Why is Animal Crossing such a niche genre?

[Ryzon]

There is really no other game like Animal Crossing out there, and so no wonder it sells as well as it does but it does beg the question, why isn't anyone else attempting to make games like this?

Stardew valley could be argued as a potential candiate, as does Harvest Moon games in general, but nothing really takes the AC formula, the real time clock, the seasonal events, the item collection etc and puts them into their games.

Clearly theres a huge market for games like this, and I look at Diablo as an example, created the ARPG genre and now it's florished. Meridan 59 and Everquest is another example, Doom is another example. AC should have paved the way for more games to follow, but it never really did. NH has sold so well that maybe it will begin to happen, I know theres some projects in the works that are similler, so time will tell.

What are your guys thoughts on this?

 

[Rosewater]

This is a tricky topic because what Animal Crossing started out as was quite different and more relaxed than what it is now to appeal to today's gaming market, hence the introduction of town decorating in NL and crafting in NH. I've even seen complaints after New Leaf's release that people couldn't go back to playing Wild World because there was "nothing to do" in comparison.

That said, I think Animal Crossing is too specific. It has massive amounts of dialogue and a unique charm about it that can't really be replicated. There's a lot you can do with a game as complex as an arpg. Talking to your animal neighbors and decorating your house with that being the core gameplay will make anyone think of Nintendo's AC. There isn't even farming or crafting (before NH) like Stardew has which definitely resembles more Harvest Moon and Terraria had a baby with added dating simulation than any AC game.

 

[Xara]

^^ i agree with them. despite there being games that might fall under a similar category (harvest moon, for example), there’s really no game out there that’s like animal crossing except for animal crossing aha

 

[Mayor Monday]

I think that it's truly the concept around it that makes Animal Crossing such a 'different' and unique game. It can't really be compared to anything else.

The general idea was 'a home away from home'. That's not something that too well-touched base on. Even the creator of Animal Crossing built the game design around this based on his own experience with missing his old city and those he loved. And to say the least- we all feel a little homesick sometimes, even if it's not gone. It's an odd feeling that Animal Crossing helps ease no matter what your situation. It's a homely game.

That general idea is something that definitely can't be forgotten in the titles to come!