Why Animal Crossing’s Next Game Needs a Dose of Reality

Animal Crossing: New Horizons soared to new heights in 2020, serving as a brilliant means of connection for individuals confined to their homes during quarantine. After the Wii U skipped a mainline entry in the Animal Crossing series, this island-building simulation game offered a refreshing change of pace that many gamers had longed for. However, as time went on, some players felt that the interactions provided by the game became repetitive and lacked depth.

Nintendo attempted to keep things engaging by introducing frequent updates that incorporated holidays and events, providing villagers with new topics of conversation. Despite these efforts, the Animal Crossing title on the Switch left many players craving for more meaningful interactions with their island neighbors. While it's difficult to create a social simulation game that doesn't eventually exhaust its dialogue options, there are ways to keep things interesting that Nintendo appears to be avoiding in order to maintain player comfort. However, this could be an aspect that the next Animal Crossing title could greatly benefit from.

Animal Crossing Villagers Aren't Rude Anymore

In the first game released for the GameCube, players may be surprised to learn that the villagers they interacted with could be rather rude depending on the timing and how players engaged with them. They would often be very straightforward, commenting that the player looked "awful as ever" or questioning their understanding of sarcasm. In moments of anger, they would even go as far as saying things like "I hope you go through life with the same drab furniture."

However, as Animal Crossing has evolved over the years, the interactions between villagers have become progressively nicer. This may explain why some players find the interactions in New Horizons to be tiresome, as the game's emphasis on customization and interior design takes away the NPCs' ability to make independent decisions. In every game except New Horizons, villagers had control over the decoration of their homes, their living arrangements, and when they would move out. Now, in order for players to create their ideal island, these choices no longer belong to the non-playable characters in the town.

How Animal Crossing Could Benefit From a Little Rudeness

The introduction of customization options in Animal Crossing has undoubtedly improved the player's control over their island's appearance. However, it is crucial to maintain the independence and unique personalities of the villagers throughout this process. In the initial stages of Animal Crossing, players were encouraged to establish connections with the eccentric animal characters in their town, emphasizing the individuality and charm of these interactions.

To reintroduce more negative interactions without compromising the player's ability to customize their island, Animal Crossing could take inspiration from other simulation games like Stardew Valley or Disney Dreamlight Valley. Implementing a friendship mechanic would allow for dynamic relationships with the villagers, where their distinct personalities, such as being cranky or peppy, could influence the initial friendship levels.

Allowing villagers to exhibit rudeness could open up new possibilities for the series, expanding beyond the confines of an island or small town. Some players may anticipate a city-based Animal Crossing game to include villagers with a slightly more abrasive nature, reflecting the stereotype that big cities can be unwelcoming to outsiders. Allowing villagers to express their personalities by being a bit more unkind when provoked, such as when they are hit with nets or asked to move out, could inject some liveliness into the game. In fact, negative villagers may even serve as an incentive for Animal Crossing fans to continue playing and exploring.