Blatant Animal Crossing Copy Appears on PlayStation Store

Summary

• Anime Life Sim, an upcoming PlayStation game, has drawn criticism for its striking resemblance to Animal Crossing.
• The game appears to be a near-identical copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, mimicking both visuals and gameplay.
• The similarities extend beyond aesthetics, encompassing core gameplay mechanics.

A new indie game on the PlayStation Store, Anime Life Sim, has sparked controversy for its blatant imitation of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This isn't the first game inspired by the popular Nintendo franchise, but Anime Life Sim goes beyond mere inspiration, presenting itself as a near-identical clone.

The Animal Crossing franchise's influence is widespread, with many games drawing inspiration from its core concepts. While some borrow general ideas, others directly replicate specific elements.

Direct copies are less common, but Anime Life Sim, developed and published by IndieGames3000, is a prime example. Its listing on the PlayStation Store immediately highlighted its uncanny resemblance to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Anime Life Sim's PS Store Page: A Virtual Mirror of Animal Crossing

The similarities extend beyond superficial aesthetics. Anime Life Sim's PS Store description echoes that of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, promising a "charming social simulation" with features like home building and decoration, befriending animal neighbors, and engaging in activities such as fishing, bug catching, gardening, crafting, and fossil hunting—all core mechanics of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Legal Considerations: Gameplay vs. Visuals

As patent analyst Florian Mueller explained to Game Rant, game rules are generally unpatentable. This means copying gameplay mechanics isn't inherently illegal. However, the legal landscape shifts when considering visual elements. Copyright law protects aspects like art style, character design, and specific graphical elements in many jurisdictions. If Nintendo were to pursue legal action against Anime Life Sim, it would likely focus on these visual similarities to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Nintendo's reputation for aggressive legal action is well-established. Whether they will target Anime Life Sim remains uncertain. Currently, Anime Life Sim is slated for a February 2026 release, with the PS Store page not specifying PS4 or PS5 exclusivity.