The upcoming Ananta – formerly known as Project Mugen – has caught the attention of many since its early reveal, which showcased stylized open-world action, a plethora of activities to engage in, and combat and exploration mechanics that feel more than a little similar to the likes of Spider-Man and Grand Theft Auto. It taps into the recent popularity of gacha-style action RPGs like Genshin Impact, but uses the conceit of controlling a party of heroes as a springboard to focus more on hanging out with the core cast in between their duties to save the city. Essentially, it's going for the full-on 'anime GTA' experience, with everything that entails.
However, there is the worry that Ananta might be biting off more than it could chew as developer Naked Rain tries to cover all the bases of the open world genre while also offering full, stylish anime action and hijinks. Fortunately, I was able to play the first public playable build of Ananta at Tokyo Game Show 2025 to see how developer Naked Rain is bringing it all together. So far, I've found something quite endearing about Ananta's open world full of energy and personality – even if it feels a bit overwhelming. I also spoke with game producer Ash Qi from developer Naked Rain about building up their take on an open-world RPG, and how the game's cast of characters will make players feel like they're building up their own Avengers-style squad.
