HoYoverse is expanding its portfolio with Honkai: Nexus Anima, a new title that combines strategy-focused auto battler mechanics with creature-collecting elements. Following a recent closed beta, players have a clearer look at how the studio is adapting its established design language into this new genre.
Gameplay Mechanics and Team Building
The core gameplay loop centers on tactical placement. Players deploy creatures onto a stage, where they fulfill specific roles such as frontline tanks or backline buffers and healers. Success relies on balancing these roles and identifying synergies between different creature types.
Team building is further modified by the inclusion of Eidoses, or Trainers. These units provide additional strategic layers to the team, though the gacha system appears to play a significant role. Based on the beta, Trainers are expected to be paired with signature creatures, which may influence how players approach endgame team composition compared to standard creature hunting.
Setting and Crossover Characters
The game features a vibrant world that shares aesthetic similarities with the Planarcadia environment seen in Honkai: Star Rail. It also bridges multiple universes, featuring familiar faces such as Blade from Honkai: Star Rail and Otto from Honkai Impact 3rd.
Platform Availability
While the game performed well on mobile during the testing phase, HoYoverse has yet to confirm if Honkai: Nexus Anima will launch on PlayStation 5. Although the studio has successfully brought titles like Honkai: Star Rail to Sony's console with cross-save functionality, the current build of Nexus Anima appears heavily optimized for mobile play.
Quick Facts
- Genre: Auto battler with creature catching.
- Key Systems: Tactical stage placement, role-based creature synergy, and gacha-based Trainer (Eidos) recruitment.
- Crossover Elements: Features established characters from existing HoYoverse titles.
- Development Status: Recently completed a closed beta test; no official release date announced.