Aniimo Reveal: Xbox Showcases Stunning New Game with Unique Style

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By Khris Brayton | Last updated Jun 8, 2025 11:30 PM ET

Aniimo was a nice change of pace presentation during the Xbox Showcase on June 8 for Summer Game Fest, taking a break from the horror, violence, dark fantasy, and combat that have dominated much of the weekend. While the clip was quick, what was shown gives intrigue for what the full game could entail. Pokémon lookalikes have been common pop-ups for years now, with a few gaining some traction, but most simply unable to compete in the space. This game hopes to change that, with a similar skin but much different gameplay.

Aniimo Offers Free-to-Play Magical Creature Concept With A Slight Twist

Image of Aniimo, courtesy of Pawprint Studio.

Pokémon has long made it a challenge for any other similar style of game to co-exist, through lawsuits, trademarks, and general market share monopoly. Most recently, Palworld, another similar game originally on Xbox and PC, has seen a good amount of success, despite constant litigation from Nintendo. Still, the success of the game shows there is a market for another option, if that option has enough creativity to stand on its own. Enter Aniimo. This creature collection game wears a lot of skins, including MMORPG, open-world, and free-to-play, which allows you to play against creatures or other players through action-based combat.

Not a ton more is known about the game, though the team has provided a bit of a description for what to expect. As explained on PC Gamer, Amiino starts you off in a given role as you aim to continue gameplay. “As a Pathfinder, you’ll begin your journey in Idyll, a dynamic, interactive, and expansive open world! There, you can collect, evolve, and twine with magical creatures called Aniimo.” Players will use their creatures to explore mysterious dungeons, solve various puzzles, and ultimately take on battles.

This certainly sounds a lot like Pokémon, though Aniimo has enough unique characteristics that it does feel like a game on its own. The world is beautiful, and the magical creatures appear cute and charming. Will it stand out enough in the current gaming landscape? Watch the trailer below and make a judgment for yourself.

Final Thoughts

Aniimo looks like a thoroughly enjoyable game, and that it will be free-to-play, if indeed it is, certainly is intriguing. The fear with this, of course, is how much Pawprint Studio leans into gacha game mechanics to make money. If purchasing items is the only real way to succeed in the game, it is not so free anymore. We will see how much fanfare the game gets when it releases. It is due out for Xbox Series, PC, and mobile at some point in 2026, though the exact release date is unknown.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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