Anima, from the Latin word for "soul," is a dating simulator where gameplay takes place through chat rooms with the characters. You can follow multiple storylines or "routes" at the same time, without being locked into just one character until the end.

Set in a universe inspired by stars and the cosmos, Anima invites you on a journey through celestial bodies, guided by encounters with people from diverse cultures and personalities.

The game is meant to offer a moment of comfort and rest, a break from whatever you're going through in real life.

Anima is a dating simulator I created for my undergrad thesis in Visual Communication Design at UFRJ. I chose this major because I wanted to become a game artist and make games that bring people joy. So for my final project, I finally got to do just that.

Games in general can benefit mental health, improving mood, reducing stress, and offering a safe way to socialize, especially during times of isolation. For many young people, online games became one of the only forms of social interaction available during the pandemic.

I ran a survey with over 300 dating sim players to understand their motivations and frustrations. Based on their answers, I pulled out key themes:

Motivations: immersion, escapism, feeling loved, and a new life.
Frustrations: weak storytelling, paid choices, time limits, stereotypes.

And I built Anima around that.