Blatant Animal Crossing Copy Appears on PlayStation Store

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

A newly unveiled PlayStation game, Anime Life Sim, has sparked considerable debate due to its uncanny resemblance to Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH). The game, developed and published by IndieGames3000, appears to be a near-identical clone, mirroring not only the visual style but also the core gameplay loop.

The Animal Crossing franchise has inspired numerous games, with some borrowing broad concepts while others adopt more direct elements. Anime Life Sim, however, falls into the latter category, prompting discussion about the boundaries of inspiration and outright imitation.

Mirroring More Than Just Aesthetics

The similarities extend beyond superficial visual comparisons. The PlayStation Store description of Anime Life Sim strikingly echoes that of ACNH, promising a "charming social simulation" with features including home building and decoration, befriending animal villagers, and engaging in familiar activities like fishing, bug catching, gardening, crafting, and fossil hunting – all core mechanics of ACNH.

Legal Ramifications: Gameplay vs. Visuals

According to patent analyst Florian Mueller, game mechanics themselves are generally not patentable. Therefore, replicating gameplay elements doesn't automatically constitute legal infringement. However, the situation becomes more complex when considering visual aspects. Copyright law protects elements such as art style, character design, and specific graphical elements. Should Nintendo choose to pursue legal action against Anime Life Sim, the focus would likely be on the visual similarities to ACNH.

Nintendo's history of aggressive legal action against perceived infringements is well-documented. Whether or not they will target Anime Life Sim remains uncertain. For now, 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 within the gaming community.