Animal Crossing: New Horizons
A social simulation game set on a deserted island.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a social simulation game for the Nintendo Switch, arrived in 2020 as the fifth main series entry. Players move to a deserted island, crafting items and building a community of animal villagers. It sold over 50 million copies, becoming one of the best-selling and most acclaimed games ever.
Quick Facts
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Director
- Aya Kyogoku
- Producer
- Hisashi Nogami
- Artist
- Koji Takahashi
- Programmer
- Yoshitaka Takeshita, Hiromichi Miyake
- Writer
- Makoto Wada
- Composer
- Kazumi Totaka
- Yasuaki Iwata
- Yumi Takahashi
- Shinobu Nagata
- Sayako Doi
- Masato Ohashi
- Series
- Animal Crossing
Facts from the source article.
Development
Development of a new main series Animal Crossing game for the Nintendo Switch was confirmed in a Nintendo Direct on September 13, 2018, with an unspecified 2019 release date. Game director Aya Kyogoku confirmed that development had begun in 2012, shortly after the original release of Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan. Hisashi Nogami and Katsuya Eguchi reprised their roles as producers. The game's title and first trailer were released at E3 2019 on June 11, 2019. The game was delayed until March 20, 2020, with Yoshiaki Koizumi stating the delay was to ensure the game was the best it could be. Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser cited a desire to avoid crunch and maintain work-life balance. Nintendo's stock market value posted a 3.5% loss in reaction to the delay. Kyogoku stated the series' success came from making each game different enough to appeal to newcomers while keeping core concepts for returning players. A deserted island setting was chosen to differentiate from previous games and allow greater customization freedom. The developers were disappointed that the release cycle overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic, and Kyogoku hoped the game would serve as an escape for fans. They emphasized a global release to allow international connections.
Reception
Animal Crossing: New Horizons received universal acclaim on Metacritic, becoming the highest-rated game in the series on the website. The Nintendo Switch 2 version received generally favorable reviews. OpenCritic assessed the Nintendo Switch version as receiving mighty approval from critics, while the Switch 2 version received strong approval. The game was awarded perfect scores by Nintendo Life and Pocket Gamer. It was subject to review bombing due to its handling of Switch profiles and multiplayer, where only one player per console can experience the full game. Critics enjoyed the Nook Miles system, with Pocket Gamer noting it gave optional direction. The D.I.Y. system was praised, with Nintendo Life observing that no resource is useless. Polygon lauded the unrestricted creativity for island design. Eurogamer stated the game had impressive improvements giving a clearer structure. GameSpot and Game Informer praised creative freedom and control, particularly the Island Designer App, though there were minor complaints about not being able to expand the island. GamesRadar+ appreciated the retention of old characters with new mechanics. TechRadar lauded the sound and visuals as sharp and colorful. Slant Magazine was more critical, arguing that consolidating power in the individual player threatened the series' vision of community living.
Impact and legacy
Reviewers and news organizations highlighted the game's sense of escapism during the COVID-19 pandemic as contributing to its success. An NBC News op-ed declared it the coronavirus distraction needed during social distancing. The New York Times called the game a phenomenon, noting its timely whimsy for millennials. People utilized the game for funerals, weddings, and graduations, and a talk show called Animal Talking emerged. The Monterey Bay Aquarium held live streams of animal feedings. Twitter revealed in early January 2021 that New Horizons was the most tweeted-about game in 2020. The game's release led to increased popularity of cozy games during lockdowns. The Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign released official digital yard signs for use in the game. Democracy activists in Hong Kong, including Joshua Wong, used the game as a platform to protest virtually, leading to its removal from online stores in China. Nintendo announced guidelines on November 19, 2020, banning political activities. In March 2021, the National Videogame Museum created the Animal Crossing Diaries, a record of the game's impact during the pandemic, containing visuals, audio, and interviews. The website opened in September 2021, covering the 18 months after the game's release.
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