Brand New Creature Collector on Steam Feels Like Pokemon & Palworld Finally Agreed to Get Along

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The genre of games where you collect creatures is promising, and many developers are trying to capitalize on its potential. However, it’s a crowded space with a lot of similar games. Plus, the two biggest titles, Palworld and Pokemon, are currently locked in a legal dispute, which adds to the tension.

Aside from the controversy surrounding Palworld and its similarities to Pokemon, several other promising creature-collecting games are in development. One standout is Aniimo, a cheerful and technically impressive JRPG planned for release on Steam. Unlike Palworld, which has faced legal challenges, Aniimo seems to be taking a unique approach to gameplay, potentially offering a more engaging and complex experience. While it’s still early days and the game needs to prove itself, Aniimo could become the next big hit in the genre, hopefully without any legal issues.

Aniimo has no firm release date, though developer Pawprint Studio is targeting a 2026 window.

Is Aniimo Like Pokémon?

It’s natural to compare Aniimo to Pokémon, but those comparisons don’t really explain what Aniimo is trying to do. While both games feature adorable, magical creatures you collect and connect with, Aniimo feels different because of how you actually play the game – and that gameplay shapes the entire experience.

Throughout the game, you’ll discover and collect unique creatures called Aniimo. But they’re more than just helpers in battle or tools for simple tasks. You can form a deep connection – a psychic link – with your Aniimo, allowing you to fully control them. This unlocks new abilities for combat, movement, and solving puzzles, all experienced seamlessly in real-time gameplay.

The game features creatures called Aniimo with unique abilities. For example, some Aniimo resemble birds and, when combined with a ‘Twining’ ability, let you reach new areas, while ice-type Aniimo can freeze water to create paths. This adds a dynamic element to the creature-collecting gameplay – which is similar to games like Pokemon – making it more complex, engaging, and original.

Aniimo’s Combat Turns It Into a Proper Action-RPG

Okay, let me tell you what really grabbed me about Aniimo. In a world already packed with monster-collecting games, it does something genuinely interesting with its battles. You don’t just pick a team and watch things happen. Instead, I could switch between two different combat styles during a fight, giving me a lot more control and strategic options. It’s a really neat blend of fast-paced action and thoughtful tactics – something I haven’t seen done quite this way before.

  • Command: the Aniimo attacks independently while the player issues commands, like Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
  • Twine: the player-character performs the aforementioned skin-changing magic and takes direct control of a given Aniimo, resulting in flashy, real-time ARPG whaling.

The game lets players seamlessly switch between two different modes, adding interesting layers to battles. This system will become even more engaging as new creatures and abilities are introduced. These creature-specific abilities are also quite creative; for example, the Besauce creature attacks with music-based melee moves that require players to time their actions to the rhythm.

The Other Shoe Drops: Why Any Aniimo Hype Should Be Tempered

Aniimo Could Be Another Palworld in More Ways than One

Although they look and function differently, it’s clear that Aniimo draws inspiration from the Pokemon series. Many Aniimo closely resemble Pokemon – Jawling looks a lot like Onyx, and Sheldon is nearly identical to Jigglypuff except for its shell. The way Aniimo are caught – using throwable devices called Aniipods, with better Aniipods offering a higher catch rate – will definitely remind Pokemon fans of the core gameplay. Similarly, the Aniilog, which functions as an encyclopedia of Aniimo, is essentially the same thing as a Pokedex.

Although Aniimo shares some similarities with Pokemon, it’s worth considering the recent issues with Palworld. Nintendo’s legal action against Pocketpair focuses on how Palworld seemed to copy core Pokemon gameplay, like catching creatures in balls. Features in Aniimo – such as Aniipods, the Aniilog, and its rock-paper-scissors elemental system – could potentially attract similar legal scrutiny from Nintendo, possibly leading to problems or last-minute alterations to the game.

Aniimo Will Be Free-to-Play, Which Is Always Risky

Initial feedback from closed beta tests of Aniimo has been good, but players haven’t yet experienced how the game will make money. It’s unclear exactly how microtransactions and randomized loot boxes will work, but since Aniimo is free-to-play, they’ll likely be quite common. While it’s disappointing, free games that aim for a large player base often rely heavily on in-game purchases to generate revenue. This means that if Aniimo becomes popular, it could lead to more aggressive monetization practices down the line.

Testers have discovered clues suggesting that Aniimo will include in-game purchases. Specifically, rare items called Aniipod Ultras seem designed to be sold in a cash shop, and the game features daily login bonuses common in free-to-play mobile games. It’s highly likely Aniimo will be free-to-play, meaning players will be able to spend real money within the game. As with other potentially great games that rely on ongoing revenue (Diablo Immortal is a good example), Aniimo‘s success could be threatened if its monetization methods are overly aggressive. It remains to be seen how these systems will ultimately affect the player experience.

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2025-12-30 15:06