Does Aniimo fall under the gacha game category?
Aniimo blends adorable creature capturing with open-world exploration, reminiscent of titles like Genshin Impact, Infinity Nikki, and the classic Pokémon series. While it may seem like developer Pawprint Studio has sprinkled in some gacha elements, the reality is a bit more nuanced.
Aniimo is not a gacha game. Although it features the typical trappings of gacha—like a plethora of currencies and complex menus—it lacks the banner systems found in games like Genshin Impact or Infinity Nikki. You can acquire Aniimo, their gear, eggs, and everything related to critter combat and customization simply by playing the game. Most cosmetics are tied to a fixed price in the store rather than random odds or a “pity” system that guarantees rewards after a certain number of attempts.
Initially, Aniimo did experiment with a gacha-like system during its final beta phase. The Rift Exploration event, which functioned like a banner, required players to spend premium currency for a chance to catch a Legendary Aniimo by filling a progress bar, rather than pulling from a traditional banner. However, the capture rate for these Legendary Aniimo was so low that players often found themselves relying on a pity mechanic to secure one, mirroring the frustrations of standard gacha systems.
Feedback from beta testers was overwhelmingly negative regarding Rift Exploration, as many found it repetitive and felt misled by the developers’ assurances that Aniimo wouldn’t be tied to gacha mechanics. In response to this backlash, the Rift Exploration feature was replaced with a token collection system for the full launch.
While the developers haven’t explicitly stated that the change was due to the gacha criticism, it’s reasonable to assume it played a role in the decision.
As a free-to-play live service game, Aniimo still seeks to monetize your experience, even without a gacha system. Its primary revenue model revolves around a cosmetics shop where you can convert real money into Lumin Crystals, which can then be used to purchase outfits and accessories for your character and Aniimo. Some cosmetics can be obtained for free using other in-game currencies, but the most appealing sets are typically behind a paywall.
Additionally, Aniimo offers shop bundles that require Lumin Crystals in exchange for Aniipods, profile backgrounds, stat alterations for Aniimo, guaranteed rare versions, or other currencies. While some items can be acquired using Glimmer or Credits, they are significantly harder to obtain this way.
The game also features a battle pass, cleverly named the “Companion Handbook.” A free tier is available, but two premium tracks offer extra rewards, including Aniimo, cosmetics, and expedited progress through the battle pass levels.
Capturing Aniimo primarily involves tossing an Aniipod at them while exploring, during Alpha and Omega battles, or at activated Bloom spots. You can also hatch eggs of varying rarities, which can yield different Aniimo. By selecting an Aniipod during hatching, you can guarantee a shiny version or one with superior stats for competitive play.
Other Aniimo can be earned through event participation, the battle pass, or simply by playing the game. Legendary Aniimo are obtained by collecting unique tokens and completing their story before using a special Aniipod to ensure a successful capture.
