Written by Samantha Alarilla

When Nintendo dropped Animal Crossing New Horizons – otherwise known as ACNH – last March 20, 2020, nobody expected it to be a global hit and even an internet sensation. It seems like everybody with a Nintendo Switch has gotten the game – from notable American politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to our very own Ayala Museum, which utilized the platform to hold its very first ACNH art exhibition. Currently, it stands as one of the best selling Nintendo Switch titles, and even the best selling game of 2020. 

But what exactly is ACNH and why is everybody – me included – so obsessed with it? 

Animal Crossing New Horizons is officially categorized as a "non-linear life simulation game" that is played in real time. It's described as non-linear because, unlike most simulation and roleplaying games, players are free to explore the game world and complete its tasks however way they wish to. ACNH is the fifth installment of the Animal Crossing series, and it is the first of its kind in many ways – the first to be made for the Nintendo Switch as well as the first to deviate from the usual Animal Crossing storyline. 

Instead of moving into a remote rural village like in the previous Animal Crossing installments, players get to live in a deserted island, teeming with all sorts of flowers, trees, fossils, fish, and bugs. Players are appointed as the Resident Representative of their island, with the new title entailing goals such as elevating the island to a 5-star rating through improving and decorating the landscape. However wildly different ACNH may seem, a lot of the things that has made the game so lovable have stayed the same – such as the presence of our ever-favorite tanuki Tom Nook and the anthropomorphic villagers who come to live in the players' islands. 

A lot of game critics and fans alike have attributed ACNH's unprecedented success to the COVID-19 pandemic, as it did indeed drop at the exact moment the entire world started self-quarantining in the hopes of preventing the virus' further spread. It gave kids and adults alike an escape from the stress and going stir-crazy of being holed up for such a long time. And yet, even as quarantine protocols around the world have slowly started to ease up, it still remains to be an incredibly well-loved game for very valid reasons. 

The first being that ACNH brings the outdoors indoors; it is an experience of the outside world from the safety and comfort of your own home. The game allows you to do all of the things you would be doing if you weren't stuck at home – shopping, going to museums, parks, and libraries, eating out, camping, and so on. And, since its design is heavily centered on nature, it's also able to satisfy our need to be outdoors. Here, you'll be able to take nice long walks up and down the island's beach or sit quietly amongst the cedar trees; and even though it's all confined to the virtual world, it still feels just as peaceful as it would be in real life. 

     

Me, sitting in one of the galleries of my island's museum

The second is ACNH's shared gameplay feature which allows you to play and hangout with your friends online. Anyone who has the Nintendo Switch, the game, and a Nintendo Switch Online Membership can visit your island, and you can go visit their islands too! This personally is what makes ACNH so special, as I'm able to satisfy my need for socialization and human connection without risking my or anyone's safety and health. Here, my friends and I are able to hold fishing and bug-catching competitions, play hide and seek or tag, hold swimming – and even birthday parties, have outdoor barbecues and camping trips, and so much more. The possibilities for you and your barkada are endless, so long as everyone's down to get in touch with their creative sides and have virtual adventures for hours on end! 

        My friends and I after finishing a game of Spin the Wheel – even in  ACNH we're wearing our face masks! 

The third – and perhaps the most noteworthy – is that ACNH can be any game you want it to be. It truly is that versatile and flexible, and it gives you almost complete creative freedom to play it the way you want to and to design your island however way you want. Even the initial missions you have to complete to unlock all of the island's features aren't set with hard deadlines. You can play at your own pace, which makes it perfect for players like me who aren't so fond of games with rigid plots and timelines. Plus, there is no right or wrong way to play ACNH: do you want your island to be a mini interior design and city planning project? Then by all means, turn your island into a 5-star tropical vacation getaway! Do you want to turn it into a playing ground to host fun games with your friends? Why not? From escape rooms to horror game islands, there are tons of ideas out there that may inspire you. The possibilities are truly endless if you tap into your own creativity. And the best part is, if you make a mistake or decide that you want to change things up, you will always be free to do so. Just make sure to save up on Bells and Nook Miles, that is, because terraforming sure is expensive! 

        Me, standing happily in the new café I had just built

Indeed, Animal Crossing New Horizons took the world by storm – it's the game we didn't even know we needed, and it came at the exact time we needed it the most. Players from all over the globe can attest to the fact that it has helped a lot of us cope with the ongoing pandemic, and it has connected us to one another in times of loneliness and isolation. ACNH brings fun, flexibility, and satisfaction back into our lives without us having to sacrifice our and others' health and safety – and that is perhaps the biggest gift the game has given to us. 

My friends and I, taking a moment to watch the sea and the stars