Aniimo Pre-Orders Are Now Live on PS5 Ahead of September Launch

If we say “cute anime Pokémon meets Genshin game,” you should answer with “Aniimo”. For those who have been keeping an eye on Aniimo, you will be happy! The upcoming free-to-play creature-catching RPG finally has a release date to talk about. They released a new pre-order trailer for PlayStation, revealing a date. Aniimo will officially launch on PS5 on September 16, 2026 at 10 AM UTC+8.

And yes, you can pre-order a free-to-play game. And… pay for a free-to-play game. It is Sony, so these are the usual paid packages they offer. Keep in mind that these are not needed in order to play the game, even if you are on PS5.

Aniimo Is Still Completely Free to Play

Before anyone gets confused by the pre-order announcement, Aniimo itself will remain free to play. The PlayStation listing explicitly states that the base game will be available at no cost when it launches. As mentioned, the pre-orders are simply optional packs containing additional in-game items. Some of these items will be exclusive to PlayStation players. So if you do not care about the bonuses, you can just download Aniimo when it releases and start playing without spending anything.

The game is also planned for Xbox Series X|S, PC through Steam and Epic Games Store, Android and iOS, but there is an important detail here. PlayStation is currently the only platform where the official store listing gives a specific September 16 release date.

The other versions are still listed as “available soon.”

There is no indication that the PlayStation version is getting an early-access period either, so it remains possible that September 16 will eventually be the release date across all platforms, and it just did not get updated on the other ones. For now, though, that is not officially confirmed. So if you are playing on phone, Xbox, or PC, we are a little bit kept in the dark when it comes to the official release date. However, keep an eye out, because if PlayStation now has a date, it should not take long before we get the release date confirmed on the other platforms.

Two Pre-Order Packs Are Available

So PlayStation currently has two different pre-order options for Aniimo, although the exact distinction between them is not particularly clear from the store description.

• Advanced Edition Pre-Order Pack
  • Costs €9.99
  • Includes 1x Fluffy Friend
  • Advanced Companion Handbook
    • This is the in-game Battle-Pass
• Collector’s Edition Pre-Order Pack
  • Costs €19.99
  • Includes 1x Fluffy Friend
  • Advanced Companion Handbook

The Fluffy Friend is the PS5 exclusive item, and the Companion Handbook is basically the in-game Battle Pass. So essentially, pre-ordering directly unlocks the paid track for the Battle Pass, and you will unlock the rewards as you level it. You also get a set of in-game materials on top of it for both packages. Now the confusing part, as you can see in the image, is that it almost looks like both packages offer the same thing, but for a different price.

From the currently shown artwork, the main visible difference appears to be that the more expensive version includes two Fluffy Friend companions instead of one, and the Companion handbook seems different. And indeed, this is the main difference. The Advanced pack unlocks the advanced Battle Pass, so the normal paid track of the Battle Pass. And the Collector’s Edition unlocks a collector version of the Battle Pass.

There are no details on either version of the Battle Pass, so hard to really judge right now which one is worth it. But if we compare to other gacha games, usually the collector pass includes a few additional items.

What Exactly Is Aniimo?

For those who hear about the game for the first time, the concept behind Aniimo is pretty interesting. The game takes place on the continent of Idyll, where you can discover and capture creatures called Aniimo. But instead of simply fighting alongside them, you can “Twine” with your Aniimo, effectively taking control of them and using their abilities to explore the world, solve puzzles, and fight.

Aniimo can appear depending on things such as the environment, weather, time of day, and other phenomena, and many of them can also evolve. So yes, the Pokémon comparisons are going to be unavoidable. But Aniimo is also focused on open-world exploration. You can glide, dive, and burrow around Idyll, or visit a floating metropolis where you can meet other players and take part in competitive activities. So basically, Pokémon meets Genshin Impact if you want a simple comparison.

The game also includes a PvEvP mode called Egg Heist where you can form teams of three and head into the Lost Isles for real-time searches and battles. But for those who like cosy games, there is also a more relaxed side to the game. Every Pathfinder gets their own RV that can be parked at campsites throughout the open world. You can meet others there, or return to your Homeland to grow crops, build decorations, and customize your personal space.

Creature collection is obviously a big part of Aniimo, but it seems to be going for much more than just that.

Either way, Aniimo is definitely interesting, and since it is free to play, it is always worth trying out. The combination of creature collection, an open world, real-time multiplayer, and player housing certainly gives it more going on than just being another Pokémon-like game.

And again, if you do not want any of the pre-order bonuses, you do not need to pre-order anything. The game will be available for free! Now we just have to wait for a confirmation on the release date for all platforms.

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