miHoYo has revealed Honkai: Nexus Anima, the latest entry in the Honkai franchise, blending anime-style graphics with a new creature-collecting mechanic. The game, formally announced on August 28, 2025, features exploration in a seaside urban setting and innovative gameplay elements. While no release date is set, rumors point to an early 2026 launch.
Honkai: Nexus Anima marks the next chapter in miHoYo's Honkai series, known for its anime-inspired visuals, fluid combat, and rich narratives. Unlike previous titles, it introduces a creature-collector loop similar to Pokémon, where players capture and manage beings called Anima in a large open world.
The game was officially announced on August 28, 2025, accompanied by screenshots, trailers, and initial details. A closed beta test ran for one week in September 2025, with potential for further testing, including an open alpha or beta. No firm release date has been confirmed, though development rumors suggest early 2026 as a likely window.
Two trailers debuted with the announcement: the cinematic "Nexus Bond Teaser: Side by Side," highlighting the explorable world, characters, and Anima alongside impressive graphics; and the gameplay-focused "In-game footage from Honkai: Nexus Anima," demonstrating mechanics like flying, battles, character creation, and the world map.
Set in a seaside town blending dense urban areas with beach boulevards, the game offers extensive exploration. Players interact with characters from factions such as Sovereign (Kumyo Kyo, Armand, Armstradath, Victus, Apeiron) and Novarch (Prabhas, Blade, Parayaya, Sir Champion). Story details remain sparse, but more revelations are expected.
Gameplay centers on collecting Anima, which serve dual purposes: combat and utility, like cleaning streets or assisting in stores. Anima begin at level 10 and level up via combat experience using a star-based system. Each has a "Trait" defining its role, such as Gladiator for aggressive fighting, and three gear slots for open-world customization.
Combat employs a deck-building system over traditional parties, deploying Anima based on real-time factors in an auto-chess format. Battles include an Animaster buff at the start and shared assistance slots for effects like healing or extra damage.
Honkai: Nexus Anima will launch on PC, iOS, and Android, following the free-to-play model of recent entries like Honkai: Star Rail (2023), though this is unconfirmed. A console release, potentially on PlayStation 5, may follow later.