Animal Crossing is a series of life simulation video games developed and published by Nintendo. The series is known for its open-ended gameplay and laid-back, relaxing aesthetic.
The first Animal Crossing game was released in Japan in 2001 for the Nintendo 64.
The series gained popularity with the release of Animal Crossing: Wild World for the Nintendo DS in 2005.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf, released in 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS, became the best-selling game in the series, with over 12 million copies sold.
The most recent main installment in the series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2020 and has become the second best-selling game in the series, with over 30 million copies sold as of March 2021.
Stardew Valley is a farming simulation game developed by ConcernedApe and published by Chucklefish. It was first released in 2016 for PC and has since been ported to multiple platforms.
Harvest Moon is a series of farming simulation games developed by Natsume. The series began in 1996 and has been released on multiple platforms.
Story of Seasons is a series of farming simulation games developed by Marvelous. Originally known as Harvest Moon in the West, the series was renamed after Natsume lost the rights to the name. The series has been released on multiple platforms.
The latest main installment in the Animal Crossing series, released for the Nintendo Switch in 2020. Players build and customize their own island community, interacting with animal residents and participating in various activities and events.
Released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012, New Leaf allows players to become mayor of their own town and customize various aspects of it, including public works projects, businesses, and their own house.
A mobile spinoff of the Animal Crossing series, Pocket Camp allows players to manage their own campsite and interact with animal visitors. It was released for iOS and Android devices in 2017.
Animal Crossing has no set objective and is often described as a 'life simulator'. Players are free to live their virtual life as they wish, decorating their house, making friends with animal villagers, participating in events and activities, and customizing their town or island.
Yes, Animal Crossing games have a multiplayer mode that allows players to visit each other's towns or islands, trade items and resources, and play mini-games together.
Animal Crossing is generally considered family-friendly and appropriate for all ages. However, some online interactions with strangers may be moderated or require parental controls.
The gameplay of Animal Crossing is cyclical and revolves around daily activities, such as fishing, bug catching, fossil digging, and interacting with animal villagers. As time passes, seasons change and new events occur, keeping the game fresh and engaging.
Yes, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required to access the multiplayer features of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, local multiplayer is also possible on a single switch console without an online subscription.