What to do once you "finish" the game?

[visibleghost]

Lately I've been feeling a little bit discouraged when playing on my islands. I haven't been too into decorating the last few weeks so I decided to focus on completing nook mile achievements and the museum, so I did a lot of that. Now I have all DIYs, all sections except for the deep sea creature section at the museum are finished and I only have the really grindy achievements left such as catching 3000 fish or helping wisp a billion times, none of which I feel compelled to do to be honest. I haven't finished my catalogue but at this point I have everything I want and if I do want something else I could always trade for it online...

I don't know, I just feel like I've done everything, which is weird because you can't "finish" animal crossing, but I don't feel like any tasks I'm doing are meaningful and I don't have any major milestones to work towards. So I don't know what to do, maybe take a break? I don't want to restart because I hate losing progress and if I wanted to do it all again I could do it on my second island.

Sorry I've been rambling about myself but my question is has anyone else felt this way? How did you deal with it and what are you doing in the game to make it feel fun and meaningful? Is it time for a break?

 

[Sharksheep]

Sounds like it's time for a break and play something that's different from animal crossing. It's a video game, it's ok to not want to come back and play for a while after your break.

 

[Moritz]

When you "finish" the game is down to the individual player.
If there is nothing you want to do in the game right now, I suggest just taking a break.
Don't force yourself to play if you're not enjoying it.

I reached a point myself where I would only play for a couple hours a week and completely skip days/ the occasional week. Nothing I wanted to do at the time.

Past couple months I've put another few hundred hours into the game.

Just force fun, you'll find it when you're ready to

 

[Jam86]

i think it would be best to take a break for a while, i felt like this back in august and decided to stop playing for a few weeks and focus on other games or irl stuff

like if i get bored of the game but i still want to keep playing, i invite new villagers to make my island seem fresh if that makes sense
that's just something i like to do though because all i really do at this point in the game is talk to my villagers

 

[tiffanistarr]

Yeah, sound like burn out and it sounds like it's time for a break.

Nothing wrong with putting it down for a while. When I get like that I usually try and set design goals but if I don't want to do any layout and design work I get on to say hi to villagers check for Flick to get bug models and if I have no desire for that either, then I play something else.

I think it's healthy to take breaks from it every once in a while

 

[LambdaDelta]

play/do other stuff

 

[JemAC]

I agree with what others have said that now could be a good time to take a break, I had this problem with my game around the summer last year and took a break for a few months and since getting back to it in December I've been really enjoying it again. I often spend my time decorating my island, mystery island hopping for villagers and completing Nook Miles tasks but obviously you're at a point in the game currently where these aren't helping to improve your enjoyment and so I think the break could be beneficial for you. Stepping away from the game for a while can be a great help, it might help make the more long term Nook achievements easier to deal with when you return and after a break you might be more inspired to get back into decorating and if not then there will probably be an update to look forward to but for now I think stepping away from the game for a bit is best

 

[LunarMako]

Yeah. Maybe just time for a break. We all get to the point eventually, where we put the game down until an event comes.

 

[Chris]

Play another game or indulge in another hobby. There's no point in continuing to play just for the sake of it. You'll likely feel inspired in a couple of weeks or months time and wish to return to it.

 

[KayDee]

I feel like I’ve finished this game some time ago but I still play about 20 minutes a day just to talk to villagers, check the shops, and get the nook points so I can look for a new villager every two weeks. That’s pretty much what keeps me playing and the occasional updates. If you can’t find that reason then like the others said it’s probably time for a break.

 

[DawnAri]

I agree with everyone else, I was kinda burned out too a while ago and it ended up in me not playing from the end of september till the end of januari. Now I have found new inspiration for my island, and I'm enjoying some new villagers too! I would suggest taking a break and playing something else for a while, and you might find yourself wanting to play AC again in some weeks/months ^^

 

[VanitasFan26]

I had the same feeling myself when I made a threada about what to do after completing the game. Like everyone told me on my thread and then this thread in particular it's best to take a break and put the game down. You can try and play different games to pass the time.

For me the thing is I put in 3000 hours into this game and I got to the point where I needed a break. After playing for a year I am just out of stuff to do in the game. Before you say anything I completed my island, completed the museum, gotten all the villagers I want, completed the nook mile achievements, and of course did a lot of trading with other people to get stuff I want. I am just feeling worn out from this game and I don't feel that accomplished. I know I mentioned this on several threads but the game is just the same as it was last year with no new improvements.

Yes its 2021 and we are still waiting for Quality of Life improvements. I would play on certain days when there is a certain thing happening like if there is a new event I'm interested in or if its like new items being added I would check it out. However that Sandro update that I saw is not something I am interested in hence the reason why it was a sign that it was time for me to step away from the game. I am just getting tired of expecting too much with this game as the months go by and that is why I made the decision to put this game to rest and pick it back up until there is new improvements made to the game whenever it happens.

So yeah the point is take a break from the game and do something else until something changes in the game that may interest you. I definitely understand how you feel.

 

[nightglow]

I'd take a break or only hop on there to interact with your villagers if you enjoy that. Pick up another game that takes time to work on.
Personally I go for platformers when I got that way with Pokemon games.

 

[John Wick]

That's what I loved about NL.

Never ran out of fun stuff to do.

 

[Moritz]

That's what I loved about NL.

Never ran out of fun stuff to do.

I ran out after a few months on new leaf.
Never made it anywhere close to a year. Or even 100 hours.

Thats what I love about NH.
Always something to offer and no punishment for taking breaks

 

[annex]

I love playing ac, and I don't like the thought of taking a break. My town was well decorated, but I wanted to keep playing so I spent the winter perfecting it. Certain areas and rooms were redone. A ton of work went into it. After that was done, I started a new character. Now that house is complete, and I have nothing to do. I have my museum completed and only need 3 more stamps. I'm kinda bummed out about this. I thought about redoing my entire island, but I really like it now. I guess I will just work on the last three stamps, wait for more updates, and visit the dream suite more often.

 

[John Wick]

I ran out after a few months on new leaf.
Never made it anywhere close to a year. Or even 100 hours.

Thats what I love about NH.
Always something to offer and no punishment for taking breaks

I find the constantly breaking tools, and gathering materials to be as fun as a trip to the dentist, and having teeth pulled without anesthetic.

 

[Moritz]

I find the constantly breaking tools, and gathering materials to be as fun as a trip to the dentist, and having teeth pulled without anesthetic.

I find it relaxing and very rewarding to be crafting the island yourself using materials gained through your own efforts.

Would be great if gold tools didn't break though.
By the time you have every bug, I think its a good reward. Especially since gold is so hard to come by. Just make it so you can't use it unless you know how to make one so new players still have to earn it.