Animal Crossing Rip-Off Debuts on PSN

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 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 the Animal Crossing franchise has inspired numerous games, Anime Life Sim stands out for its overt imitation. Developed and published by IndieGames3000, this upcoming indie title, listed on the PlayStation Store, has drawn significant attention for its blatant copying of ACNH's design and mechanics.

A Description That Echoes ACNH

The similarities extend beyond mere aesthetics. Anime Life Sim's PlayStation Store description closely mirrors that of ACNH, promising a "charming social simulation" with features including home building and decoration, befriending animal neighbors, and engaging in 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 rules themselves are generally unpatentable. However, the legal landscape shifts when considering visuals. Elements such as art style, character design, and specific graphical assets are often protected by copyright law. Thus, 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 against perceived infringements is well-documented. Whether or not they will pursue action against Anime Life Sim remains uncertain. Currently, Anime Life Sim is slated for a February 2026 release, with its PlayStation Store page not specifying compatibility with PS4.