System answer
Animal companions and mounts have special exploration abilities. Natsume specifically says animals can help reach hidden areas, break rocks and fallen trees, leap across terrain, and reveal treasures.
Confirmed mechanics
The companion system goes beyond cosmetic following.
Player movement and animal abilities are designed to be combined.
Rare animals on remote islands expand the exploration and befriending loop.
Future database structure
The eventual launch database should organize companions by obstacle solved, traversal role, acquisition requirement, and whether the same barrier can be handled by player movement.
Known boundary
Specific animal names, ability values, cooldowns, unlock quests, and a complete obstacle list are not yet published.
Why this page is useful before launch
This page resolves a distinct planning or fact-checking intent with dated first-party evidence. It does not create character names, item values, quest steps, map coordinates, or feature claims from series precedent. Verified launch data can deepen the answer without changing its search intent.
Official evidence
- Natsume title announcement (March 11, 2026)
- Natsume preorder announcement (May 12, 2026)
- Natsume Store product page