Free Pokémon Meets Genshin Impact Game Is A Guaranteed Must-Play

Few games have even come close to reaching the same heights as Pokémon. Since the ‘90s, the Nintendo franchise has become a global phenomenon, so it’s no wonder developers have tried to get their own piece of the pie.

They must proceed with caution, as while neither The Pokémon Company nor Nintendo owns a patent on creature-catching and battling mechanics, a game too similar will quickly come under fire. Take Palworld as an example.

Based on what I played at Summer Game Fest, Aniimo has taken the necessary steps to keep itself protected, whilst also being a pretty endearing open-world action game.

Gotta Become Them All

Unlike Pokémon, where you imprison colourful creatures inside equally colourful balls, Aniimo sees you bond with their very souls.

There are hundreds of creatures to “collect,” and once you’ve formed your roster, you fuse with them to learn and master their abilities.

I was given a healthy mix of Aniimo for my demo session, all representing the different elements found in the game.

While exploring the open world, you’ll find new Aniimo to fight and recruit, and it actually plays similarly to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Some Aniimo will let you scale cliff faces, whereas others let you glide across gaps or swim upstream.

Pawprint Studio

Then you’ve got Aniimo who are simply all about the fight. Like I said before, there are different elements to consider in the game, and like Pokémon, this will dictate which Aniimo is best suited for the coming battle.

It’s also not turn-based, so you can pummel, dodge, and unleash your super moves as you see fit.

Alpha Aniimo can also be encountered on your travels. These are more challenging battles, but if you manage to defeat and capture them, they’ll be a powerful ally.

Another game Aniimo shares similarities with is Genshin Impact. It’s free-to-play after all and can be enjoyed either in single-player or multiplayer.

When I asked what kind of microtransactions will be present in the game, I was told there’ll be no pay-to-win options. You won’t be able to just buy strong Aniimo from the shop for use in PvP modes.

Instead, any microtransactions will purely be time-savers or cosmetics, meaning no player will feel pressured into purchasing things they don’t want or need.

Overall, my time with Aniimo was pretty good. I wouldn’t say it’s my cup of tea, and I can’t imagine myself playing it long-term, but given it’s free-to-play, I’ll probably give it another go when it comes out.

It’s worth mentioning that my demo had loads of Aniimo already unlocked, so it’ll all depend on the early-game experience for me, and how long it takes to build a competent and fun team.

Aniimo launches later this year for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.

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