Developer LilliLandia Games (which sits under Tencent Games) has revealed its first trailer for an upcoming Switch 2 life sim called Animula Nook. Yeah, we're not too keen on the name either, don't worry.
There's no release date for this one yet, but it'll be making an appearance at this week's Tokyo Game Show. The 4-minute long trailer does, however, give us quite a bit to work with, showcasing a whole bunch of CGI cutscenes along with a smattering of Animal Crossing-inspired gameplay. Visually at least, it looks pretty amazing.
What we're not quite to sold on right now is the actual gameplay. It looks a little slow, a little clinical, and there's a lot of information missing from the trailer. Where's the UI, for example? We can see scenes in which the main protagonist is decorating their home and garden, but how exactly is this being translated into gameplay?
We'll reserve judgement for now, because there's a lot that we like about this. Hopefully its appearance at TGS will shed some more light on how the gameplay will actually function.
For now, let's check out the key features:
- Discover a tiny yet immense world: Venture into vibrant landscapes hidden in plain sight. Explore lush, resource-packed houseplant forests, delve into the mysterious depths of a forgotten well, and navigate other awe-inspiring (and sometimes perilous) corners of your home. Every expedition is an adventure, whether you are unearthing rare materials or meeting a new friend.
- Collect beyond the ordinary: In this tiny world, sunlight, raindrops, gentle breezes—even forgotten scents—become precious materials waiting to be discovered. Coins, buttons, and other small wonders are scattered throughout the land—each one not just a resource, but a lost treasure waiting for a new purpose.
-Build with everyday objects: Milk cartons become charming houses, teacups turn into bustling cafés, and spice jars transform into tiny, glowing shops. Use the objects around you to build, decorate, and customize a miniature haven with unique furniture and personal touches. Start on your desk, then expand your creations across windowsills, cabinets, or even inside a vibrant, living vivarium.
- Befriend the world’s tiny folk: This miniature world is full of life. Meet a delightful cast of residents, from tiny humanoids to whimsical beings you’ve never seen before. Exchange gifts, create memories, and watch as your bonds deepen over time. As you grow closer, their stories will unfold in more personal and surprising ways. With enough care, you might even convince them to move in- just be sure to build them a space they’ll love.
- Define yourself in every detail: Customize your character, express yourself creatively, and make the world truly yours. With an endless assortment of outfits, accessories, furniture, and tools, everything you create is a reflection of you.
- Convenient creative tools: Bring your ideas to life with intuitive tools that make creativity effortless. Sketch blueprints for builds, dismantle objects into modular components, and see your imagination come to life with ease.
What are your thoughts on Animula Nook so far? Leave a comment in the usual place and let us know.





Comments 46
Careful! Nintendo is gonna copyright Animal Crossing mechanics and sue everyone into oblivion! Did you guys know Nintendo created video games?!!!!!! OH THE INSANITY!
But seriously though, this looks like it has potential. Looking forward to it.
…….but seriously though…I wouldn’t be shocked if Nintendo pulled something like that.
Hopefully Nintendo doesn't go after this one either, they already go after too many games as it is. Competition is good.
I’m a little suspicious.
Yep, there is definitely a lot of A.I. here.
It's too clean and too detailed.
That name seems sus af.
By hook or by Nook.
C'mon now. The name. You can't tell me they weren't a little bit inspired! 😂
So. Cute... but even leaving that aside, it looks promising based on the little we've seen/heard so far - looking forward to seeing/hearing more about it (nice to hear that it will make an appearance at the Tokyo Game Show because of that and also in general) and if the full release ends up being overall good as in enjoyable first and foremost I'm absolutely interested in playing it myself at some point!
It's made by Tencent. Of course there's going to be some kind of Monkeys Paw
If it's not just a ripoff, their marketing people did a huge disservice by giving it the most ripoff sounding name ever.
Uh oh, if my wife discovers this one, she may disappear for a few months like she did with Disney Dreamlight Valley...
Removed - inappropriate
The Switch 2 is a powerful machine. Let me reiterate, the Switch 2 is a powerful machine. Again, one more time. The Switch 2 is a powerful machine.
It looks like it was created and made with AI.
Just watched some of the video, it's a blatant rip off.
It really does look amazing but I'll need to see more before I get too excited
Art wise that looks fantastic but a lot of these AC "inspired" games fail at emulating how AC deals out its content over time and you end up seeing all they have to offer you on a week or so.
I tried to search the developer and publisher of that game and guess what...?
Tencent was the publisher.
You know what is that mean when Tencent behind the games....
Visually stunning but I'm gonna temper my expectations until we see more gameplay, especially given who is developing it...
@Anti-Matter Why search it? It literally tells you the developer and that the publisher is Tencent in the very first line of the article.
Are we gonna ignore the fact that it also rips-off Tottoro?
Probably Playstation footage unfortunately!
The 'be your best you' cutesy-ness is a bit too much. It wouldn't ever accuse Animal Crossing of being edgy, but the tone of this makes it look like Borderlands in comparison.
Looks impressive, and I want to see things encourage Animal Crossing to move forward more, but this is too sugary sweet and lacking any other flavour for me.
Not to sound cynical, but it looks soulless and I don't buy for a moment that that's actual gameplay.
@Anti-Matter It means that in reality Tencent is very hands-off with the things that they have acquired as long as they keep being successful, like Warframe.
One of the best stunning visuals I've seen I like to get a Demo Switch2....and Physical release please.....People forgot how to just have fun????
@Ogbert A lot of so called cosy games are so sweetly and low energy that they just become kind of bland. The best ones have that funny, weird and quirky side to it, like Animal Crossing does, even if New Horizons didn't have the slight edge of the earlier games where the animals could be much meaner!
... it looks so cute but I think this is just a cinematic trailer. I don't think the final game will look like that. The hair is a big giveaway for me... but hey if it looks like this, i will gladly buy it. It looks cute!
lets hope this isn't like DokeV, amazing trailer and then nothing.
I don't know what it is but somehow I can see when a game was made in china and something about their art or animation puts me off (not all of the chinese games but many).
And something about this games turns me off
Reminds me of that really weird cat game from a while back, that was full of AI, uncanny cat's eyes, and which never materialized.
This... is sort of that.
Oh man, when this comes out it's going to be difficult to put down my other favorite game, Donuki Diddy. When am I ever going to finish Metoroidu Ridley? My life will be incomplete if I don't have time to play Zeruda Tingle!
Please stop saying how good this looks without acknowledging the A.I.
Real developers won't be able to impress anyone anymore if this continues
Why is everyone acting like Nintendo has the market cornered on the word "nook"?
Definitions from Oxford Languages
nook
/no͝ok/
noun
a corner or recess, especially one offering seclusion or security.
"the nook beside the fire"
The "Animula" part is kinda on the nose though. But whatever...no one complained much with Pal World other than Nintendo and its also a pretty decent game so I'm not judging this one just yet.
I can't find the charm from the reveal trailer. It feels like just another online game.
AI still doesn't know how to do hands (look at the witch character's fingers).
These graphics looks stunning!!
Dont let my wife see this, or else i need to buy a second switch 2 🥵
This looks to good to be true, I don't know man, are we being fooled by this Ai driven trailer?
@PinderSchloss AI will probably make better games than humans in 5 or so years.
Sadly, AI will do better than most humans in most things in 5 or so years. Goodbye accounts and tax prep people
Can we just acknowledge that the music is terrible?
Other than the graphics of course looking impressive, I'm not enthusiastic about the Toy Story-esque setting. Like @Ogbert said, the art design is leaning too far into bubble-gum cutesy compared to the balanced and earthy design that Animal Crossing achieves. Another personal quibble are the human characters depicted as kids instead of chibi, again leaning too hard into the cutesy aesthetic without any unique identity to its art design.
Kind of seems like a bad omen of the direction many developers are heading into. When a company cuts too many corners with art design, it can leave many newer games appearing superficial and soulless.
Tencent again? Uh, nope.
@Browntrouser I don't want that version of 'better'. A.I. is not a problem if it elevates human creativity a little bit, but this is all soulless garbage that won't really connect. It’s generic in the most literal sense and I like my stories to be written by people with actual experiences.
@Janeygo I was waiting for someone to notice this! It probably also comes straight from Suno. It's hard to imagine worse music than this.
Very pretty, but incredibly derivative. The Catbus and little Totoro/cat blob thing are so blatant. But I do love the concept of being shrunk down into your own charming little bric a brac world - if you ignore all the obvious imitation then it looks a lot more interesting and charming than Animal Crossing. To say I’m wary would be an understatement but interested in keeping an eye on it.
Yikes, Tencent. Looks like AI rubbish honestly, with so many rip off characters it makes Palworld look original. A cat with the same colour pattern as Totoro? A Catbus? Really?
Seems like a bit of a stretch to say that this is "AI".
People were making CGI mockup trailers which were nothing like the quality of the actual gameplay for years before AI came along.
China doesn’t really make anything original, stealing IP in just about every industry - this almost seems like a parody.
Yeah, gameplay looks suspiciously not real-time... But considering it's also coming to mobile, I don't think it'll look far off this trailer. There are engines designed to look really good on mobile even without so much demand.
Ok but the people saying copyright on animal crossing what about stardew valley who stole their entire gameplay even down to the storyline from harvest moon?
Also any news of pikmin games? Those are what im waiting for to make me purchase the 2. I am a Zelda girl but I honestly regretted buying the one I did for the 1 because I hated how much free range I had from jump and didnt even make it to my
First task. I got lost in the woods on tje hill and attacked by some monster things and gave up. Some homeless man in a cave stole my weapon or something like that so I gave up. I loved luigi mansion pikmin animal crossing stardew valley paper mario and most of the other Mario's except one. Also this game looks off
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