Earlier this year, a listing for a game called “Anime Life Sim” appeared on the Playstation 5 store, featuring designs and assets that seemed copied straight from Animal Crossing, seemingly attempting to cash in on the franchise’s success.

Now, another listing for a similar game has popped up on the store. This variant is called “Anime Village Online” from developer GamePoc, set to release in 2027. It features character designs, aesthetics, and gameplay very similar to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, as seen in the screenshot and game description below:

Welcome to Anime Village Online, a cozy life simulation game where you can create your dream village, decorate your home, and enjoy a peaceful world — all while playing solo or with friends online.

🏡 Create Your Perfect Life
Design and expand your own charming house, craft furniture, grow crops, catch fish, and decorate your surroundings to match your personal style.

🌳 Explore a Living World
Wander through beautiful forests, rivers, beaches, and hidden paths. Discover resources, meet NPC villagers, and unlock new items and areas as you play.

🤝 Play Solo or Co-Op With Friends
Invite friends to visit your village, explore theirs, or hang out together in real time. Help each other gather materials, trade items, and build beautiful spaces.

💬 Built-In In-Game Chat
Talk, plan, and share ideas with friends directly in the game — no extra apps needed.

🎮 True Cross-Platform Multiplayer
Play seamlessly across consoles. Your village travels with you, so you can play anywhere, with anyone.

Gather your friends, shape your perfect home, and create unforgettable memories in Anime Village Online.

In a statement released to Gamespot, GamePoc CEO had this to say about the game:

“Regarding the similarities mentioned: While it’s true that Rooted: Survival shares post-apocalyptic themes like zombies and survival elements, which are also found in The Last of Us, and Anime Village Online may evoke a life-simulation vibe similar to Animal Crossing, our games are built with distinct goals and mechanics in mind. Our primary focus is on online cooperative multiplayer, encouraging players to connect, collaborate, and enjoy unique experiences together. We believe this differentiates our games significantly from the franchises mentioned.”

Interestingly, the listing for the previously reported copycat game Anime Life Sim appears to have been taken down, possibly hinting at the eventual fate of Anime Village Online in light of Nintendo’s relentless protectiveness of their IPs.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.