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Getting the best of both worlds is great, but what if you could get the best of every world? The latest trailblazing RPG making headlines across the globe might be asking players just that. Ananta has sealed itself as one of the most highly anticipated free-to-play games on everyone’s lips, with its fair share of controversy and hype to keep it that way until its impending release.
In this blog article, we look at the specifics of the anime-style game, the controversies and rumors surrounding gameplay, and how our fans can truly optimize their Ananta gameplay with REDMAGIC. For now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the game that’s enthralled the nation.
What Is Ananta?
Originally announced at Gamescom 2023 and previously named Project Mugen, Ananta is an upcoming free-to-play Role-Playing Game (RPG) that was developed by the Hangzhou-based studio Naked Rain and published by NetEase. The open-world action and adventure game pulls players into a vibrant, anime-style world “where the unexpected is the norm and having fun is the ultimate goal.”
According to the game’s official website, the number of global pre-registrations for the game now stands at 14,329,744, and the hype is only getting bigger. At this year’s Tokyo Game Show, the game also took up the crown of the Japan Game Awards 2025 Future Division – a category dedicated to gamers’ most anticipated releases.
Ananta Gameplay Trailer from IGN
The game follows a few switchable characters around Nova City where they must contend with warring gangs, superpowered villains, and the occasional supernatural entity. Our main character is a paranormal investigator named Chenxiu, but we can play as other characters as well, with different abilities.
The game also features several mini games and activities that could keep every gamer satisfied. Now, let’s get more details about the gameplay and features you can find in Ananta.
Gacha and Gameplay
RPG open-world titles have always been a massive hit with gamers, allowing you a sense of freedom and mobility that you might not find in other games. Games like Grand Theft Auto and Genshin Impact have topped the charts across the globe for their unique open-world capabilities and features.
Now, Ananta is promising to take more than a few leaves out of the classic gameplay playbook to create a mashup take that might become the next immediate sensation. Let’s look at some of the main elements you can look forward to with the new anime-style game.
No More Gacha System
The Gacha system is a gaming mechanic that allows players to spin, draw, or roll for a random reward. Players use their in-game currency or real money to receive random virtual items through this system. However, Ananta is rumored not to have the mechanic at all for the sake of the storyline. This would mean that every character is already unlocked in the game, which is a surprising but welcome twist for a 2025 mobile game.
Ananta is meant to have story-based segments where each character lives out a unique life, even outside of the main plot. According to developers, employing a Gacha system would be an obstacle in that regard. In an interview with Denfaminicogamer, Ash Qi, the producer of Ananta, spoke about the decision to forgo a Gacha monetization model, stating that the game was developed with the core gameplay of experiencing the life of a character in mind.
Sourced from Ananta
“In the real world, you can experience only one life, but in Ananta, you get to experience as many different lives as there are characters,” Ash explained. “We want the player to be able to choose between characters freely and have fun experiencing many different lives. That’s why we decided to make the characters obtainable through means that are not Gacha.”
Character Expansion
On the website and during the Tokyo Game Show gameplay, we’ve been introduced to at least 4 characters so far - Captain, Taffy, Seymour, and Richie. However, Ash confirms that the game will almost certainly introduce new characters in the future.
“We still haven’t fleshed out the specifics of how we’re going to expand the character roster, but we’re thinking of adding more characters based on the existing professions in the city,” Ash explained.
In his interview with GamesRadar+, Ash also noted that the game will feature more cities and districts being added to the main world over time, which will introduce new threats to face and a larger scope for connecting the line-up of characters.
Using Marvel’s Avengers as an example, he maintained that the focus in the future would be on individual storylines, separate from the larger plot, where each character could be the protagonist of their own story with unique missions. Ash also stated that they would develop a feature where multiple characters can team up to fight other antagonists.
Content Paywalls
While the Gacha-free model of Ananta does seem exciting, it does leave concern for how content might be paywalled in other ways. However, Ash went on to emphasize that “the base gameplay of Ananta will be free-to-play,” and that the team’s current plans for monetization include only paid skins for characters and special limited-time content.
Sourced from Denfaminicogamer
“Aside from character skins, other customizable elements include house makeovers and vehicles – but basically, those will be purchasable using in-game currency. However, we are planning to release limited-time event outfits and other special stuff as paid content,” Ash explained.
Gameplay and Demos: What Do People Think So Far?
The gameplay of Ananta seems to be a fresh mix of different existing game mechanics morphed into one title. Characters in Ananta can be switched out at any time for a tactical advantage. However, much like in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the main character wields symbiote-like tendrils reminiscent of Spider-Man or Venom’s powers, enabling long-range attacks and effortless swings between buildings.
Sourced from Game Rant
The combat in Ananta also provides many weapons, capabilities, and fighting styles. From giant hammers to tennis rackets, you’ll always have something handy to fight off an enemy at hand. Players can also enter vents, crouch down, hide, or sneak around stealthily.
Alessandro Fillari from GamesRadar+ tested out the game at the 2025 Tokyo Game Show and found that the combat felt very similar to the pace and style of Batman: Arkham Asylum, with characters executing timed melee strikes and pulling off counters to take out crowds of enemies. He noted that it was a “very traditional and very grounded approach to brawler combat,” which he quite liked.
Fillari concluded that the game's focus on emulating other big-budget spectacle games, such as Spider-Man and Uncharted, was a bit distracting, which was a shame as the game’s own style remains endearing. However, he maintains that his brief time playing the game made him feel more optimistic about what's to come from “this bizarre yet surprisingly inviting action game.”
Sourced from Game Rant
As most open-world titles do, Ananta also has its fair share of mini-games that players can enjoy as well. Players can also bring others along to other activities, such as going to the gym or playing basketball, which all feature unique mini games. Fillari noted that each playable character has their own side activities and specific vocations that open up new ways to see the world in action. According to Ash, this creates a lived-in vibe for the world, avoiding the sense that characters only exist when called out from your roster.
However, the opinions were mostly mixed from the demo reviewers. Sam Woods from The Gamer also tested out Ananta and left feeling a little more uncertain about the game. He stated that while the game is bound to have a huge audience and has some tight, refined mechanics, it seemed to lack focus in his eyes.
“It’s a melting pot of a million different ideas, none of which necessarily stand out, and none of which felt like it had any substance, outside looking good,” Woods remarked. Either way, the game seems to still be on the tip of everyone’s tongues before its release, in a lot more ways than one.
Ananta Plagiarism Controversy
As you can imagine, the not-so-subtle similarities between Ananta and several mainstream titles have not gone unnoticed by the public. According to AMK Station, many fans and critics alike have accused the game of borrowing or outright copying animations and mechanics from other games. This includes swinging animations strikingly similar to Marvel’s Spider-Man series and character-switch transitions, gunplay capabilities reminiscent of the GTA series, and even a chase sequence with some similarities to Uncharted 4.
The game raised a few eyebrows on social media and gained even more traction online after its gameplay trailer release, with players caught between accusing it of plagiarism and being excited about a mashup of their favorite title mechanics in one game.
Despite the backlash, many players felt that drawing inspiration from previous games is a core part of developing new titles and that Ananta is simply being ambitious in its style. TechJuice maintained that most first impressions of the game are still extremely positive, plagiarism chatter or not, and that if it can deliver even half of what’s been teased so far, it could become a sleeper hit.
As Harvey Randall put it so succinctly for PC Gamer, “there's nothing wrong with having a clear inspiration in mind. As a matter of fact, there's nothing wrong with having multiple clear inspirations, smushing them together into a glossy frankengame, and then sticking anime bunny girls in 'em.”
Who Would Enjoy Ananta?
Given that the game borrows elements from several mainstream titles, we would expect most of these fans to clamor towards it as well. The open-world RPG setup provides the ideal canvas for both novices and seasoned gamers looking for something new and exciting. Fans of GTA V, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Yakuza, Uncharted, and more might feel right at home with the familiar mechanics.
When’s the Release Date?
Ananta doesn't have an official release date just yet, but you can pre-register to play it on the game's official site. The game is also expected to launch on platforms including PlayStation 5, PC, iOS, and Android. This means that it would be a prime title for mobile gamers looking to get the most action out of one game. However, you need to invest in the right engine to win that race.
Push Your Performance with REDMAGIC
At REDMAGIC, we applaud and encourage every ambitious gaming title to grace the market because it allows our fans to push our devices to the limit for the best gaming experience. Ananta looks to be a high-powered and thrilling game that would demand exceptional performance, graphics, and processing power for all of its challenging gameplay mechanics.
Fortunately, REDMAGIC smartphones and tablets use the latest Snapdragon chipsets for lightning-fast processing power and seamless performance at every turn. Our extended batteries also ensure longer gaming sessions to fully explore Nova City, while our advanced cooling systems will keep you cool for effortless and lag-free gameplay. The REDMAGIC 10S Pro or Astra Gaming Tablet provides all this and so much more for gamers who want to experience the full might of Ananta with a premium touch.
Conclusion
While Ananta seems to have gained quite a mix of reactions, it remains mostly positively received by the public and could easily become a global phenomenon with time due to its uniquely diverse and ambitious gameplay mechanics.
Despite its controversy, the game is sure to draw in crowds of curious and nostalgic gamers who want the thrill of something new and exciting that’s still reminiscent of a classic. Either way, REDMAGIC is thrilled to have our fans test out the new Ananta gameplay using our devices for an optimized, exhilarating, and inspired gaming experience like no other.
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