Mr. Resetti

Lore & Background

During play testing of Animal Crossing, players would reset the game and turn the system time backwards to make the daily stock at Tom Nook's store change. In order to prevent this, the development team implemented Mr. Resetti, in hopes that players who want to cheat would be deterred due to the long speeches. If a player resets the game enough, Mr. Resetti will make the player type out sentences such as 'I am stupid' and 'I stink'. Contrary to popular belief, Mr. Resetti does not delete the player's saved file if the player keeps resetting the game. Mr. Resetti's English dialogue in Animal Crossing was written by Nintendo Treehouse team member Tim O'Leary, who intended the character to speak with a deep Bronx accent to complement the character's Osaka accent in the original Japanese. He is designed to make the player believe he knows them and is yelling directly at them, and the European Let's Go to the City manual warns that young children may find Mr. Resetti's authoritative tone of voice disturbing. Within the series, Mr. Resetti is treated as the mascot of the seasonal holiday Groundhog Day. In the first game, the villagers gather together to go watch Mr. Resetti, though in later entries of the series the player receives a tiny doll version of the character instead.

In Their Own Story

Mr. Resetti's role in the Animal Crossing series is to advise the player to remember to save before quitting the game. If the game is shut off without saving, Mr. Resetti will appear outside the player's house the next time the player starts the game, and will give a lecture on why saving is important. Those lectures grow longer the more times the player resets. Also, after resetting multiple times, Mr. Resetti will make the player repeat phrases, and will not let them play until they get it right. If the player retaliates against Resetti, he would insult the player back. In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Mr. Resetti appears the first time the player turns the 3DS off without saving. However, he explains that the Reset Surveillance Center (the facility Mr. Resetti works for) has been closed down, and that he will not be able to make any more visits. If the player so chooses, the Reset Surveillance Center can be reopened, allowing Mr. Resetti to resume his former role. Due to the auto-save function on the Nintendo Switch, Mr. Resetti does not return to the same role in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but is running the new in-game rescue service as the operator. He also appears on the communications error screen. In the game's 2.0 update, he can randomly appear as an NPC in The Roost café. When interacting with him at café, he reveals that he has become a lot more peaceful at his new job although is saddened by the fact he doesn't get the chance to meet new people as much. Resetti also reflects on the act of resetting, believing now that resetting can be a force for good. Since the 3.0 update was released in 2026, he can be seen wandering around the island, offering players to clean it up.

Reader's Guide

Mr. Resetti acts as the series' moral compass for data management, appearing exclusively when players attempt to quit without saving. His primary skill is an endless supply of patience and rhetorical questions designed to guilt-trip users into hitting 'Save.' While he lacks physical powers within the village simulation, his ability to halt gameplay makes him a formidable force. In the Animal Crossing film, Mr. Resetti appears a number of times as a handyman and reminds characters about following the rules of the Animal Village and scolds those who do bad. Mr. Resetti has made several minor appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series of video games, including as a collectible trophy in all games beginning with Super Smash Bros. Melee, as an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and as a background character on the Animal Crossing themed stages in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. In Brawl, his assist trophy summons him onto the stage to yell at the fighters, causing his lengthy text box to obscure a large portion of the screen. In Mario Kart 8, Mr. Resetti makes an appearance on the Animal Crossing race course included within the game's second downloadable content pack. On this course, he erratically pops up from the ground during the race, forcing players to avoid crashing into him. Additionally, the Mr. Resetti amiibo figurine can be utilised to unlock the Animal Crossing costume for the Miis. In Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Mr. Resetti is a craftable character as a costume for the player's Palico in-game as part of the June DLC pack.

Did You Know?

• Mr. Resetti's full name is Sonny Resetti, and he is known in Japan as Mr. Reset (リセットさん, Risetto-san).
• Contrary to popular belief, Mr. Resetti does not delete the player's saved file if the player keeps resetting the game.
• Mr. Resetti's English dialogue was written by Nintendo Treehouse team member Tim O'Leary, who gave him a deep Bronx accent to complement the original Japanese Osaka accent.
• In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, the Reset Surveillance Center can be reopened by the player if they choose, allowing Mr. Resetti to resume his former role.
• In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mr. Resetti runs the in-game rescue service and, since the 3.0 update released in 2026, can be seen wandering around the island offering to clean it up.