Nanomon: Virtual Pet Review – An Idler that grabs your attention

The genre of idle games isn’t anything new, however, we are now in a time where idle games have a lot of thought and heart put into them, they aren’t just about clicking and simply existing on the corner of your screen – It’s about disappearing from your attention but hanging around just enough to pull you right back in.

And that’s what Nanomon Virtual Pet does so well.

The game’s concept is simple, and it’s something that has been done ages ago with flash based downloads that bombarded you with needless ads, but this time it’s done in earnest. You get a little pet, much like the famed Tamagotchi of yore and then like a pet in your care, you take care of it.

But this is where Nanomon takes leaps ahead, you have quests, randoomized encounters and a sprawling map to keep your attention.

And to be fair to the lovely and cute little Nanomon that was in my care, this is what went ‘wrong’ for me – it took my attention a bit too much. An idle game became a little too center stage and sadly, the DND screen, while shuttong off the display and replacing it with a splash screen, still meant my Nanomon got hungry, upset and left my care!

My hope was that when the DND switched on, it would somehow pause the hunger/thirst/cleanliness and so on. But my first Nanomon’s harsh exit meant that this, to me, was no longer an idle game.

My 2nd Nanomon did better, but when it came time to step away, I had to close it. And the biggest challenge for me, with a game like that, is to remember to boot it back up.

Nanomon: Virtual Pet is a real gem of a game and if the DND activated a pause on food and hunger and all the other needs, it would be flawless, but as it stands it relies a lot on you able to check in on it constantly, OR remember to boot it back up whenever you’re able.

However, the game is a truly adorable experience, there is a real joy in improving the stats of your Nanomon and fighting the wild ones you come across.

Nanomon Virtual Pet releases on 24th June, 2025 and is well worth a wishlist (and a purchase if it’s up your alley!)