Honkai Nexus Anima meshes TFT with anthropomorphic avocados, and it has a beta

May's Honkai Star Rail anniversary concert once again put the hit gacha RPG's stunning soundtrack on full display. It's a staple in Hoyoverse's community offering, providing hours of symphonious entertainment. However, this year's concert was punctuated by a surprise announcement; a new Honkai game is on the way. Now, Hoyo has lifted the lid on Honkai Nexus Anima, a new creature collector that, in traditional Hoyo fashion, includes plenty of familiar faces. The most important aspect, for me at least, is that its combat system looks to take its trappings from hit autobattlers like Teamfight Tactics. Gang, I'm going to back down the gacha mines, and it won't be long before we get a chance to try it out.

Hoyo is known for switching up its combat from game to game. Genshin Impact is a traditional open-world RPG. Honkai Star Rail is strictly turn-based. Zenless Zone Zero, meanwhile, takes its trappings from tag-based fighting games. Recently, ZZZ's En-Nah Chess Legend event emulated some of the best auto battlers, letting you lowroll your way to a hard sixth (no? Just me, then). We know now this was just a taster for what's to come when Honkai Nexus Anima finally arrives.

Promising "an all-new journey filled with innovative gameplay, immersive storytelling and the unique companionship of Anima," Honkai Nexus Anima looks to be a lighthearted affair at first glance. However, in classic Hoyo fashion, there's a much darker current coursing below the surface. Here, the bonds between paired concepts like love and hate, or life and death, have been ruptured. The power of these bonds materializes as Anima, the adorable li'l homies you'll encounter on your journey to become a Pokemon mast- sorry, couldn't help myself.

Each Anima comes with an Aspect and Trait, similarly to TFT's own approach to unit nomenclature. Already, I would lay down my life for Bobabirb and Mimoo in an instant, though Hoyo will have to be careful to avoid falling down the same pitfall as Palworld when it comes to designs. From the Anima already revealed, which includes a particularly bonita avocado, I don't think we'll have to worry about that too much.

Together, you'll journey from your "tranquil" hometown out into the world. It looks like our protagonist will continue the trend of amnesiac heroes in Hoyo games, as there's a big focus on uncovering the "mysteries" of their past. It's all par for the course, but if anything, Hoyo understands how to play to its strengths. Though I've been loving TFT's latest set, I fear Hoyo may have reeled me back in with this one.

Registrations for Honkai Nexus Anima's Nexus Bond Test are now open, through to Friday September 12, 2025. You can sign up for a chance to get in here, provided you're on PC or iOS.

Ahead of Honkai Nexus Anima, brush up on your banner pulling luck with some of the best gacha games. Just make sure you're using our ZZZ codes and Honkai Star Rail codes guides to top up your chances of hitting.

Hoyo nation, how are we feeling about Honkai Nexus Anima? Come and let us know in our community Discord server.