Petit Planet, a new life simulation game from Genshin Impact developer miHoYo and publisher HoYoverse, closely resembles Animal Crossing in its animal-filled villages, crafting and relaxed routines. A hands-on preview at Gamescom 2026 found its calm atmosphere and familiar activities appealing, but raised questions about whether it will sustain players’ interest over time.

Players control a human hired to restore small planets in the Starsea, choosing a world such as temperate Hexia or savanna-like Taffeh, with local fruit shaping early cooking, trading and gifting. Activities include gathering, fishing, bug-catching, building homes and improving a planet’s ecology to attract voiced animal residents; however, the game has also drawn scrutiny over reported plans to use AI-powered NPCs and earlier claims of AI-generated dialogue.