Image courtesy of Flickr
By CHLOE JENSEN ’20
One of the best ways to spend a day in social isolation is with one of Nintendo’s newest releases for the Nintendo Switch: “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” With its initial release date on March 20, many have been calling this game a perfectly timed way to spend your days social distancing.
“Animal Crossing” is a social simulation game in which players create their own avatar and island to occupy. The goal of the game is simple: the player tries to advance their island by fishing, catching bugs, harvesting fruit and discovering fossils. Players are encouraged to spend “bells” — the currency of the game — on various items such as home upgrades, tools and outfits. The more the player engages with the game and all its different activities, the more the player’s island advances, with new villagers to meet and new projects to undertake.
Many people enjoy playing “Animal Crossing” because of its stress-relieving, relaxing gameplay. Unlike other simulation games, there are no time limits or high-stakes missions. Instead, players are encouraged to work at their own pace.
“Nothing is all that urgent in Animal Crossing, where the goals are breezy and can be put off indefinitely,” Kyle Buchanan of The New York Times said.
He also notes that the game focuses on social simulation, which is anxiety-relieving during social distancing practices. “With its low-stakes emphasis on making friends and decorating your house, ‘Animal Crossing’ plays less like a traditional game and more like a lifestyle simulator,” Buchanan continued.
In “Animal Crossing,” players can interact with their computer-operated villagers or visit their friends’ islands in real-time. For many, “Animal Crossing” offers a great alternative to in-person socializing.
The game has been very well-received. Metacritic, a website that rates various movies, TV shows and video games, gave “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” a 91 out of 100 score — the highest rating for any 2020 Nintendo Switch game.
Metacritic also notes that the game is the best-selling Nintendo Switch game of 2020. Some people attribute the game’s high rating and sales to its well-timed release amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. NBC reporter Ani Bundel said that she had a difficult time getting her hands on the console, much less the game. “An attempt to buy a Switch here in the Washington, D.C. area failed, with Amazon sold out and most stores claiming not to have them in stock within a 250-mile radius.”
In a time when social interaction is limited throughout the world, “Animal Crossing” provides a great, soothing release. Whenever I miss my friends, read a stressful article on the news or just need to relax, I turn on my Nintendo Switch and play “Animal Crossing” and instantly feel better.