The Xbox Games Showcase just wrapped up, and Microsoft apparently decided that watching Pocketpair get dragged through court wasn’t enough entertainment. They’ve now greenlit another creature-collecting game that makes Palworld look subtle by comparison.

Aniimo from Pawprint Studio just got its big reveal, and anyone with functioning eyeballs can spot the “inspirations” from a mile away.

The game looks polished, the mechanics seem interesting, but the creature designs are about as original as a Netflix adaptation of your favorite anime.

Aniimo’s creature designs play with legal fire

Aniimo doesn’t just borrow inspiration from Nintendo’s creature-collecting empire; it practically photocopies the homework and changes a few words.

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Nimbi, the sheep-like creature, looks like someone put Wooloo and Mareep in a blender and hoped nobody would notice. The grass-type tortoise/crab hybrid called Budclaw appears to be what happens when Turtwig has a “collab” with Kingler after a few too many drinks.

But wait, there’s more. The trailer showcases a creature popping up from underground that’s basically Chikorita, right down to the leaf sprouting from its head. And don’t even get us started on the dark-type creature that looks like Mew decided to cosplay as Mismagius for Halloween.

The game even features a Pokédex-style interface complete with creature stats and information layouts that feel ripped straight from Game Freak’s playbook. At this point, it feels less like inspiration and more like a game of “how close can we get without getting sued.” Spoiler alert: they might have already crossed that line.

Microsoft’s risky bet on creature-collecting controversy

Nothing suspicious here, move along. | Image Credit: Pawprint Studio/Xbox

Microsoft’s decision to showcase Aniimo right now feels like poking a sleeping dragon with a very sharp stick. Nintendo is currently in the middle of systematically destroying Palworld through patent litigation, forcing Pocketpair to remove core mechanics and fundamentally alter their game to avoid complete annihilation.

The house of Mario has spent 2024 and 2025 establishing legal precedents that should terrify any developer working in the creature-collecting space. They’ve weaponized their patent portfolio to eliminate competition rather than encourage innovation, and they’re winning every single battle.

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Yet here’s Xbox, apparently believing that lightning won’t strike twice in the same Game Pass ecosystem. The company seems determined to support studios willing to challenge Nintendo‘s stranglehold on creature-collecting games, legal consequences be damned.

Aniimo does have one potentially saving grace: its “Twining” mechanic lets players transform into their creatures rather than commanding them in traditional battles. It’s a clever twist that could differentiate the game from Nintendo’s formula—assuming their lawyers don’t decide that shapeshifting counts as patent infringement, too.

What’s your take on Aniimo‘s creature designs? Are they crossing the line, or is this just healthy competition that Nintendo needs to deal with? Share your thoughts below!
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