat outdated visuals, Aniimo makes a strong first impression with stunning graphics and settings that make you want to dive right in: lush forests, sandy beaches, a metropolis floating in the sky, and mysterious valleys—the playground is vast, and each region, of course, has its own unique species.
Why Should I Play Aniimo?
Aniimo is an open-world action RPG focused on capturing creatures. Like in Pokémon, the goal is to explore a vast world, battle wild creatures, and capture them to build your team. In this game, of course, there are no Poké Balls—instead, there are Aniipods, which are capsules you throw and can be combined with traps. Just like in Satoshi Tajiri’s game, not all creatures appear at any given time. Their appearance depends on the weather, certain phenomena, the time of day, and the natural environment. For its debut, Aniimo is quite comprehensive. It features over 200 creatures to discover across the game’s various biomes. As in Pokémon, most can evolve, but evolution doesn’t trigger automatically upon reaching a certain level.
In fact, unlike Pokémon, Aniimo emphasizes the concept of fusion. Battles take place in real time with a team of up to four creatures. This opens up two possible approaches: controlling your Aniimo like a traditional trainer or fusing it with your trainer to take direct control of it. Consequently, you don’t just collect creatures—you can actually become one of them. And this fusion also aids in exploration. Of course, just like in Pokémon, certain creatures have abilities that can be put to use. A flying creature lets you glide over valleys; another is a formidable swimmer, while a third can actually dig through the ground. Elemental affinities also come into play, with fire Aniimos that can burn vines and water Aniimos that can extinguish flames. Each new capture, in true Metroidvania style, unlocks access to new areas.
Between adventures, each Nomad—that is, the trainer you play as—has their own RV. This vehicle serves as a hub where you can plant crops, craft decorations, or even set up your space with your creatures. Like in Palworld, Aniimo highlights the creatures’ everyday abilities: cooking, mining, energy production, and more. However, where the game really stands out is in its overall atmosphere. Aniimo feels much more like Pokémon than Palworld. The world is more colorful, and more laid-back, and you can truly make progress without seeking a challenge. Plus, there’s a PvPvE mode called “Egg Hunt,” which lets teams of three players explore and battle on the Lost Islands.
For a debut, as the reviews on Steam attest, Aniimo is receiving widespread acclaim. On the other hand, the storyline struggles to take off at this point, and its gacha-style approach might put off fans of franchises like Pokémon. It’s a good little game, very well made, but it still has a bit of a way to go before it can hold a candle to Satoshi Tajiri’s phenomenon.
Is Aniimo Free-to-play?
That’s its biggest advantage over the competition: Aniimo is free-to-play. This means you can download and play it for free on all platforms. The game does, however, offer in-app purchases, as well as optional pre-order bundles. The good news is that most of the game remains accessible without spending a penny.
Where Can I Download Aniimo?
You can download Aniimo on Windows PCs (via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Xbox app), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. The game is also available on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.
What Games Should I Play If I Enjoy Aniimo?
Developed by the British studio Bytten Studio, Cassette Beasts is a delightful dose of nostalgia. While borrowing the concept of Pokémon, it pays homage to the past with battles that are recorded on audio cassettes (yes, the real kind—the ones you rewound with a pencil). The story of this adventure takes place on New Wirral Island, a place populated by strange creatures that you must capture and battle. The game lets you fuse species (over 14,000 combinations) to add variety to your battles. With its retro vibe and dynamic soundtrack, Cassette Beasts is a great alternative for anyone who enjoyed Aniimo—even though it’s a 2D game.
Of course, it’s unthinkable to mention Aniimo without talking about Palworld, the “Pokémon of the PC world.” In this open-world survival game, players capture creatures called Pals, who not only fight alongside them but also work at their base—whether on the farm or in the factory. The tone is significantly more provocative than at Pawprint Studio: firearms, poaching, and the exploitation of creatures are part of everyday life. The game combines building, crafting, and exploration, whether playing solo or with others. Its meteoric rise to success earned it a patent infringement lawsuit from Nintendo—proof that it has shaken up the industry giants. For now, the verdict hasn’t been handed down, but it appears to be going against Nintendo.
Finally, Coromon plays the nostalgia card with its impressive pixel art, reminiscent of the early Pokémon games. As in Aniimo, the hero joins a scientific organization, Lux Solis, as a researcher, tasked with investigating the six Titans of the Velua region. But his first day on the job is cut short when invaders wielding a force unknown to science attack the laboratory. With over 120 creatures to capture, strategic turn-based battles, and an adventure lasting more than 30 hours, Coromon is a solid, more classic alternative, ideal for those who prefer strategy over action.
