Genshin Maker Tackles Creature Collectors with Nexus Anima

Hoyoverse, known for Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, is set to release Honkai: Nexus Anima, a new title aiming to capture the creature collector market. This upcoming game offers a unique blend of anime aesthetics and auto-battler gameplay, similar to Team Fight Tactics. Players will engage in battles by strategically placing creatures called Anima on a board, where the combat then proceeds automatically. The Anima themselves are distinct, categorized by abstract 'Aspects' like Love, Satiation, Pride, and Reality, moving beyond traditional elemental classifications.

The game's design also incorporates a distinctive voiced second-person narration, which has drawn comparisons to the style found in Baldur's Gate 3. Outside of its core combat mechanics, Nexus Anima includes elements common to the creature collector genre, such as championship qualifiers and the need to collect specific items to bond with defeated Anima. Hoyoverse has confirmed that Honkai: Nexus Anima will be available on PC, iOS, and Android, with pre-registrations now open.

It was first seen at Gamescom 2026, where it reassured fans that the company isn't abandoning its signature anime style despite other projects. This title, alongside the cozy life sim Petit Planet, demonstrates Hoyoverse's continued commitment to its established aesthetic, while still experimenting with game genres.