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0 Ready to jump into a new adventure? Nanomon Virtual Pet is a brand-new game developed by Oscar Brittain and published by Akupara Games, launching on Steam today (June 24th 2025). Hatch your very own Nanomon Virtual Pet, care for it, and take it into battle as you go on a journey to discover the mystery-filled realm that is the Nanoscape!
A New Age For Virtual Pets?
Have you ever thought that there may be something living inside your computer? I don’t mean like, roaches or anything (though if you do suspect that there may be some in there, you should probably get that checked out). No, I mean Nanomon, of course! Nanomon are invisible monsters that live inside your computer! It was just recently that someone found a way to make them visible. Better yet? It turns out they love traveling around their world with humans, and they will even grow and evolve in the most unexpected ways! Are you ready to become a Seeker and pursue the mysteries that the Nanoscape has to offer?
But seriously, this game made me feel so nostalgic for my old Tamagotchis and, funnily enough, my Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Pokéwalker. I should really pop some fresh batteries into that thing and carry it around again. Did you ever have a virtual pet? If so, which?
Gameplay
Nanomon Virtual Pet isn’t just your average, standard digital pet or idle game. It is so much more! Not only will you be able to raise your own Nanomon, you will also be helping them achieve their biggest goal in life: evolving to their full potential.
At first glance, the game is all about caring for your little Nanomon friend. Every Nanomon has four types of stats which you will need to look after: Hunger, which drains over time; Thirst, which depleats as you explore; Health, which you lose in battles; and Happiness, which is affected by a variety of different factors. However, that is only scratching the surface of what the game actually has to offer! You will also be taking your Nanomon on Field Trips to discover the ever-changing world around you. While you are out and about, you can gain EXP by fighting other Nanomon, playing fun little Minigames or just by walking around and exploring the area. If you gain enough EXP, your Nanomon might even evolve!
Whenever you choose to return to your home, your Nanomon will take a little nap to automatically recover any HP you have lost during your endeavors. You can also place all sorts of decorations which you can find during your adventures, to make your little space a bit more lively. There is a lot to do and to remember, but not to worry! You’ve got a handy guidebook that automatically keeps track of everything you have learned so far. It even has some useful tips and advice to help you get your adventure started, and a section where you can take your own notes in case you want to keep track of certain things or just so you don’t forget what you want to do next.
Areas & Minigames
While out on a Field Trip with your Nanomon, you’ll get to explore tons of different areas! They can range from magical forests and pool party beaches to even just walking by the side of the road. Every area has a theme to it that determines what kinds of Nanomon you’ll meet, what random events you might run into, and even the types of food you’ll find. Areas refresh daily at midnight, so there is always something new to do! Just be sure your Nanomon doesn’t get too thirsty to keep going!
Luckily, occasionally, while you are out exploring, a random event, called Encounter, may pop up, giving you a chance to grab some items and refill your supplies. These Encounters are basically interesting things that your Nanomon stumbles upon while exploring. You may run into a little shop, come across some bushes to forage in, or even find a dig site where you look for buried treasure! Other times, you could be dragged into a battle (more on those later), learn a secret about another area, help others on their adventures, or you might even get mugged! There are tons of different things that can happen. Some of them depend on the area that you’re in, the weather, or even the time of day. No need to stress about constantly staring at your screen! Your Nanomon will keep track of a few nearby Encounters for you.
Once you reach the end of an area, get ready to fight its boss! If you manage to beat them, you’ll unlock a fun Activity for you and your Nanomon. This could be anything from taking your friend on a little fishing trip, to farming, or various sports activities that can raise their stats!
Battles & Traits
Guess what! It is “later” now, so time to learn more about Battles! Battles are entirely automatic, you have no attacks to select or choices to make. Your Nanomon will simply do its very best to defeat their opponent. Their strategy in battles will depend mostly on what kind of “Traits” they’ve got.
Traits are like special abilities your Nanomon gains as you go on adventures. They can learn new skills from mediating after battles, eating specific items, getting high scores in minigames, or even from silly things like bashing a vending machine! Many Traits are great in combat, like acting more aggressively or unlocking unique moves that can make a big difference in the outcome of your fights!
But that’s not all! There are also quite a few non-combat Traits that are very helpful too. For example, Pickpocket lets you grab more items from enemies after a battle, or Osmosis, which makes it so your Nanomon will never have to drink again (though it will also prevent you from drinking healing potions, ouch). There are so many diverse Traits to discover, and they really make each playthrough feel unique, since your next Nanomon probably won’t end up with the same ones!
Stats & Evolutions
Another factor in battles are your Nanomon’s stats. They are Power, Agility, and Heart, which pretty much do exactly what they sound like. You can boost these stats through certain minigames, by telling your Nanomon which stats are the most important, or, temporarily, by chugging copious amounts of potions. These stats also play an important role in what kind of Nanomon your buddy will evolve into! Well, that and the kind of snacks you feed it. Different foods have different affinities with certain elements, so you can actually pick specific foods to influence your Nanomon’s type!
Your Nanomon will evolve once its EXP meter is completely full. Once they hit their final evolution, the next time they level up they…uh…die. RIP. Afterwards, you will be handed a fresh, new Nanomon Egg and start your adventure all over again! And of course, you get to keep all your items and knowledge.
Graphics
Nanomon Virtual Pet features a charming, very cute pixel art style. Everything looks incredibly well-thought-out. The areas are adorable, and the Nanomon themselves look fantastic, really fitting their different Types. I especially like the layout of the menu. The layout is great and very readable, and I love how easily accessible and well-structured the inventory is. The game tunes out a lot of the information while you are not hovering over the window, but it will still always be very clear if your Nanomon needs anything, as they will literally tell you in a cute little speech bubble.
You can also resize your window! Now, to my dismay, there is no fullscreen mode, but that’s okay. You can select from a few different size presets, normally the game is intended to be in mini mode to sit in the corner of your screen. There is even a Colorblind Mode! Love to see it. The game does have a Do Not Disturb mode, which disables your screen entirely, only showing you the Nanomon logo. Some icons may pop up at times to make you aware of important things that are happening, for example, when your Nanomon is starving.
Audio
Do Not Disturb mode is also the only way to stop the music from playing when the game is not the active window. I seriously wish that there was an option to let me see the screen but disable the music and sounds when the game is in the background. It’s a bit of a shame as I had to constantly mute the music to be able to focus on other tasks while still wanting to keep an eye on my Nanomon. The music itself, though, is, in my opinion, really, really good. It is super calm and chill, and it changes quite a bit based on various factors, like the area you are currently in, for example. The music in these zones is genuinely so enjoyable and on-theme, and honestly quite a bop to listen to. I particularly like the Techno Area’s retro-inspired beats.
The sound effects in the game are just absolutely adorable. I really can’t praise the game’s audio design enough. It’s truly got that old-school Tamagotchi feel to it, yet with a twist that makes it so very unique. All the sounds are so fitting, they make you feel like your Nanomon is actually alive.
Longevity
One great thing about Nanomon Virtual Pet is that the game actually pauses when it’s closed! You won’t have to stress about your Nanomon getting hungry or cranky while you’re getting some sleep or when you’re at work. Your friend will just chill at home and wait for you to return. The game is really meant to be played at a relaxed pace, with Encounters stacking up and your Nanomon fighting independently, there really is no need to stare at the game 24/7. I’d say that the game’s longevity and playtime are really based on how you approach it and how often you check in.
Content-wise, there are a large amount of diverse Nanomon and Traits to discover, meaning you would spend a good amount of time just filling the pages of your Guidebook alone! On top of that, the game also supports the use of Mods via the Steam Workshop, which can add a whole plethora of new things! Generally speaking, the game is technically endless, as there will never be a cutoff point or a reason to no longer keep going.
Final Thoughts
The game really hit me right in the feels. It perfectly captures that original Tamagotchi vibe, but with a fun new twist, new features and just so many things to do every day! (Though it especially reminded me of my old Tamagotchi when I got up to feed the cat, then returned less than 5 minutes later to see that my Nanomon had died of old age. Ouch). To say that I like the game is an understatement; it has so much to offer while still being so very simple in its concept. Any issues I have with the game are really just minor nitpicks in the grand scheme of things.
I tried to explain things as best as I could in the Gameplay section, but honestly, it could be 10 times as long if I started going into more detail for all the minor things and charms that the game has. The Guidebook is such a cute touch, which really makes you feel like you are documenting your journey through the Nanoscape. You can just tell how much thought and care went into this game. I have been playing this game for over 40 hours and have barely scratched the surface of all the different Nanomon I could discover.
So many words said, yet so easily summarised. Today, I am giving Nanomon Virtual Pet a thoroughly well-deserved Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
If you enjoyed this review, why not check out my previous article about the city builder Kity Builder here!
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