HoYoverseHonkai: Nexus Anima is a new creature-collecting game from the developers behind Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.
HoYoverse has pulled back the curtain on Honkai: Nexus Anima, the next chapter in its hit Honkai franchise. First teased during the Honkai: Star Rail anniversary concert in May 2025, the game has now been fully revealed as a creature-collector adventure strategy RPG.
Players step into the role of a traveler on a brand-new journey, joined by companions called Anima – Pokemon-style creatures born from concepts such as Love and Hate or Light and Dark. Unlike HSR and Genshin Impact, which put a focus on character-driven combat, Honkai: Nexus Anima requires players to explore, battle, and unlock new monster companions.
With a closed beta now open for sign-ups, here’s everything we currently know about Honkai: Nexus Anima.
Is there a release date?
HoYoverseNo, HoYoverse has not announced a release date for Honkai: Nexus Anima. However, the game is currently preparing for its first closed beta.
Honkai: Nexus Anima closed beta
Recruitment is open for the first closed beta, known as the Nexus Bond Test. The test will be available on PC and iOS, with registration open until September 12, 2025, through the official HoYoverse sign-up page.
A limited number of players will be selected from those who complete the pre-registration questionnaire, and all progress will be wiped once the test ends. Further details about the timetable will be shared in future announcements.
Platforms
Honkai: Nexus Anima has been confirmed for PC and iOS. HoYoverse has not announced any additional platforms at this time, but we’ll update this section as and when new information is available.
Trailer
HoYoverse has released the first official trailer for Honkai: Nexus Anima, showcasing the game’s world, companions, and cinematic presentation.
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Story & setting
The world of Honkai: Nexus Anima is built on unseen connections known as Nexus, which link opposing concepts like Love and Hate, Light and Dark, and Life and Death. That balance is shattered when a rupture severs these bonds, scattering their remnants across the land as Anima. These companions carry the essence of the fractured concepts, and players must forge bonds with them to harness their abilities.
The story follows a plane-hopping traveler who has escaped captivity and begins their journey in a peaceful town before venturing into uncharted realms. Along the way, the protagonist forms lasting connections with Anima that shape both exploration and combat, while uncovering the secrets of their past and the mystery behind the broken Nexus.
Gameplay
HoYoverseThe first gameplay video for Honkai: Nexus Anima shows that combat takes inspiration from auto-chess battlers. Players collect and deploy Anima onto a grid-based battlefield, where they fight enemy creatures. It’s unclear just how much control you have over your monsters, but it does look like positioning and synergies between creatures play a huge part.
Outside of battle, the footage highlights open-world exploration with the character moving through towns, interacting with Anima companions, and uncovering story events.
While you wait for Honkai: Nexus Anima, be sure to check out our 2025 games calendar to get the latest updates on all the upcoming titles and when they launch.