Okay, so I went to TGS 2025 🙄, fully expecting another generic gacha game, and NetEase’s Ananta shows up like that annoying kid at school who aced the test you didn’t even study for. It was, dare I say, *good*?! Like, actually good? Someone check if I’ve been replaced by a pod person 👽.
If the measly 30 minutes I got to play is anything to go by (thanks, NetEase, for the generous time slot 😒), Ananta is trying to be all “innovative” and “genre-defining.” They claim it’s a “living city” where your actions have “real consequences.” Yeah, yeah, heard that one before. But the worst part? It was actually kinda fun. I hate when that happens.
So, picture this: You start in a street brawl, then suddenly you’re in a car chase, and BAM 💥, you’re dumped into this massive city. Of course, everyone’s comparing it to Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and Persona, because originality is dead, apparently 💀. But honestly, it felt… different? Like, maybe they’re actually trying to do something new with the free-to-play model? Don’t get your hopes up. It’s still NetEase. They’ll find a way to monetize your tears 😭.
The city is HUGE. Like, “I’m gonna get lost and rage quit” huge. You can jack cars like you’re in Grand Theft Auto (because originality, remember?). And depending on which anime stereotype you pick, you’ll fight and move differently. Oh, and the monetization is “cosmetics only.” Sure, Jan. We’ll see how long that lasts before they start selling power-ups disguised as hats 👒.
They’re all like, “Ananta borrows heavily from anime, drawing on big action, over-the-top clothing and bombastic concepts, and it does so effectively.” Yeah, it’s anime alright. If you like your games with enough neon and sparkles to blind a dragon, then this is your jam. If not, go back to playing your gritty, realistic shooters and leave us weebs alone 😤.
Nova Inception Urbs, the only city they showed off, is supposedly this amazing, AAA-quality masterpiece. It’s got “Japanese urban flourishes” and “reflects modern life.” In other words, it’s got vending machines and people glued to their phones 📱. They promise more cities inspired by Europe and America later on. I’ll believe it when I see it. For now, I’m stuck in anime Tokyo Drift land 🚗.
Even though I only saw one city, it was pretty darn big and detailed. They claim every street is “alive” with “intelligent NPCs.” I saw one guy clipping through a wall and another walking into a trash can 🗑️, so take that as you will. You can snoop through phones, join street races, and break the law. Consequences? Maybe. Probably just a slap on the wrist and a “please come back and spend more money” message.
They’re all like, “Many games with large open locations fall back on repetitive fetch quests, and I am hoping Ananta goes beyond that to deliver a city worth exploring…” Yeah, good luck with that. I spent my time stealing cars and causing mayhem because that’s the only way to have fun in these games. Missions? Who needs ’em? Just give me a big map and a reckless disregard for digital property 💥.
I barely scratched the surface of the map, but it looked pretty. That said, I’m not sure how much of it is actually usable. It could all be pretty backdrops for loading screens for all I know. They had missions, but I didn’t bother. I’m sure they’re just as original and engaging as every other open-world game ever made 😴.
The gameplay is less Grand Theft Auto and more discount Spider-Man. You can swing, parkour, ride bikes, drive cars, and swim without a stamina bar. Each character has their own special moves. One turns a mallet into a vehicle, another leaps around like a kangaroo on caffeine 🦘. Combat is fluid and refined, like a AAA game. Which is scary, because this is supposed to be FREE. Something’s gotta give.
Okay, yeah, it’s anime AF. They’re not even trying to hide it. It’s over-the-top, bombastic, and completely unrealistic. But that’s kinda the point? It’s not trying to be serious. It just wants you to have fun. And honestly, once I turned off my brain 🧠, I did. I hate myself a little bit for admitting that.
You’re not stuck playing one character, either. You can switch between them on the fly, each with their own stats and abilities. A cop climbs the ranks by… being a cop? A courier delivers packages. Riveting gameplay, I’m sure 📦.
Releasing in 2026 with pre-registration already open. Beta tests are coming. It’s planned for PC, PS5, PS4, iOS, and Android. They’ll probably add it to your smart fridge and toaster oven eventually, too 🍞. I’m curious to see if they can actually deliver on their promises, or if it’ll just be another pretty gacha game that bleeds your wallet dry. Only time will tell, but I’m not holding my breath 💨.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
