Pokémon meets Zelda in huge new open-world RPG

Fans of Pokémon and The Legend of Zelda are continuing to win at life as a brand-new creature-catching game is set to make its way onto Xbox and PC.

Combining the monster collecting of Pokémon with the exploration found in The Legend of Zelda, Aniimo is an upcoming ARPG that was unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase overnight.

Developed by Pawprint Studio, Aniimo is set in a world where players will be able to collect an army of magical creatures and it will be a free-to-play game on PC, Xbox Series X/S and mobile some time in 2026.

"Like every other player, the Aniimo team has always believed that one day, there will be a game that exists that makes all our dreams come true. Instead of waiting any longer, we created it ourselves" executive producer Jovi Zhang has revealed.

"Every day we are discovering more about the Aniimo's personalities, their interactions, their stories, and their environment. The world of Aniimo is now ready for you to explore with us, and we can't wait to see you there."

So what sets Aniimo apart from Pokémon?

Well, Pawprint Studio has revealed that Aniimo will feature a “twining” gameplay mechanic which will allow players to unlock new abilities for their Aniimos.

Not only that but there will be a lot more to gameplay than just collecting creatures as players will also be able to explore the open-world of Idyll which is full of unique landscapes and even ancient mysteries.

Although Aniimo has not yet received an exact release date, it is scheduled for 2026 and players that are interested can already sign up for an exclusive closed-beta test on PC.

If you are selected, you will be able to dive into Aniimo as early as this summer.

Last but not least, the official website gives you just a glimpse at some of the adorable creatures you will be able to collect such as Emberpup, Celestis, Budclaw, Otti, and Nimbi.

If you are a fan of Pokémon or just want to frolic in a magical land with some adorable creatures, then Aniimo is the one for you.