-This game led by Honkai: Star Rail producer and combines spirit collection and training with auto-chess strategy, and it will become a new member of the Honkai IP universe.
On August 28, 2025, HoYoverse's new Honkai IP game, "Honkai: Nexus Anima," released its first dynamic video on its official Bilibili account. The video was short and focused on showcasing a cartoon-style little rabbit and the game's official icon. This sudden announcement may be related to several leaked promotional images of the game that had been circulating on major forums prior to the reveal.
Catalogue
Official Announcement Background
The reveal, while seemingly sudden, was not entirely unexpected. HoYoverse had already previewed the game during May’s "Honkai: Star Rail" concert with a teaser PV. Although the title wasn’t confirmed at the time, it sparked considerable discussion. In June, HoYoverse (Shanghai) obtained the software copyright, signalling formal development. Registrations of the "Honkai: Nexus Anima" trademark in the U.S., South Korea, and other regions also indicated preparation for a global release.
The newly unveiled icon broke with tradition: unlike the characteristic winking poster girls in HoYoverse’s games since "Honkai Impact 3," the "Honkai: Nexus Anima" poster girl has both eyes open, while a companion spirit winks. This playful contrast led to fan jokes that “the spirit is the real poster girl!”
Team Background
It is understood that "Honkai: Nexus Anima" is led by David Jiang, the producer of "Honkai: Star Rail."
With an internal senior producer leading the team and leveraging the success of the Honkai IP series, it is clear that HoYoverse has high hopes for this new title. This setup also ensures professionalism and continuity in the project's development.
Gameplay: Innovative Integration
"Honkai: Nexus Anima" is set in a seaside town and multidimensional planes, combining spirit collection and training with auto-chess strategy gameplay.
Players will travel between a leisurely seaside town and diverse planes, collecting various Nexus Anima spirits, building their own team, and through training and evolving these spirits, turning them into pieces in auto-chess battles.
The game also introduces multiple movement methods such as flying, gliding, and surfing, which not only enrich the exploration experience but also enhance player immersion. Based on leaked promotional images, the game will likely support a 3v3 multiplayer battle mode.
Honkai: Nexus Anima Top-Up Offer Coming Soon!
Game Setting: A New Chapter in the Honkai Universe
As an Honkai IP spin-off, the game is a strategy RPG that incorporates elements from "Honkai Impact 3" and "Honkai: Star Rail" within a self-contained world where characters act as chess pieces. This setup allows characters from across the Honkai universe to appear together.
The seaside town is not just a background setting but also offers social features such as café team quizzes and pet shop spirit boarding, enhancing the game's interactivity.
Market Response: Enthusiasm and Some Concerns
The announcement was met with strong player interest. Within seven hours of its release, the official video surpassed 1 million views and reached #39 on Bilibili’s overall rankings, garnering 163,000 likes, 47,000 coins, 20,000 favorites, and 66,000 reposts.
Players began speculating on abbreviations for the new title, drawing parallels to "HSR" for "Honkai: Star Rail" — proposing "HNA" for "Honkai: Nexus Anima." Many welcomed the idea of a PvP auto-chess game from HoYoverse, appreciating the potential for variety despite the company’s strengths in narrative-driven games. That said, some expressed concerns over the niche appeal of auto-chess.
Market Positioning
Auto-chess gameplay surprised both the industry and players. Previously, HoYoverse's product line had shown a trend of increasing scale and specification with each generation.
In contrast, "Honkai: Nexus Anima" with its auto-chess gameplay leans more toward a "casual" positioning.
However, auto-chess is not the entirety of the game. It is expected that the game will also include elements beloved by anime-style game fans, such as spirit training, seaside town exploration, main storyline, and animated cutscenes. Rather than competing directly with existing auto-chess titles, HoYoverse is adapting the genre for its community.
It is worth mentioning that developing a "pet"-themed game has long been a wish for HoYoverse and the Honkai series. Back in 2017, when HoYoverse attempted an IPO, their prospectus mentioned a similar concept. After nearly a decade, HoYoverse is finally realizing the plan for a "pet" game, though the gameplay form has shifted to the auto-chess mode that better aligns with current player preferences.
Conclusion
The rapid success of the game’s trailer and active player discussion around its name reflect significant anticipation. With official accounts launched across multiple platforms and the first promotional video released, "Honkai: Nexus Anima" aims to deliver a new kind of experience within the Honkai IP, combining creature collection, auto-chess, and multidimensional exploration. We welcome all players to share your opinions in the comment section below.
TOP UP WITH DISCOUNT NOW 
Savannah Reed Experienced Game Editor
Savannah Reed is a senior game editor at LDShop.gg, specializing in in-depth coverage of RPG and strategy games. With a strong focus on titles like Wuthering Waves, Honkai: Star Rail and Whiteout Survival, she combines industry insight with firsthand player experience to deliver clear, informative, and actionable content. Her work is dedicated to helping gamers make smarter decisions—whether it’s understanding new updates or optimizing their in-game strategy.
