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 appears to be a near-direct clone, mirroring not only the visual style but also the core gameplay loop.

While Animal Crossing has inspired numerous games, Anime Life Sim stands out for its overt imitation. Developed and published by IndieGames3000, the game's PlayStation Store listing explicitly describes a "charming social simulation" featuring home building, befriending animal neighbors, and engaging in activities like fishing, bug catching, gardening, crafting, and fossil hunting – all key 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 focus on the visual similarities to ACNH.

Nintendo's history of legal action is well-documented, but whether they will pursue action against Anime Life Sim remains uncertain. Currently, the game is slated for a February 2026 release on PlayStation 5, with PS4 compatibility yet to be confirmed.