Blatant Animal Crossing Copy Appears on PlayStation Store

Anime Life Sim: A Striking Resemblance to Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A recently 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-identical 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 direct 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 visuals. Elements such as 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 center on the visual similarities to ACNH.

Nintendo's reputation for pursuing legal action against copyright infringement is well-established. Whether they will target Anime Life Sim remains to be seen. Currently, the game is slated for a February 2026 release on PlayStation 5, with PS4 compatibility yet to be confirmed. The striking similarities, however, have already generated significant discussion within the gaming community.