5 Game-Changing Features We Want in the Next Animal Crossing: New Horizons Release

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a smash hit for Nintendo, offering players the opportunity to customize and populate their very own island with a diverse cast of animal companions. However, despite the abundance of options and subsequent updates, the game still felt somewhat limited. The island itself felt cramped, and some of the updates simply reintroduced features from previous titles. To truly succeed, a new Animal Crossing game must expand its scope and offer fresh, innovative content.

One key aspect that any sequel must address is the inclusion of post-launch updates in the base game. Rather than simply rehashing old content, a follow-up should build upon what came before and introduce new and meaningful additions. Additionally, Nintendo could take a promising element from a previous update and expand upon it, creating an even more robust and engaging experience.

Farming and Cooking Needs to Stay in Animal Crossing

Farming is a beloved feature in many games. It provides players with a peaceful and enjoyable way to cultivate a range of fruits and vegetables, which can be sold for a steady income or used to prepare a variety of delicious meals. Popular titles like Stardew Valley have made farming a central focus, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons has joined the ranks with its recent 2.0 update. While the game was already jam-packed with content, the addition of farming has provided players with even more enjoyable activities to engage in. With the inclusion of cooking mechanics, players can spend hours growing different crops and experimenting with new recipes. The revenue generated from farming is just one of its many benefits, as the simple act of harvesting crops and deciding what to do with them is immensely satisfying. With the potential for future expansion, farming in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a feature that is sure to keep players engaged for hours on end.

Instead of focusing on livestock and the potential moral issues that come with it, the next Animal Crossing game could expand on farming by offering a vast variety of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and spices. This would allow for more options for juices, jams, and vegetarian meals that highlight foods from different cultures. Additionally, the game could experiment with new features and concepts that keep the meaningful experience of Animal Crossing intact while offering a unique and fresh take on the franchise. Expanding farming to this extent could even lead to a potential farming-themed title in the series.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available for Nintendo Switch.