Revolutionizing Villager Crossovers in the Next Animal Crossing

The release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2020 marked a high point for Nintendo's beloved social simulation series. Despite the series having five main entries and multiple spin-offs, fans are eagerly anticipating news of a sequel to the latest installment. With the success of the game and its Happy Home Paradise DLC, coupled with the passionate fan base, it seems like the perfect time for another chapter in the franchise. However, players have expressed desires for certain features in a future Animal Crossing game, including improvements to the already beloved villagers feature. Animal Crossing: New Horizons introduced new elements like in-game weather and customizable island communities, making it a cozy gaming experience that could be even better with a well-executed sequel.

Villager Crossovers In Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been continuously updated with fresh content since its release, with special attention given to seasonal themes. Players can expect to find new events, items, characters, and even gameplay features. In addition to new characters, beloved villagers from past Animal Crossing titles have also returned to the island. The game has even introduced crossover opportunities, such as the Super Mario outfits added to commemorate the franchise's 35th anniversary. While crossover characters have appeared in previous titles, the developer has yet to fully explore this concept for a mainstream audience. Future Animal Crossing games could potentially feature characters from other franchises, either as part of the base game or as fun post-launch content. With Nintendo's vast library of popular franchises like Pokemon, Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Splatoon, the possibilities are endless. Given the company's unique style, integrating these franchises into an Animal Crossing game would be seamless.

Expectations For The Next Animal Crossing

Nintendo could elevate the Animal Crossing experience by incorporating some of its iconic franchises in the next game. While players have already created their own crossover content, meeting famous faces like Professor Oak or Link as anthropomorphized animals would be a fun addition. With a slew of new or reimagined characters, fans have plenty of ideas for what they'd like to see in a sequel.

As Animal Crossing: New Horizons hasn't received any significant updates lately, it feels like the perfect time to announce the franchise's next phase. Some players are hoping for an open-world game that adapts to wider industry trends, with improvements to how players travel across the in-game world and recruit potential villagers. More variety in where players can call home would be a great way to mix things up, whether it's allowing them to choose their starting village or offering more traversal options, such as a camper van. Others want the personalities of the villagers to become less surface-level, emulating the success of Stardew Valley. Although the next Animal Crossing game remains unknown, fans are eagerly anticipating its release.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available now for Nintendo Switch.