Stunning Pokémon Winds and Waves rival is now free to play on Steam

As Nintendo prepares to steal the hearts of millions of gamers with back-to-back releases that will both stun new gamers and have the older generation weeping with nostalgia, one new rival is dropping on Steam that packs the same punch but steers well clear of making the same dent in your bank.

Last week we were all left gobsmacked by the gameplay reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, which brought this iconic title up to date, some 28 years after its initial release.

The timeless and faithful adaptation is set to drop in a matter of weeks, and already it is making eye-watering amounts from pre-orders and 40th anniversary sets.

Cutesy animated fans will also be gearing up for a massive 2027 with Pokémon Winds and Waves crashing onto our shores, adding new furry starter beasts among countless other features.

But again, that will cost a fair whack.

So, if your Steam budget is already running on empty, let us introduce you to Aniimo, which launched for free and has come with all the promises of critter-based fun and open-world exploration.

Aniimo is the free Pokémon experience we've been waiting for

Made by Pawprint Studios, Aniimo comes with the high praise of being 'Pokemon meets Zelda' with adorable pals to accompany you in a fun RPG setting.

In our preview, we claimed that the anime title is 'surprisingly fun' considering its free-to-play status, which initially had people sceptical, considering its rivals demand $60 more.

"Forgive me, Aniimo. I wasn’t familiar with your game," we wrote.

"I’m impressed by Aniimo’s gameplay formula. It somehow blends the worlds of Pokémon, Animal Crossing, and Breath of the Wild into something that feels refreshing, enjoyable, and unique."

The premise is different from the 'Catch 'em all' titles, though. The enormous open-world map defies the phrase 'out of bounds', but it's your job to cover every blade of grass out there to unravel an ancient mystery.

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Yes, you throw Aniipods to catch your companions, and have a deck of four travelling buddies, but instead of bumping into different trainers and rising through the gym ranks, you're cast into a deep story where your helpers fight wild beasts gone rogue that stand in your way.

The influences are there for all to see, but it does so much more than replicate gameplay.

With its free-to-play status, it's a no-brainer to give Aniimo a shot - the only hope is that it's not riddled with microtransactions.