Blatant Animal Crossing Copy Appears on PlayStation Store

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-exact 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 gameplay features virtually identical to ACNH: home building and decoration, befriending animal neighbors, and engaging in activities like fishing, bug catching, gardening, crafting, and fossil hunting.

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 elements. Copyright law protects aspects like art style, character design, and specific graphical elements. Thus, any potential legal action by Nintendo against Anime Life Sim would likely center on the visual similarities to ACNH.

Nintendo's history of legal action is well-documented. 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. The striking similarities, however, continue to fuel discussion and speculation.