I was initially surprised to see the announcement for Aniimo during the 2025 Game Awards because it seemed like, with all the trouble that was surrounding a game like Palworld, you’d think other developers would try to stay away from making Pokémon games for a while—maybe give Nintendo some time to get less litigious. But like I said in my “A Critic’s Guide to Game Design By Inspiration,” I’m always happy to see new developers make games inspired by popular franchises if they can bring something new to the mix.
Spending hands-on time with Aniimo offered some valuable insight into its direction. The game is clearly inspired by Pokémon, but it leans into that influence in distinctive ways rather than attempting a simple imitation. What stood out most was how closely its design philosophy aligns with the Pokémon Legends titles rather than the mainline entries. That approach opens up several promising and enjoyable directions for the series to explore.
The first thing Aniimo did that I appreciated was in its storytelling. Players take on the role of a researcher for the Polaris Institute, who is exploring the Idyll Continent of the planet of Astra and its mysterious creatures called Aniimo. After an encounter with some legendary Aniimo and a mythical object, players set out to connect with the Idyll’s natural essence and learn more about these powerful Aniimo and the secrets they hold.
“Aniimo is the first one of these creature-capture type games that fits that role.”
If you’re familiar with my writing, you’ll know that something I’ve always wanted is a Pokémon game where you play as an aspiring Pokémon professor. Aniimo is the first one of these creature-capture type games that fits that role. So much of the game’s narrative gameplay is centred around cataloguing Aniimo and learning their unique traits and abilities.
It gives players a sense that they’re actually learning about these strange creatures, in the same way the original Pokémon did. But similar to Pokémon Legends, it has a more narratively driven structure that feels a bit bigger and more dramatic than the standard formula. It’s rounded out by an interesting cast of characters that bring a lot of fun to the proceedings.
It is Aniimo’s gameplay, however, that makes it particularly interesting. In some respects, it draws inspiration from Pokémon, as well as from Palworld, which itself takes cues from that lineage. Players explore the land of Idyll, capturing Aniimos and using them to battle increasingly powerful opponents. As in Palworld, players can fight alongside their creatures. Unlike that game, however, Aniimo equips players with more fantastical weapons that feel better suited to the tone and world it presents.
“And Aniimo makes discovering its world interesting by creating unique biomes that are full of colour and life.”
Aniimo adds another twist by allowing players to “Twine” with their Aniimos, merging their spirits and bodies into a single entity. When Twining is activated, players gain full control of the Aniimo during battle, unlocking a broader range of attacks and defensive manoeuvres. As in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, attacks operate on cooldown timers, requiring players to think carefully about timing and ability use. The system adds a compelling layer to combat and feels like a blend of the real-time approach seen in Pokémon Legends and the more hands-on fighting style of Pokkén Tournament.
Aniimo also makes exploration engaging by presenting a world built around distinct, colourful biomes. From scenic beaches blanketed in pink grass to rolling hills filled with multicoloured flowers, the Idyll Continent offers a wide range of locations that encourage curiosity and discovery.
Not only that, but the Aniimos themselves have a lot of fun designs that don’t feel derivative of Pokémon. They run the range from animalistic to dinosaurs, to fantasy-esque creatures that feel very spiritually similar to the designs of the original 150 Pokémon. On top of this, a lot of Aniimo have multiple evolution forms, giving players a lot of freedom to build a unique team of creatures they like.
The Aniimos themselves are equally appealing, with designs that avoid feeling derivative of Pokémon. They range from animal-inspired creatures to dinosaurs and more fantastical designs that feel spiritually aligned with the original 150 Pokémon without directly copying them. Many Aniimos also feature multiple evolution paths, giving players considerable freedom to assemble a team that reflects their personal preferences.
While my time with Aniimo was relatively brief, there appears to be a strong foundation for a compelling creature-capturing experience. It introduces enough fresh ideas while borrowing proven elements from the games that inspired it, striking a promising balance between familiarity and innovation.
Aniimo launches on Xbox Series X|S, PC and mobile in 2026.
