Blatant Animal Crossing Copy Appears on PlayStation Store

Summary

• An upcoming PlayStation game called Anime Life Sim recently garnered attention for looking like a blatant Animal Crossing clone.
• The game seems to rip off the latest entry in Nintendo's series, New Horizons.
• Aside from having identical visuals, Anime Life Sim seems to feature a gameplay loop that's the same as that of ACNH.

A new indie game titled Anime Life Sim has recently caught the eye of gamers and critics alike, primarily due to its striking resemblance to Nintendo's beloved franchise, Animal Crossing, especially its latest installment, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This upcoming title, listed on the PlayStation Store, appears to be an almost direct clone of the popular life simulation game.

Animal Crossing has long served as a muse for numerous game developers, inspiring a range of titles that have either borrowed broad concepts or more directly emulated specific mechanics from the series. However, instances of games that outright replicate the entire experience are less common but do occur. Anime Life Sim, developed and published by IndieGames3000—a studio with a broad portfolio of games across various genres—has sparked significant attention for its similarities to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Anime Life Sim's PS Store Page Basically Describes Animal Crossing

The resemblance between Anime Life Sim and ACNH extends beyond mere aesthetics. The PlayStation Store description of Anime Life Sim echoes the essence of Nintendo's 2020 Switch exclusive, touting a "charming social simulation" where players can engage in home building and decorating, befriending animal neighbors, and participating in daily activities like fishing, bug catching, gardening, crafting, and fossil hunting—activities that are core to the Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience.

Game Rules Aren't Patentable, But Copying Visuals Can Spell Trouble

According to patent expert Florian Mueller, game rules themselves cannot be patented anywhere in the world, meaning there's no legal barrier to replicating the gameplay mechanics of any title, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, the situation becomes more complex with visuals. Elements such as art style, character design, and certain graphical features are often protected under copyright law across various jurisdictions. If Nintendo were to take action against Anime Life Sim, it would likely focus on these visual similarities.

Nintendo is known for its aggressive legal stance within the gaming industry, but it remains uncertain whether the company has Anime Life Sim on its radar or plans to pursue legal action. Meanwhile, Anime Life Sim is slated for release in February 2026, though the PlayStation Store page does not specify whether it will be available on both PS4 and PS5.