The more time you spend playing, the more it becomes a different type of video game. After completing a number of tasks that are meant to turn your island into a place where other people want to live, the game backs off and gives you the freedom to chill out. It seems like it at first.
Animal Crossing is a social simulation game with a focus on small acts of kindness and taking one's time. The main point of the game is interacting with other villagers and they are the most dynamic thing about your new neighborhood. Different villagers will get into arguments, catch colds, and come over to your house in times of need. They will call you by your nickname and give you items to show you how much your friendship means to them. If you don't mind small talk, it can be quite the experience.
In cases where the villagers living on your island are people you actually get along with, this facet of Animal Crossing is a feature built into the game to keep you coming back day-to-day. It isn't hard to end up living with a bunch of villagers who turn the game into a chore instead of a calming escape.
Animal Crossing gives you the space to spend your time you want, even if you don't want to. Gaining the ability to carve out new rivers and build up new mountains feels like some of the biggest goals you are meant to be working toward once the game ends. You can cultivate Animal Crossing islands into intricate works of art with patience and attention to detail. Once you hunker down and set to transform your island into a digital paradise that brings you joy whenever you turn your Switch on, Animal Crossing's design will remind you how important it is to understand that other villagers are part of the landscape.
It can be hard to imagine what kind of place you want to turn New Horizons into when you first start playing it. The identities of your neighbors are randomized, meaning that there is no way of knowing who is going to try to move in. It is more likely that you will end up living near at least a few people who you cannot stand for one reason or another, a situation many people can relate to.
The biggest obstacle that Animal Crossing throws your way is unwanted villagers, but unlike tedious reconstruction projects and the time it takes to complete, the difficulty with other villagers can be a bit more abstract. It is easy to force current residents to leave your island by using Amiibo cards to invite new characters to visit and eventually take the vacant spots. Villagers will sometimes tell you that they are ready to leave the island, and you can wish them farewell, knowing that someone else will be there soon. Getting to a point where you are comfortable following through on that decision can be difficult.
I found myself living on an island that I never liked after falling in love with the New Horizon craze. I was kept away from the island because of the stress that came from laying down sidewalks and giving everyone fenced-in gardens, as well as seeing the true source of my frustration: the island's residents. It is hard to think about building monuments and excavation sites when you are worried about a house that is in the way and occupied by someone you want to live somewhere else.
The process of changing your island's roster can take a few days, but it's mostly free as Animal Crossing mostly lets you be in its endgame. Between the time, space, and mental energy it takes to pull a better villager, trying to do so can be a frustrating experience that ends up turning the game into a source of stress rather than relaxation. In situations where you have a full island and construction projects dependent on peoples houses being rearranged, trying to make sure that an especially obnoxious villager gets the message that they should be looking for a new place to live can be a sore spot. It makes the game feel like more work than it really is. If you let it, and if you refuse to accept that the game doesn't want to give you complete control over everything, it doesn't have to be.
Even though you may suffer from bouts of intense decision paralysis while playing, Animal Crossing: New Horizons doesn't warn you, because that's very much the case once you've been at it for a while and start thinking about getting creative. When it comes to planting flowers, the best way to get over the hurdle is to just try it out and see how you feel, knowing that it can always be undone with a few button presses. The best course of action with villagers is to simply let them go, knowing that the beauty of what is going to happen next is unknown. It can be difficult to say goodbye to your Animal Crossing neighbors when they are getting on your nerves. Allowing the villagers to go is one of the most freeing things you can do in Animal Crossing, and one that is almost certain to make playing it feel fresh even if you are an old timer.
Animal Crossing is in stores.
Wondering where our feed went? The new one can be picked up here.
