What does Animal Crossing mean to you?

[Krissi2197]

I had a coworker make fun of me the other day for being so excited for the new Animal Crossing game coming out, and it made me feel kind of bad. My other coworker supported my excitement and questioned why the game meant so much to me, as it didn't seem interesting to her at all and she was never able to get into it.

I started Animal Crossing when I got a Wii and City Folk released. I didn't grow up in a physically abusive household, however my parents have been very hard on me my whole life. They expected the very best from me and would verbally express their immense disappointment whenever I didn't do something in the way I liked. Now you may be thinking "these are just parent things", but being told at the age of 11 that you won't amount to anything in life because you fold your clothes wrong, it really got to me.

Insert Animal Crossing. The villagers depended on me to do stuff for them. They were always so happy to see me. Tom Nook was kind enough to give me a house, a job, and responsibility. He never rushed me to get my loan paid off, and whenever I did pay him off, he was so proud of me, regardless of how long it took. That game gave me a sense of home away from home.

As a child who just wanted her parents to be proud of her, this game was a godsend. I played it every day from the moment I got home from school to the moment I went to bed, with breaks in between to eat and do my regular chores.

There's just something about this game and taking care of something you call your own to be so satisfying and rewarding! And it just helped me through a tough time in my young life where I thought I was a disappointment to everyone. As silly as it sounds, this franchise helped ground me and keep me going.

So what does Animal Crossing mean to you guys? I love hearing people's stories as to why things are important/special to them.

 

[Mayor Monday]

Snip

I'm so sorry about your parents, but I'm happy you found something that meant this much to you, in order to aid you through hard times. Never let anyone bring you down about it!

___

Animal Crossing was an important part of my childhood. It meant simplicity, relaxation, a break, and time spent with my brothers. It's almost become a part of myself. New Leaf, in particular, helped me through difficult years. It was an escape from listening to arguing. It helped me avoid the dark-sided, unnecessary crap behind the scenes in my home. It really helped pull me through.

It may not be as in-depth of a reason as some may have on here. But it's safe to say that I'm grateful I had Animal Crossing. It means a lot to me and will for a long time.

 

[John Wick]

It used to be a relaxing way to pass the time.

 

[lazyislander]

My two cousins introduced me to the game when my family and I were visiting them in Puerto Rico. It was Population Growing for the GameCube. The moment I saw the title screen appear I instantly fell in love. They couldn’t tear me away. I got the game that same day. Begged my mom for it. And since then, she has supported my love for the game by buying me every single game after that, except for New Leaf, which I bought myself when I was 16 and got my first job. She was the one who went and picked it up for me, though, because I had to work that day. When my shift ended and she came to pick me up, she not only brought the game, but my 3DS so I could play it on my way home. I was practically in tears. While she has never been one to play video games, she liked watching me play and helping me decorate my house. Animal Crossing will always be more than just a game to me, and so many other people.

 

[KazooSquirrel]

I think for a lot of folks it has always been a peaceful safe little bubble to escape into.

 

[Jas]

i've been playing different versions of this game for like 13 years and it has always been something i have always been able to come home to. even when i don't play it for a while, it's still there. i really love that it isn't something super violent (though i do like those!!) or time oriented (aka games where "you HAVE to do this quest ASAP you cannot move on unless you do this mission!!!") - you can just wander around at 1am and listen to the music and sounds and catch bugs and fish and do whatever you want. everything is really cute and makes my heart happy - it's a whole other world and it really is a lil bit of healthy escapism.

 

[Romaki]

It gives me fond memories from my childhood and it's also a game that doesn't just end.

 

[LadyDestani]

Animal Crossing has always been a fun world where I could escape the pressures of everyday life and enjoy the serenity and peacefulness that the game brings me.

 

[aquaricality]

my childhood... wasn't pretty. between getting a debilitating disease so young i practically had it all of my life, doctors not knowing how to treat me correctly until i was 11, grandparents/guardian figures arguing frequently around me and other details that are not suitable for this forum in the least, up until just a couple years ago, everything was basically one horrible occurence after another. combine that with being homeschooled and not having any relationships outside of family for years, and none outside of superficial internet friends for even longer (think someone you just have a passing glance at on the forum, not someone you actually get to know), and i was lonely, socially inept, in physical and mental pain most of the time, and literally traumatized from things i've experienced at a young age.

my first animal crossing game, wild world, gave me a break from that. i could spend time just relaxing, catching bugs, talking to the villagers, and doing whatever i wanted, really. it gave me a similar sense of freedom to pokemon, but... much calmer. instead of the fate of the world resting in my hands, i just had to pay off my loans, and i could do that whenever i wanted. there was no pressure, no mystery diseases, nothing that could really upset me there. i had so many late nights where i'd wake up from a night terror, just to play animal crossing to calm myself down. i'd set up side characters just to see what appearances they got, then acted out their little social lives together with the villagers. i would come up with complicated backstories and plots between villagers.

animal crossing got me through multiple dark points in my life. and it still continues to do so. its soft and sweet, without being overly saccharine. you feel like you really make a difference when you play it, yet... you don't feel any sort of panic. you just have to relax, be yourself, and have fun. you can get creative, whether by making the perfect town, room, or making a plot with villagers like i did. heck, people do that nowadays with the dream towns, especially the horror villages.

animal crossing can mean so much for such a simple little game. and i love it for that.

 

[galactickat4240]

Animal Crossing is a game that I was introduced to by my mom as a kid, not knowing what it was besides maybe thinking it was animals crossing the road. It was the complete opposite of that, and was a game full of conversations and a town to take care of and walk around in. My first game was City Folk for the Wii and while that may not have been as well-regarded as other games it still holds close to my heart.

The experience when playing a new Animal Crossing game for the first time is magical, much like the holidays. My first experiences playing often meant it was all new to me, all undiscovered, and going in I often played around doing what I pleased, discovering things, learning things.

I love Animal Crossing because it is calming to the soul when all seems grim. I love Animal Crossing because it lead me to meet good friends who I am still friends with today. But most of all, I love Animal Crossing because it is an experience that you can make your own. Whether you catch bugs, design your town/house, chat it up with the villagers, it's an experience that is yours.

I can't wait to be able to play Animal Crossing once more for New Horizons!

 

[mocha.]

I think a lot of us can relate to the kind of escape animal crossing gives us. For me, I think what keeps me coming back is the nostalgia I have towards the game. I started off playing wild world but have played every game released (aside from the amiibo one). I have so many memories in wild world with friends in real life and online, and I can still remember the warmth I felt when I picked up my ds to play each day!

It’s helped me immensely with my mental health and anxiety and has totally pulled me through some difficult times in my life. I love the community as well c:

 

[Blood Eclipse]

Like with any game, I play Animal Crossing as a distraction. I love decorating and collecting items and, from time to time, I also get a laugh from some of the dialogue in the game. I also enjoy some of the mini games and I wouldn't have known of this great community if not for Animal Crossing. On a side note, I would never make fun of someone for liking anything I don't. I may poke fun at a game itself or criticize some of the half baked cash grab features, but if someone else finds joy in it, I say have fun. There's only one life to live. Don't let anyone else's opinion ruin your own. Anyway, most folks over here think Nintendo games are too "girly" or "childish" so I still play the games I like regardless.

 

[Xara]

it gives me an escape from reality - it allows me to build a better life for myself and gives me a creative outlet. i can look how i want and do whatever i want and it even gives me a chance to meet some lovely people. it?s a distraction from my problems and a nice world to fall into when the real one isn?t good enough. animal crossing was also the first ever game series i got into as wild world was one of my first ds games and it?s nice to reminisce on the child i was back then compared to the young adult i am now

 

[zeroFLUX]

it gives me an escape from reality - it allows me to build a better life for myself and gives me a creative outlet. i can look how i want and do whatever i want and it even gives me a chance to meet some lovely people. it’s a distraction from my problems and a nice world to fall into when the real one isn’t good enough. animal crossing was also the first ever game series i got into as wild world was one of my first ds games and it’s nice to reminisce on the child i was back then compared to the young adult i am now

Well said.

 

[Rosewater]

It's the nostalgia, escapism, and happiness the games have brought me that keeps me coming back. This series is such a classic and I'm glad I was there from the beginning because each game has given me a different feel and helped me throughout different stages my entire life. When I think of animal crossing, I think about my early childhood and how things were so innocent and everything was fun. I'm reminded of my life of no worries in 2002.

Wild World was one of my few happy places when I was in middle school just going through the motions and trying to get by during an incredibly hard time. I could retreat into my town, decorate my own house how I wanted to, talk to my animal friends, and mess around at night time when everything was most peaceful and I was too tired of my real life. Everything was so cute, relaxing, and at my desired pace.

 

[sleepydreepy]

I first got New Leaf the year it came out when I was in high school, and it was really helpful to lift my mood. I frankly had a lot of issues in high school, and ACNL really helped me develop a routine with myself. I would go to bed extra early so I could wake up an hour earlier in the morning to play animal crossing in bed before school. This made me actually excited to wake up (something I struggled with in high school) and put me in a good mood in the morning. I was able to talk to my villagers (who were so cute and supportive!) and get some stuff done around town, and then go to school, and come home and play animal crossing in between doing homework. When I was feeling down, I loved going into my town and surrounding myself with my sweet villagers! I also loved the creative outlet/release it gave me when I would design my town and houses.

I am looking forward to having a similar experience with NH!