Aniimo Is the Creature-Catching RPG That Wants to Be This Year’s Pokémon Alternative

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I feel like my Pokémon catching hobby really peaked back in the day. I was totally hooked when I first got Pokémon Red and my Game Boy Pocket back in 1998, and then Pokémon Snap on the Nintendo 64 was just amazing! I remember being a kid and printing out those blurry pictures of the Pokémon I ‘caught’ at the GameStop kiosk – good times!

I always like to stay somewhat current with trends, and I do that through collecting trading cards, especially Pokemon. Luckily, Pokemon is still very popular! And my seven-year-old is completely obsessed with it, ever since he started playing Let’s Go, Pikachu! He talks about Pokemon constantly – which ones evolve into others, and how excited he is when his Pokemon level up, like when he finally evolved his Beedrill.

I was thrilled to get the chance to play Aniimo at PAX East 2026. The game has adorable creatures, a vast open world similar to Breath of the Wild, and a style that really appealed to me as an anime fan. Even though there was a lot to experience in my 30-minute demo, I left feeling sure that my son and I will be completely hooked when it comes out later this year.

A World That Demands to Be Explored

When you first start playing Aniimo, you’re immediately struck by how huge and beautiful the world is. The continent of Idyll feels expansive, vibrant, and incredibly detailed, bringing to mind games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Immortals Fenyx Rising. With its rolling hills covered in flowers, sparkling beaches, and stunning skies, it’s a place that makes you want to forget your goals and simply explore.

Pawprint Studio has created a truly lively and immersive open world. It doesn’t feel like a simple list of features; instead, it feels like a real, breathing place. While playing, I discovered a coastal area filled with completely different creatures than the fields I’d been exploring just moments before. According to Grace, a representative from the game’s development team, the types of creatures you encounter change depending on the environment, weather, time of day, and other natural events. This dynamic system makes the world feel authentic and encourages players to explore and truly experience everything it has to offer.

Honestly, getting around in this game felt amazing. Whether I was gliding, diving, or even burrowing – each move tied to a different Aniimo I’d ‘Twined’ with – it was super expressive and just plain fun to mess around with. I even accidentally triggered a glide and actually squealed a little, which, if you saw my preview for Halloween, is apparently just something I do now, even as a forty-year-old!

The Twining Mechanic Is the Star of the Show

Catching Aniimo is just the beginning – Twining is what really draws you into the game. After you successfully capture a creature with Aniipods (which need well-timed and accurate throws), you can merge with it, gaining its appearance, powers, and unique way of seeing the world. The game promises you’ll experience things “like they do,” and it absolutely delivers on that promise – it’s a genuinely enjoyable experience.

Okay, so I was playing Aniimo and after I finally caught this tricky crab-like creature, Grace (someone who was watching me play) pointed out I totally missed a key step! Apparently, you’re supposed to ‘Twine’ with the creature – basically, interact with it in a special way – to solve a puzzle and open a treasure chest. I just ran right past it, honestly. But that really hit me – Aniimo isn’t just about catching everything just to complete a list. Each creature you snag actually does something – it unlocks new areas, new puzzles, and even changes how you fight. It’s way deeper than I initially thought!

The game’s creature designs are a real standout feature – they definitely need to be in a game like this! I encountered all sorts of creatures, from gentle, fluffy sheep roaming around to a rather annoying bird that quickly earned my disapproval. The team especially loves Emberpup, and after seeing it in action – a small, fiery, and surprisingly tough little creature – I totally get why. I even called it a “badass” at the event, and Grace wholeheartedly agreed.

Deep RPG Bones Beneath the Cute Exterior

Despite its cute appearance, Aniimo is a surprisingly deep RPG. In just 30 minutes of hands-on time, I explored features like creature catching, a complex upgrade system, evolution paths, ability unlocks, and a detailed menu for developing skills. It was a lot to take in, especially while playing it for the first time at a gaming event.

Improving your Aniimo creatures requires gathering materials, adding another layer to the game’s resource collecting. I was even able to evolve my Emberpup in a short time playing, and the visual changes were really cool – it definitely made me say ‘Wow!’

The game includes a personal hub – a home base where players can farm, decorate, and display the Aniimo they collect. This relaxing side activity fits the game well and is likely to keep players engaged for a long time, especially those who enjoy life simulation and home management games.

More Than a Catch-‘Em-All

During my time playing and discussing Aniimo, it became clear that it’s aiming for more than just a typical creature-collecting experience. The demo included story segments focused on uncovering ancient secrets, and the game’s world – a city in the sky populated with other characters – suggests a rich and complex narrative.

Grace didn’t reveal many details about the story, but even the early version of the game showed a richly developed world. The continent of Idyll feels like a place with a deep history, not just a simple game environment.

As a long-time fan of creature-catching games who hasn’t played much since the early days of Pokemon Go, I was really excited after checking out Aniimo at PAX East. The game being free-to-play makes it easy for anyone to try, and it’s launching on almost every platform – PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (through Steam and the Epic Games Store), and mobile – so there’s no reason not to give it a try when it comes out later this year.

Half an hour isn’t really enough to get a good feel for the game, and having a few more hours would have made it much easier to pick up. But that’s kind of the appeal. This game really pays off the more time you put into it, and the more I played, the more I wanted to continue discovering new things.

Aniimo is planned to release around 2026. You can add it to your Steam Wishlist now, and pre-register on the official Aniimo website to receive a special bonus.

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2026-04-08 22:45