There are few games that come around that leave a lasting impact on players for years to come.
Animal Crossing is one of those games.
The first Animal Crossing turned 25 in April, though the West wouldn’t see it until as early as 2002. It’s hard to believe this cozy simulation game with the funny-talking animals is already at a quarter of a century old.
The game initially released in Japan on the Nintendo 64 but got an enhanced port to the Nintendo GameCube. It was there it captured the attention and hearts of casual and hardcore gamers alike.
It’s main draw was its real-time system. Nintendo marketed the game as one that continued even though the console was off. That was always the comforting part of returning, seeing your personal world change with the seasons, holidays, and dictates of the characters’ minds.
Though sims had been around prior to this one, Animal Crossing seemed to capture the hearts of many players, joining the Nintendo-exclusive lineup with a strong yet endearing force.
Nintendo had a lot of faith in this game; why wouldn’t it? It’s marketing reflected a push that would introduce non-gamers to the genre. An all-time favorite commercial series was one that depicted four friends living in an Animal Crossing town in a similar manner to reality shows such as The Real World or Big Brother.
These efforts have paid off later as the world shut down in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Animal Crossing: New Leaf ironically saw a delay that pushed it back to its March 20, 2020 release date. Fans flocked to the game, seeing it as an escape from the anxieties of the pandemic.
It drew so much attention that then-presidential candidate Joe Biden’s team launched Biden-Harris signs as a way to engage younger voters. Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris saw the impact of the game and knew it was worth the investment.
That is the staying power of Animal Crossing. The game has always been an escape and second home, no matter if you joined in back in 2001 or if you hoped on in 2026. You can talk to anyone who has played the game and they will look fondly back on their first Animal Crossing game.
It’s hard to believe that the game has turned 25. Part of what makes that feel so surprising is that every time the game releases, it feels fresh and new. In those 25 years, the series has only had five mainline releases. For many, they may not even realize there are that many. It’s the Game Boy Advance’s Wild World that tends to trip people up.
Despite those limited releases, Animal Crossing has taken its place among gaming’s very best franchises. It’s a series that invites creativity, provides constant world-building, and adds a relaxing escape from the woes of everyday life.
Here’s to another 25 years.
What about you? When was your first time playing Animal Crossing? What memories do you have from the franchise? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
Featured Image: Nintendo (via The New Yorker)
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