A true monster collection alternative to Pokémon and Palworld is set to be released with Aniimo. In a second closed beta, you can get a first impression. How you can participate is explained here.
When will the beta take place? Aniimo is expected to be available for Steam and iOS as well as Android for free later this year, but when exactly remains unknown. Therefore, you can dive into an early version in a closed beta starting January 23, 2026. How long it is intended to last has not yet been announced.
How can I participate? To participate in the beta, you must be selected. You can apply via a form on the official homepage until January 20 at 4:59 PM CET and will find out on January 21 whether you may participate in the beta. It is currently unknown whether further players will be gradually admitted afterward.
What to expect in the beta is also shown in a new trailer:
All important information about the second beta of Aniimo
What is playable in the beta? In the now second beta of Aniimo, you can play all the content from the first round as well as the following new features:
- Additional Aniimo monsters that were not in the previous one
- New developments, with new behaviors and animations
- A new boss fight
- New areas
- The “Homeland” system
- Operation “Egg Heist”, a type of 3-player dungeon in PvE/PvP mode
- Moods of Aniimos that affect the environment
Can you transfer your progress to the full version? No, all progress will be deleted after the beta and you will have to start anew upon release.
Is there a reward for participation? Currently, nothing is known about a potential reward for the full version for participating in the beta. However, you can secure a “Susuta” egg if you pre-register for the game on the homepage.
When did the first beta take place? A first closed beta took place from July 4 – 10, 2025 (see aniimo.com). You can also play all content from this beta again in the second one.
While Aniimo is gearing up for launch, Nintendo is still in a legal dispute with the developers of Palworld over patents that could indeed ultimately influence the development of Aniimo: No one but Nintendo is allowed to summon monsters and let them fight directly from now on – This could cause problems for many games
