Five years have passed since Animal Crossing: New Horizons took the gaming world by storm.
With its anniversary around the corner, fans are eager for a new entry in the series. So, when a game called Anime Life Sim popped up on the PlayStation Store over the weekend, many did a double take. This game doesn’t just resemble Animal Crossing—it practically mirrors it.
Slated for a February 2026 launch, Anime Life Sim invites players to “Create your perfect anime life in this charming social simulation” by building homes, befriending animals, and embarking on adventures. Familiar activities like fishing, fossil hunting, bug-catching, and crafting abound, along with running a shop and hosting town events.
While these mechanics don’t belong exclusively to Animal Crossing, the visual similarities are glaring. The textures, character designs, and animal villagers feel like a remix of Nintendo’s beloved life sim, with small tweaks like oversized moose antlers.
However, some screenshots reveal deeper issues: Many objects appear AI-generated, leading to oddly distorted environments. Tables meld with chairs, appliances defy physics, and even character eyes vary wildly between images.
Developer and publisher Maksym Vysochanskyy, operating under the moniker IndieGames3000, has a history of churning out “asset flips.” Recent entries include a Monster Hunter clone and a slew of quirky simulators like TCG Card Shop Manager and City Bus Driving Simulator.
Interestingly, several of Vysochanskyy’s games have been repackaged for other platforms under different publishers. For example, Rainbow Ascend: Anime Girls Go Up surfaced on the Switch eShop via BurleaGamesStudio, while World War II City Rebirth Tycoon made its way under Tashlik.
Turns out, this isn’t just a game heavily inspired by Animal Crossing—it’s a rehash of a pre-existing Unreal Engine template available on the Fab asset store.
According to Good Vibes Gaming (video below), the screenshots for Anime Life Sim appear to be lifted straight from the CozyLife: Social Sim Game Template. If that wasn’t eyebrow-raising enough, you can even check out a demo of the original asset pack. Comparing the demo directly to Nintendo’s iconic series, the similarities are impossible to miss.
So, while Anime Life Sim borrows heavily from Nintendo, the situation is murkier than expected, with the game itself relying on pre-made assets. Whether it survives long enough to see its February 2026 release remains uncertain.
Given this track record, it’s doubtful Anime Life Sim will meet its projected release date. Many similar projects—like The Last of Us knockoff and the Unpacking clone—have already been pulled from digital storefronts.
As always, keep an eye out when browsing for new games—some might be more “inspired” than they should be.
Please show Good Vibes Gaming some love and watch their original content of this topic here:
Stay cozy, gamers!