Hoyoverse continues to expand its portfolio with new games set in new genres, with one of its biggest upcoming releases being the creature collector Honkai: Nexus Anima. I was able to play almost an hour of the game during Gamescom 2026, and initially, I was worried that I would be really lost as someone relatively unfamiliar with what the game had to offer. However, I actually ended up having a fantastic time with the demo I played and am now eagerly awaiting the full release.
Honkai: Nexus Anima has all the cliches that you might expect from the creature collecting genre. There is a massive hub to use; you can ride on your creatures (aptly named Anima) as mounts, and of course, each Anima looks absolutely adorable. Where Nexus Anima ended up hooking me, though, was in the ways that it differed from other entries in the genre. These differences became abundantly clear the first time I started up a combat encounter. I was expecting to see a classic turn-based combat scenario, so imagine my surprise when I was instead greeted with an auto-battler.
Essentially, you can pick three characters at the beginning of a battle, each of whom will add enhancements to your units. Then, you will be able to place a select number of Anima units across a small board that will battle for you without you needing to push a button. All you have to do is choose your Anima wisely. Some are most efficiently used in the backline, while others are best utilized at the front of the action. Even if you are not directly controlling your characters, your strategies and choice of units will directly impact the flow of battle.
Once you figure it out, the combat of Nexus Anima feels great. I was constantly trying to optimize my ideal playstyle, such as when I often found myself using an Anima that could blow ice breath, since it was able to be all the way in the back of the battlefield, away from danger. Yet, despite the distance, it was still able to deal devastating damage to opponents from all the way across the board. It certainly helps that battles are short, meaning that you can quickly move to the next encounter in seconds. This is much appreciated for the sections of the game where you are ascending an arcade-style ladder for rewards, or simply grinding for XP and to collect more Anima.
Not only did I get a good taste of combat in this demo, but I was also able to appreciate the exploration mechanics. Based on what I played, the world of Honkai: Nexus Anima seems massive and filled with depth. While I was running around, I got to take part in small side quests that directly asked me to take advantage of the Anima within my employ. One of my personal favorites was one where the Sheriff was about to collapse from exhaustion, so you had to get a bear-shaped Anima to comfort her. It is a really charming and wholesome quest that almost made me emotional with how the Sheriff started to break down into tears.
In addition, my combat skills were directly put to the test in the main quest of the demo, where I had to take part in a major tournament that I needed to win in order to further progress. It seemed to tease some of the characters and power dynamics in this world, with one mysterious shapeshifting character appearing as a potential mastermind. Above all, I loved how this quest highlighted the charm of Nexus Anima‘s characters, such as how one of the other tournament participants speaks complete nonsense. Even trying to access his mind with telepathy only leaves the protagonist rattled and terrified.
Despite my relative unfamiliarity with the Honkai universe, I loved the little bit I was able to play of Nexus Anima. Its unique spin on the creature collecting genre is really compelling, as are the narrative threads teased and side quests offered throughout the overworld. I am now even more curious to see what the full game has in store when it releases at a later date for PC, iOS, and Android.
