PAX East Preview: Aniimo is an Action Game for Monster Tamers

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Out of all the games I tried at PAX East, Aniimo really stood out and I can’t stop thinking about it! It’s got these super cute creatures called Aniimo, and the combat is actually really fun and action-packed. People are already comparing it to Palworld, but honestly, Aniimo is doing a great job of forging its own identity and feels totally different.

At PAX East, I had a chance to play the game twice: first through the tutorial and beginning, and then later exploring some of its mid-game content. Based on my conversations with the developers, I likely spent more time playing the game than anyone else at the event.

I’m not an Aniimo expert, but I’ve played enough to get a good sense of how the creature-catching gameplay works. This preview will mainly focus on the game’s feel at different levels, and what the developers are doing to improve things based on feedback from beta testers and playtest participants.

What Even is Aniimo?

Aniimo shares similarities with popular creature-collecting games, but stands out by being an action RPG instead of a turn-based one. It’s surprisingly enjoyable to combine the fast-paced action of MMOs with the fun of collecting creatures.

The game is easy to pick up. You’ll explore the world of Idyll, finding and learning about different creatures called Aniimo. When it’s time to battle, you can use a special ability called Twine to transform into your Aniimo and fight using their unique powers.

Out of all the games I tried at PAX East, Aniimo really stood out and I’m already looking forward to playing it again.

Because you can transform into your Aniimo, you’ll frequently use them to solve puzzles and get around the game world. You can also simply spend time with them if you like, but the game offers more than just exploring and fighting.

The game has a relaxing home-building aspect, and your Aniimo characters can help collect materials – though it feels a little like making them work. I think these resources will be used for crafting items you can either sell or use in modes like the Egg Heist, which I’ll explain shortly.

A Different Kind of Creature Catcher

Most creature-collecting games play alike, but Aniimo is different – it lets you connect with your creatures in a unique way called ‘Twining.’ This makes the game much more engaging and less passive, and also gives you a lot more flexibility in how you explore the world.

Aniimo can move in a variety of ways – some run, fly, or swim – so you’ll constantly be transforming into one as you explore the world. Once you finish the initial tutorial, the game offers a lot of freedom, which is fantastic, but it can also feel overwhelming if you’re not sure where to go or what to do next.

Good news – the developers are already on top of some issues! But honestly, the combat is already fantastic. It feels really solid and just plain fun to play. Each little Aniimo character feels unique, and they all have this awesome ultimate ability that triggers a cool little cutscene when you use it. It really reminded me of classic JRPGs, and the animations were a big part of that – super enjoyable to watch!

I was pleasantly surprised by how good this game is! The character designs are really well done – the cute characters are adorable, and the scary ones are genuinely intimidating, but nothing feels overdone. Everything blends together nicely, creating a really polished experience.

Addressing the Issues

Because I’d spent a lot of time playing, the game developers asked for my feedback. I told them I found the game a little overwhelming at times, and that moving the character around felt awkward. I also suggested that the game could be more guided, especially at the beginning.

Okay, so honestly, this game is amazing, but it can be a little overwhelming at first. There’s so much to do and a ton of menus to click through. It’s not that the menus are useless, but they definitely slow you down when you just want to explore Idyll and have fun. Luckily, the developers are already working on making everything more streamlined and easier to understand, which is awesome!

Being a person in the game wasn’t as enjoyable as moving around as Aniimo, especially since running felt repetitive – like just repeatedly pressing a dash button. Luckily, the developers are working on a solution: a skateboard-like movement option that should make getting around as the human character much more fun.

Giving players freedom in games is tricky. They often wander into areas they’re not supposed to, and then get stuck when they can’t progress. Developers are working to strike a balance – offering players the freedom they desire while also providing enough guidance to prevent frustration and confusion.

What Comes Next for Aniimo

The game isn’t quite ready for release yet, and there might be another beta test before it’s finished, but the developers are working hard to launch it soon. Even after just a little time playing, it’s clear this game has huge potential. It’s not just visually appealing; the developers have clearly put a lot of careful thought and effort into its design.

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What I love most about this game is how it focuses less on a main storyline and more on the individual stories you discover as you play. I was surprised when, after defeating a boss, the game unexpectedly launched a sidequest. While not entirely unique, it really highlighted how special this game is.

I previously talked about Egg Heist, a game mode where you try to collect and safely return eggs – it’s similar to an extraction mode. There are both cooperative and player-versus-player versions, though I only got to try the co-op one. I found it really interesting because it’s a unique feature for this type of game, and it demonstrates how committed the developers are to creating something everyone can enjoy.

I’m seriously hyped for this game, and you should be too! It’s going to be free-to-play, which is awesome, but honestly, it looks like a blast to play with family or friends. There’s a lot to do – you can jump into combat, focus on capturing things, or just chill and hang out with your little Aniimo. It really seems like there’s something for everyone!

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2026-04-03 23:40