What is Honkai: Nexus Anima?

Honkai: Nexus Anima is a creature-collecting adventure and auto-battler RPG developed by HoYoverse — the studio behind Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero; Nexus Anima is the newest entry in the long-running Honkai series, first teased at a Honkai: Star Rail anniversary concert. You play a Planestrider, exploring a realm of Planes bound together by Nexus and bonding with creatures called Anima. It is free-to-play.

Trailer

The official Honkai: Nexus Anima channel’s Evolution Test gameplay showcase is the best look at the world, the Anima and the auto-battler combat:

The story: Nexus and the Sundering

The world is built on Nexus — the invisible bonds between paired forces such as Light and Dark, Love and Hate, and Life and Death. A cataclysm called the Sundering shattered those bonds, scattering their remnant power across the Planes as the creatures you collect: Anima. You begin in the tranquil town of Iia before venturing into uncharted realms.

Official · HoYoverseA Traveler's Guide to the Planes · Nexus

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Genre & gameplay

It blends creature collection, 3D exploration and an auto-battler. Rather than a fixed party, you build a deck of Anima and deploy it in Nexus Battles, which resolve automatically based on Aspect synergies. Anima also explore with you, serve as mounts and flying companions, and join minigames. More on Anima →

A Gamescom 2026 hands-on also described using Anima abilities to cross obstacles, open routes and unlock dialogue options around Lia. Those are observations from a pre-release demo, not promises about the final build.

Platforms

Closed testing has covered PC, iOS, Android. HoYoverse has not announced a PS5, Xbox or Switch version. Store pages, final device requirements and cross-progression details are also unconfirmed.

How does it compare to Genshin Impact and Palworld?

Like other HoYoverse titles it has a story-led 3D world, but its combat is not Genshin-style real-time action. The creature collecting, bonding, mounts and evolution draw frequent comparisons to Palworld and Pokémon — but the combat is an auto-battler rather than direct action, and it sits inside the established Honkai universe with crossover characters like Blade and Kiana.

Gameplay and release questions

Is Honkai: Nexus Anima open world?

The test and Gamescom builds feature free 3D exploration around Lia and nearby areas, with mounts and traversal abilities. HoYoverse has not documented whether every Plane belongs to one seamless map, so “exploration RPG” is more precise than promising a particular final open-world structure.

Is Nexus Anima turn-based?

Not in the traditional menu-command sense. Nexus Battles use an auto-chess system: you choose an Animaster, build an Anima lineup and create Aspect synergies, then the fight resolves automatically.

Is there PvP?

Pre-release coverage shows battles against other collectors, but the final competitive modes, matchmaking and rewards have not been officially detailed. A permanent ranked PvP mode should not be assumed yet.

Is it a gacha game?

The game is confirmed as free-to-play, but HoYoverse has not published the final monetization or acquisition system. There is not enough official information to say what can be pulled, purchased or earned at launch.

Can I download or pre-register now?

No public build or active test registration is available. The Evolution Test client is no longer playable, and no launch pre-registration campaign has been announced. Use only the official site for future downloads or recruitment.

Does it have character customization?

You can customize Anima lineups and name bonded Anima in the test material. A player-avatar character creator has not been confirmed.

When does it release?

No confirmed release date as of 2026-09-03. The Evolution Test closed beta ended July 27, 2026, and no next test has been dated. See the release date tracker for the full breakdown.