Honkai: Nexus Anima's Gamescom demo shows the Palworld-like has potential

Summary

During Gamescom, I had the chance to try the demo for Honkai: Nexus Anima, HoYoverse’s latest title. As someone who has never been deeply invested in HoYoverse franchises like Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, I wasn't expecting much—but the demo genuinely surprised me. The game features a vibrant, colorful world reminiscent of Pokémon, and its core loop revolves around capturing and training creatures while exploring the environment. What sets it apart from HoYoverse’s previous works is the inclusion of survival-crafting mechanics similar to Palworld, where players must gather resources, build structures, and manage their surroundings. This combination gives the gameplay a fresh twist while maintaining the studio’s polished visual style and character design. The demo showcased a promising foundation, with smooth combat and a lively overworld. Although the session was short, the potential shown is undeniable. The author believes this could become another blockbuster hit for HoYoverse if the final product delivers on the demo's promise. It also represents an exciting evolution for the studio, potentially appealing to players who might not typically enjoy gacha-style games. For anyone interested in creature-collecting adventures or open-world survival games, Honkai: Nexus Anima is definitely worth keeping an eye on.