Anime Life Sim: A Striking Resemblance to Animal Crossing: New Horizons
A newly unveiled PlayStation game, Anime Life Sim, has sparked controversy due to its uncanny resemblance to Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH). The game appears to be a near-direct clone, mirroring not only the visual style but also the core gameplay loop.
While Animal Crossing has inspired countless games, Anime Life Sim stands out for its overt imitation. Developed and published by IndieGames3000, the game's PlayStation Store listing openly showcases features virtually identical to ACNH. The description highlights a "charming social simulation" with elements such as home building and decoration, befriending animal neighbors, and engaging in familiar activities like fishing, bug catching, gardening, crafting, and fossil hunting – all core mechanics of ACNH.
Legal Considerations: Gameplay vs. Visuals
According to patent analyst Florian Mueller, game mechanics themselves are generally not patentable. However, the legal landscape shifts when considering visual aspects. Copyright law protects elements such as art style, character design, and specific graphical elements. Therefore, any potential legal action by Nintendo against Anime Life Sim would likely center on the visual similarities to ACNH.
Nintendo's history of aggressive legal action is well-documented. Whether they will pursue action against Anime Life Sim remains uncertain, but the game's striking resemblance to ACNH is undeniable. Currently slated for a February 2026 release, the PS Store listing doesn't specify PS4 compatibility, only mentioning PS5.
