PS Store Lists Animal Crossing-Like Game

A newly discovered PlayStation game called Anime Life Sim has sparked controversy for appearing to be an obvious Animal Crossing copycat, particularly resembling the latest installment, New Horizons.

Striking Resemblance to Nintendo's Hit Franchise

Anime Life Sim doesn't just borrow Animal Crossing's aesthetic—it mirrors New Horizons' core gameplay systems. From home decoration and animal neighbors to fishing, bug catching, and fossil hunting, the similarities appear extensive.

This isn't the first Animal Crossing-inspired game, but Anime Life Sim seems to take imitation much further than most. The title comes from IndieGames3000, a developer with a catalog featuring numerous titles across various genres now introducing this suspiciously familiar life simulator.

Legal Gray Areas in Game Development

While game mechanics themselves aren't protected by copyright, visual elements can be. As patent expert Florian Mueller explains, gameplay rules can't be patented globally—but art style and character designs often fall under copyright protection.

This puts Anime Life Sim in questionable territory. The game's near-identical visual approach to New Horizons could potentially prompt legal action from Nintendo, though it's unclear if the company is currently monitoring the situation.

Coming to PlayStation Platforms

Currently slated for February 2026 release, Anime Life Sim's PlayStation Store listing remains unclear about PS4 compatibility. Whether this apparent clone ultimately makes it to market may depend on how closely Nintendo watches—and whether they choose to intervene.