Anime Life Sim: A Striking Resemblance to Animal Crossing: New Horizons
A new PlayStation game, Anime Life Sim, has generated considerable buzz due to its uncanny similarity to Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH). The game, developed and published by IndieGames3000, appears to be a near-identical clone, mirroring not only the visual style but also the core gameplay loop.
The Animal Crossing franchise has frequently served as inspiration for other games. While some draw broader influence, others adopt more direct elements. Anime Life Sim falls into the latter category, prompting comparisons to a blatant ACNH copy.
A PS Store Description That Echoes ACNH
The parallels between Anime Life Sim and ACNH extend beyond mere aesthetics. The PS Store description itself strongly resembles that of Nintendo's 2020 hit, advertising a "charming social simulation" with features strikingly similar to ACNH: home building and decoration, befriending animal neighbors, and engaging in activities such as fishing, bug catching, gardening, crafting, and fossil hunting. These mechanics are all central to ACNH's gameplay.
Legal Considerations: Gameplay vs. Visuals
According to patent analyst Florian Mueller, game rules are generally not patentable. This means there are no legal barriers to replicating gameplay mechanics. However, the situation becomes more complex when considering visuals. Elements like art style, character design, and specific graphical assets are often protected by copyright law. Therefore, any potential legal action by Nintendo against Anime Life Sim would likely focus on the visual similarities to ACNH.
Nintendo's reputation for legal action is well-established. However, whether they will pursue legal action against Anime Life Sim remains uncertain. Currently, the game is slated for a February 2026 release on PS5, with PS4 availability yet to be confirmed.
