Aniimo locks in a September release date across all platforms

Pawprint Studio has officially confirmed that its free-to-play creature collector Aniimo launches on September 16. The release covers Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC, iOS, and Android, and the game will also be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one.

The date leaked on digital storefronts earlier in August. Now we have a proper trailer. The footage gives a closer look at the world of Idyll, where players run around catching monsters in traps and using them to solve puzzles. You catch creatures using items called Aniipods. Different monsters appear based on the time of day, current weather, and specific environmental phenomena.

Becoming the monster

The central mechanic here is something Pawprint calls Twining. Instead of just throwing a creature into battle and shouting commands from the sidelines, you can merge with any monster you capture. This lets you use their specific skills to fight bosses, dig through the environment, or glide across the map. The trailer shows characters and their companions leaping out of the water on hoverboards and surfboards, which looks like a fun way to get around.

The combat looks surprisingly fast. We get a glimpse of a fight against a massive dark dragon boss with intense lighting and slash effects. It leans heavily into real-time action. You can see the player rolling through grassy fields and capturing multiple creatures in quick succession.

Most of the creatures you catch can evolve into stronger forms. The world itself is designed to accommodate all these different movement types. Whether you are burrowing underground or diving into a lake, the game wants you to use your captured roster to navigate the terrain.

If you want to play with friends, there is a three-player mode called Egg Heist. It takes place in an area called the Lost Isles and mixes cooperative encounters with competitive battles against other teams. Or you can just ignore the fighting entirely and hang out in your personal RV. Every player gets a camper van. You can park it at campsites around the open world, plant crops, and decorate the space. I am fully prepared to abandon the main quest to build a monster farm next to my van.

The long road to release

The game was originally revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2025. It went through a few closed beta tests on PC earlier this year to test the open-world mechanics and server stability. There is a lot to do here, from visiting a metropolis floating in the sky to racing other players across the map.

The creature collection genre is crowded right now. The direct action combat and the Twining system might give this one enough identity to stand out. Pre-orders for the starter packs are live on the Xbox store and other digital storefronts ahead of the September launch.