HoYoverse’s Honkai: Nexus Anima Is Basically Pokémon—But Bigger and Better, Beta Starts 8/29
HoYoverse has revealed a new monster-collecting game called Honkai: Nexus Anima, where players will gather, raise and battle creatures called Anima. The debut trailer and gameplay footage show a variety of creature designs, options to interact with them, and combat that looks different from turn-based monster games.
What Honkai: Nexus Anima is
The game is a new HoYoverse title that centers on collectible creatures called Anima. According to the trailer, the world’s “Nexus” balance is ruptured, which scatters powers across the world in the form of Anima.
Players appear to take the role of a protagonist with a mysterious past while forming bonds with Anima. The reveal materials present a story backdrop, but the core emphasis in the footage is on collecting and interacting with these creatures.
Trailer and footage highlights
The debut trailer presents many different Anima designs, including animal-like and food-inspired creatures. Several on-screen designs resemble familiar animal shapes and dessert- or food-themed concepts, and the footage also shows social areas and domestic scenes with Anima present.
Additionally, gameplay clips show Anima being ridden, played with, fed treats, gathered in a communal pet area, and used in combat. Some scenes include one Anima using a launcher to shoot down orbs in the sky, and another scene shows an Anima causing destruction inside a house.
Gameplay and systems
The footage includes scenes where many Anima are on the battlefield at once and appear to attack in a more action-oriented way than traditional turn-based monster games. Moreover, the reveal suggests options for riding and playing with Anima, as well as on-screen customization for characters and creatures.
HoYoverse’s in-game clips also show social interactions, such as a player riding a seesaw with a friend and a communal pet park where multiple players can bring Anima. The trailer does not state the game’s monetization model or whether any progress will carry across all tests and releases.
Beta test and signup
HoYoverse is running a beta test for Nexus Anima that begins on 8/29. The test is scheduled for PC and iOS, and the company states that any progress made during the beta will be wiped.
You can sign up for the test on the game’s official site; however, a HoYoverse account is required to register. For more details and signup information, see the official page on HoYoverse’s site.
