I did not know what to expect from NetEase at TGS 2025, only getting an appointment at the last minute, but Ananta surprised me. This upcoming urban open-world RPG from NetEase Games and Naked Rain managed to exceed all my preconceived notions of what a free-to-play, anime-inspired title could be, and it was, oddly enough, one of the best things I saw at this year’s show.
If the 30-minute demo I played on the convention centre show floor is any indication, Ananta is not content to simply follow genre trends. It wants to set them, offering a living city where slicing through chaos and stepping into the shoes of diverse characters comes with real consequences and creative freedom, and where the experience is simply fun.
Let me set the stage: Ananta begins with a street fight that escalates into a car chase, before spiralling into complete chaos as you escape a group of thugs and are unleashed on the streets of a massive, living, breathing city. While comparisons have inevitably been drawn to Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero and Persona, the game feels like its own unique creation, aiming to push the free-to-play genre in major ways.Â
The city itself is vast. You can jump into cars, à la Grand Theft Auto, and depending on the character you choose, the way you fight and move around the city changes dramatically. More notably, the game’s revenue model is based solely on cosmetic purchases and a selection of furniture items for players who enjoy customization. This shifts the focus to immersion rather than the fatigue of constant microtransactions.
“Ananta borrows heavily from anime, drawing on big action, over-the-top clothing and bombastic concepts, and it does so effectively.”
If you are a fan of free-to-play games, Nova Inception Urbs, the debut city in Ananta, is a standout feature that makes the experience feel AAA, even within the first few minutes of gameplay. It is crafted with distinct Japanese urban flourishes yet designed to reflect facets of modern life across the globe. As the journey continues, players can expect additional cities inspired by European and American locales, each stitched together from meticulously detailed districts—think bustling business quarters, serene parks, neon-lit alleyways and more.Â
I did not get to see this aspect of the game, as only Nova Inception Urbs was available on the show floor, but even with just this single city, I was floored by how expansive and diverse it looked. Size alone does not define a city, but from everything I experienced, it felt every bit as impressive as the largest open-world games I have played over the past few years.
Playing through the demo and spending a good 10 to 15 minutes of that time simply exploring the city, it felt as though every street in Ananta was alive, with ambient stories and intelligent NPCs following their own routines. Players can snoop through phones, join street races or flout city laws, with consequences rippling across the sandbox. It is an ecosystem designed not just for spectacle but for tangible interactivity: petting stray cats, joining impromptu raves or triggering gang clashes all serve to ground players in the texture and pulse of the city.
“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…”
I spent much of my session hunting down the most powerful cars I could find and tearing through the streets to see everything the game had to offer in the timeslot I was given. I barely scratched the surface, but I was already impressed by the diverse landscapes and locations the team had built. That said, while the city certainly looked massive, it was difficult to tell how much of it was truly accessible or interactive.
Missions were available, but I did not have time to dive deeply into them. 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, with tangible missions that take advantage of its scale and design. For now, that remains to be seen.
Jumping into the gameplay and traversal, Ananta felt closer to modern superhero titles like Spider-Man than Grand Theft Auto, with players able to swing, parkour, ride bikes or cars, and even swim seamlessly through the city—all without the constraint of a stamina bar. Each character has a distinct movement style: some can transform a mallet into a souped-up ride, while others leap or grapple with superhuman flair. This versatility extends to combat, where environmental props can be wielded as weapons and district terrain can be used to tactically outmanoeuvre enemies. The system felt fluid and refined—something I would expect from a $70 AAA release. Experiencing that level of polish in a free-to-play game was incredibly impressive.
Now, I will admit this is very much a game with an anime aesthetic, and it wears that influence on its sleeve. Ananta borrows heavily from anime, drawing on big action, over-the-top clothing and bombastic concepts, and it does so effectively. This is not a game concerned with realism, but one focused on spectacle. For some, this may not be their cup of tea, but it is worth exploring, especially since it presents itself in a way that makes clear it does not take itself too seriously. Instead, it aims to provide a fun experience, one that I really enjoyed once I left my skepticism at the door.
What I liked even more was that players are not locked into a single protagonist. They can switch perspectives between multiple characters on the fly, with each avatar’s unique stats and abilities shaping team-based encounters and major boss fights. Jobs and personal development also reflect that diversity: a police officer might climb the ranks through law enforcement scenarios, while a courier zips around town delivering packages and earning experience points through daily tasks.
With a release expected in 2026 and global pre-registration already underway, I am eager to jump back in and see how the full version plays when time is not a constraint. Beta tests are planned ahead of launch, and Ananta is confirmed for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, iOS and Android, with other platforms likely to follow. While development is still in its early stages, I am curious to see whether the game can deliver on its promise and how players respond to the world NetEase is building.
