Unveiling the Exclusively Elusive Villagers in the Animal Crossing Franchise

Highlights

Rare villagers in Animal Crossing are not actually designated as "rare," but the probability of encountering certain species varies due to the randomized nature of the game.

Octopus villagers are highly coveted and exceptionally rare in the franchise, with a mere five of them in existence. While stumbling upon any of them is challenging enough, locating a particular octopus villager proves to be an even more formidable task.

Noteworthy individuals such as Raymond, Bob, Goldie, and Cookie, who enjoy immense popularity among players, are particularly elusive to acquire due to the abundance of characters within their respective categories.

Ultimately, the rarest villager for a player is the specific one they desire, and the level of difficulty is determined by the size of the species' pool of villagers.

The Animal Crossing franchise is highly popular among Nintendo fans due to its charming and immersive life simulation gameplay and adorable characters. With the success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it is highly probable that the developers are already contemplating ideas for a new game. The lore and characters of the game contribute significantly to its beloved status, but there are certain characters that are perceived as more challenging to obtain than others.

Rare Animal Crossing Villager Species List

Fortunately, the rarest types of villagers in Animal Crossing can be categorized into a list based on species:

Octopus (5)

Non-Animal Villagers (6)

Tiger (7)

Cow (8)

Bull (9)

Lion (9)

Rhinoceros (9)

Alligator (9)

Anteater (10)

Monkey (10)

Hippo (10)

Goat (10)

Hamster (10)

Eagle (11)

Koala (11)

Kangaroo (11)

Gorilla (12)

Ostrich (12)

Deer (12)

Wolf (13)

Elephant (13)

Chicken (14)

Penguin (15)

Bear (16)

Sheep (16)

Horse (17)

Duck (19)

Pig (19)

Mice (20)

Cub (20)

Frog (20)

Bird (21)

Rabbit (22)

Squirrel (22)

Dog (28)

Cat (30)

Animal Crossing's Raymond and Bob

Raymond and Bob are highly sought-after villagers in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons community. Referred to as Dreamies, these are the characters players aspire to have in their virtual towns. Many players use Nook Miles to visit mystery islands in their quest to find their dream villagers.

Raymond and Bob are among the numerous feline characters featured in the Animal Crossing franchise. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons alone, there are a total of 23 distinct feline villagers, making them the most prevalent breed. This means that players are likely to encounter other cat villagers like Merry or Kitty before coming across their desired ones. While it is possible to trade for specific villagers with other players, obtaining Bob and Raymond typically comes at a higher price compared to most other villagers.

Animal Crossing's Octopus Villagers

Octopi in Animal Crossing are incredibly rare, with only five of them appearing throughout the entire franchise. When Animal Crossing: New Horizons first launched in 2020, it had just three octopus characters. However, the 2.0 Free Update in November 2021 introduced Cephalobot, a smug villager with a slick robotic appearance. Inkwell, another octopus, is exclusive to Animal Crossing: New Life and can be welcomed through an amiibo.

Animal Crossing's Goldie and Cookie

Finding a specific octopus villager may prove challenging, as their numbers are limited. However, players who are open to welcoming Marina, Octavian, Zucker, Cephalobot, or Inkwell have a higher chance of encountering one of these fascinating creatures in their town. Yet, it should be acknowledged that targeting a particular octopus villager can be considerably more difficult.

Animal Crossing features a plethora of delightful dog villagers, making it all the more difficult to come across rare canines like Goldie and Cookie. While Goldie embodies a normal personality, Cookie exudes a peppy nature. Despite their contrasting traits, both belong to the second most populous category of villagers. With their undeniable cuteness, it's no wonder that they are highly sought after by players. Unfortunately, with a total of 28 dogs in the franchise, the odds of obtaining either of these charming characters are not in one's favor.

Animal Crossing's Marshal

Marshal is depicted as a conceited villager similar to Raymond in Animal Crossing. Although he made his first appearance in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, he gained tremendous popularity in Animal Crossing: New Horizons as well. Despite his often frowning expression, people are still attracted to his stylish denim jacket and his "sulky" catchphrase. His immaculate house, designed to resemble a cozy coffee shop with an espresso machine, adds to his value. It's worth noting that Marshal is one of the rare squirrels in the entire series, with only 22 in total.

Animal Crossing's Judy

Judy, an eccentric character in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, stands out among the villagers. Originally introduced as a snooty bear cub in the 2020 game, she later joined Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp as a Treasure Trekker. Judy quickly gained popularity as she was among the eight new villagers available at the launch. Alongside her captivating ombre-colored fur and sparkling eyes, Judy became highly coveted by players. While there are 20 cubs in Animal Crossing, her bear status allows one to argue that she, in fact, belongs to a group of 36.

Animal Crossing's Stitches

Stitches, a character in Animal Crossing, stands out due to his adorable teddy bear-like appearance, exuding a sense of warmth and cuteness. Unlike Judy, another cub character, Stitches is labeled as lazy rather than snooty. Initially introduced in Animal Crossing: Wild World in 2005, Stitches has made appearances in subsequent versions such as City Folk, New Leaf, and New Horizons. In the latest installment, he can often be spotted running around with his arms outstretched. Those who seek to add this visually appealing bear to their collection often find themselves parting with a substantial number of Bells in the trading process.

While the term "rare villagers" may lack a specific definition, it is generally understood that the most coveted characters are those with high monetary values. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players begin their gameplay journey with one jock character and one sister character, which already fills two slots. Furthermore, players may have a particular villager in mind that they desire. However, it appears that popular characters in Animal Crossing, especially those of specific species, become increasingly difficult to obtain naturally.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available now on Switch.