Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing is so many things to so many people. Unlike the kind of games I LIKE to write about, there isn't a lot I can interpret that would be fun or meaningful. Like any well crafted RPG/SIM it has a lot to unpack purely on what mechanics it uses and what parts of life it attempts to emulate. However, the analyzing of this is not quite easy to make interesting with my unique lack of a skill set.

I can explain for those who don't play games: The game allows you to customize an island inhabited by Animals who are randomized by Animal Type, personality and cosmetic features. I can really go into detail about how the other parts of the game that get randomized encourage the player to learn the games myriad unseen mechanics simply by playing alone or with other players. I can also sound smart by talking about how the game is brave for setting boundaries on how much progress you can make in a single day; or how even if it's fanbase doesn't get it: THE POINT OF ANIMAL CROSSING IS TO EXPERIENCE THE CHANGES AS THEY COME, ENJOY THE EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE AND CHERISH THE MEMORIES OF COMMUNITY 'TOWN' LIFE. I don't want to though, I have no venom for people who abuse the game's mechanics to "Get all the stuff they want". Boo hoo, they play a game differently. I also have no big "ARTICLE" to write about this GOTY of substance. It's a game that means so many things to so many people, there isn't a worthy thing to write that wouldn't or hasn't been written by a better authority on it.

See, this is my first Rodeo with AC (as the cool kids call it). I had a short try with the previous entry, ACNL (cool speak for New Leaf), but I only became fully invested during the Pandemic of 2020 in ACNH (cool kids no longer exist, school as a concept has been abolished to the long long ago). As we speak we are coming up on the year anniversary of the DAY Covid-19 shut my work life down and the DAY I bought the game. While I can't provide some deep look into ACNH with some associated message about "Gaming"™, I can provide a journal as to how it affected my life during one of the first national crisis I have experienced since 9/11.

Hear that? That's all the Ashley-Report fans leaving because they figured out I am 100 years old and about to literally bring politics into Animal Crossing. I am going to side by side talk about the madness that was 2020 AND my memories with a bunch of RNG Animals who's friendship is won by practicing Super Capitalism. It's a Slideshow! IT'S a SIDESHOW! We have cute cuddy Animals! We got Post-Edgy social commentary!

IT'S also got little to do with why AC:NH is a GOTY. While I love the game, I can't tell you that any of the content listed below is anything but self indulgent memoir writing. I mean it when I say that there are OTHER people who are making better content about the "how and why" of Animal Crossing. I may highlight them as time goes on and if anyone who comes to complain cares to stick around to make a suggestion.

However as a person who made a PINKY SWEAR about an article every month, I am using my Trap card and pulling something I had planned from the moment I made this list: By SHEER VOLUME of in game time I spent investing in the mechanics and characters, building my island to be just so I am obligated to call it a GOTY. I have spent 555 hours according to my Switch. My wife SOMEHOW has spent more and she picked it up well after me. On a Technicality, even if I do not begrudge it:

Animal Crossing is an RFT90 2020 GOTY and scores 8/10.

Thank you Nintendo Entertainment and the rest of the Dev/Pd team.