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, mirroring both its 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 time Animal Crossing has inspired other games, but Anime Life Sim's level of imitation is notable. While some games borrow broad concepts, Anime Life Sim appears to directly copy many elements.

Developed and published by IndieGames3000, Anime Life Sim's PlayStation Store listing highlights its uncanny resemblance to ACNH.

Anime Life Sim's PS Store Page: A Near-Identical Description to Animal Crossing

The similarities between Anime Life Sim and ACNH extend beyond superficial visuals. The PS Store description mirrors ACNH's core features: a charming social simulation focused on home building and decoration, befriending animal neighbors, and engaging in activities like fishing, bug catching, gardening, crafting, and fossil hunting. These are all core mechanics in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Gameplay Mechanics Aren't Patentable, But Visual Similarity Could Be an Issue

According to patent analyst Florian Mueller, game rules themselves aren't patentable. This means copying gameplay mechanics isn't inherently illegal. However, visual elements like art style, character design, and specific graphical assets are often protected by copyright. If Nintendo chooses to take action against Anime Life Sim, it would likely focus on these visual similarities to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Nintendo's reputation for legal action is well-established. Whether they will pursue this case remains to be seen. Anime Life Sim is currently slated for a February 2026 release, but its PS Store page doesn't specify PS4 or PS5 exclusivity.