Animus - Stand Alone in IOS

Action

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

79/100

Animus - Stand Alone is a breath of fresh air for mobile players who crave the 'Soulslike' experience. It is unapologetically difficult, focusing on tight, deliberate combat and punishing boss encounters. Unlike most mobile RPGs that rely on auto-play, Animus requires you to master your timing, stamina management, and dodge-rolling to survive. Every enemy is a threat, and every victory feels genuinely earned.

The game's aesthetic is dark and gritty, reminiscent of the best dark fantasy titles on console. While the environments are somewhat linear, the core focus is clearly on the boss fights, which are spectacular and varied. You’ll need to study attack patterns and choose the right equipment for each encounter. The equipment system is deep, with various weapon types that change your playstyle entirely. It’s a hardcore game for a hardcore audience, and while the difficulty might be a barrier for some, those who stick with it will find one of the most rewarding combat systems on iOS.

Reviewed on: Sun Feb 15 2026
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. Finally, something with some weight to it. Animus doesn't hold your hand. It’s a 'Soulslike' without the fluff, focusing almost entirely on the combat and gear progression. The graphics are a bit muddy—very brown and gray—but it fits the bleak tone. The combat system actually feels 'meaty,' which is hard to achieve on a touchscreen. It’s brutally difficult, and the camera is its own boss fight sometimes, but for a 40-year-old gamer who misses the challenge of older titles, this is a breath of fresh air. It’s honest, hard work.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Deep tactical combat
  • No predatory microtransactions
  • Rewarding progression system
  • Frustrating camera issues
  • Drab color palette
  • Steep learning curve

Technical Report

Performance: Solid 30/60fps toggle; controller support is highly recommended.

Accessibility:
  • Difficulty Presets

Audience Fit

Buy if: You enjoy Dark Souls-style combat and want a challenging, gear-focused mobile game.

Skip if: You prefer casual games or get frustrated by high difficulty and repeating boss fights.

Similar Games:
  • Dark Souls
  • Pascal's Wager

Reviewer Context

  • Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old conservative critic
  • Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro Max with Backbone controller
  • Playtime: 25 hours
  • Status: Finished story on Normal

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 1.2.0Sun Nov 04 2018

Minor bug fix


◆◆◆Developer Notes

Animus pays homage to punishing, albeit rewarding action games of a similar nature or genre. In this sense, it may be one of the rare and interesting additions to the App Store.

If you enjoy subtle, intense boss fights, this is for you. We don’t smother the screen with numbers or excessive effects — engaging combat is the focus.

Now, let us seek out our monsters, and meet them face to face.

Animus - Stand Alone (Ire SA Edition) is the companion game supplementing continued work on Ire - Blood Memory.

◆◆◆Background

"Countless possibilities had been while hope rose and fell, but all were beaten into the dust, bringing an end to the age of champions. The lands now lay desolate and empty but for the acrimonious shadows, enslaved in the falsehood of their own creation. Yet... there is one left wandering the lands in torturous pilgrimage, to escape this prison... or end it."

◆◆◆Game Characteristics*

. Standalone (offline capable)

. Tactical Action(RPG)

. Linear progression

. Tense combat mechanics and boss fights

. Button mashing will get you killed

. New perspective (literal and figurative)

. New bosses and weapons

. Cutscenes

. 4 levels of difficulty: Dawn, Midday, Dusk 1~3 (Day 1 ~ Day 4) . 3 different endings (Dawn, Midday, Dusk)

. 4 area themes

. 24 main quests (per difficulty)

. 13/17 sidequests (Dawn/Midday: 13, Dusk: 17)

. 11 main boss fights (final boss in Dusk)

. MFi controller compatible

*Following updates: Weapon type and boss

◆◆◆Device Requirement

. OS: iOS 10 ≥

. iPhone*: iPhone 6 ≥

. iPad: iPad Air 2 ≥

. iPad Mini: iPad mini 4 ≥

. Req Storage.: 2.2GB ≥

*Best on iPhone X

(Note: MFi controller compatible)

◆◆◆


Requires iOS 10.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

2019 Year-End Promotion. (12/06~12/13)

◆◆◆Developer Notes

Animus pays homage to punishing, albeit rewarding action games of a similar nature or genre. In this sense, it may be one of the rare and interesting additions to the App Store.

If you enjoy subtle, intense boss fights, this is for you. We don’t smother the screen with numbers or excessive effects — engaging combat is the focus.

Now, let us seek out our monsters, and meet them face to face.

Animus - Stand Alone (Ire SA Edition) is the companion game supplementing continued work on Ire - Blood Memory.

◆◆◆Background

"Countless possibilities had been while hope rose and fell, but all were beaten into the dust, bringing an end to the age of champions. The lands now lay desolate and empty but for the acrimonious shadows, enslaved in the falsehood of their own creation. Yet... there is one left wandering the lands in torturous pilgrimage, to escape this prison... or end it."

◆◆◆Game Characteristics*

. Standalone (offline capable)

. Tactical Action(RPG)

. Linear progression

. Tense combat mechanics and boss fights

. Button mashing will get you killed

. New perspective (literal and figurative)

. New bosses and weapons

. Cutscenes

. 4 levels of difficulty: Dawn, Midday, Dusk 1~3 (Day 1 ~ Day 4) . 3 different endings (Dawn, Midday, Dusk)

. 4 area themes

. 24 main quests (per difficulty)

. 13/17 sidequests (Dawn/Midday: 13, Dusk: 17)

. 11 main boss fights (final boss in Dusk)

. MFi controller compatible

*Following updates: Weapon type and boss

◆◆◆Device Requirement

. OS: iOS 10 ≥

. iPhone*: iPhone 6 ≥

. iPad: iPad Air 2 ≥

. iPad Mini: iPad mini 4 ≥

. Req Storage.: 2.2GB ≥

*Best on iPhone X

(Note: MFi controller compatible)

◆◆◆


Ratings & Reviews

3.9 out of 5 with 204 Counts
Age Rating 13+

Screenshots

Animus - Stand Alone screenshot 1Animus - Stand Alone screenshot 2Animus - Stand Alone screenshot 3Animus - Stand Alone screenshot 4Animus - Stand Alone screenshot 5Animus - Stand Alone screenshot 6Animus - Stand Alone screenshot 7Animus - Stand Alone screenshot 8Animus - Stand Alone screenshot 9Animus - Stand Alone screenshot 10

Animus - Stand Alone is a high-stakes action RPG that brings tactical, skill-based combat to mobile. In a world of desolation, you must face off against powerful foes and colossal bosses. There is no hand-holding here; success depends on your ability to read enemy movements and react with precision. With multiple weapon classes, deep armor customization, and a focus on epic encounters, Animus is the ultimate challenge for fans of the hardcore RPG genre.

Features

1

Tactical, skill-based combat system

2

Colossal and challenging boss fights

3

Multiple weapon types with unique move sets

4

Deep equipment and armor progression

5

Full controller support for a console-like experience

Tips

Promotion Videos

Animus Stand Alone Gameplay

Related Videos

News on this game

Animus Heading To Nintendo Switch Worldwide

“The world is a broken place — lonesome, bitter, fatal. Humanity had been crushed between a clash for untold dominance between the Absolutes...

NintendoSoup - Tue Jul 16 2019

Gameplays

Q&A

Animus is designed to be challenging by default, but you can upgrade your gear to make certain encounters more manageable.

More by Developer

You Might Also Like

All Categories

Puzzle Game

Action Game

Simulation Game

Casual Game

Adventure Game

Card Game

Roleplaying Game

Board Game

Sports Game

Strategy Game

Racing Game

Family Game

Casino Game

Music Game

Word Game

Trivia Game

Education Game

Games Game

Entertainment Game

Utilities Game

Social Networking Game

Books Game

Health & Fitness Game

Lifestyle Game