Although it seems like a newAnimal Crossinggame is inevitable on the Switch 2 after the success ofNew Horizonson its predecessor, fans may still be waiting some time for this entry to manifest. However, there are still plenty of ways Nintendo can fill the Switch 2’sAnimal Crossingvoid in the meantime. While it may not be exactly the game fans are expecting, the stars are aligning for oneAnimal Crossingtitle to make its way onto the Switch 2 sooner rather than later.
There are plenty of spin-off entries in theAnimal Crossingfranchise that Nintendo could revive during the wait for the next mainline game, likeHappy Home Designerand its follow-up DLC forNew Horizons, or even asecond chance at theAnimal Crossing: Amiibo Festivalformula. Even with these options on the table, there’s an even simpler release that could have a home on the Switch 2, and it could come at the perfect moment. Bringing players back to where the series all started would be a great way to give new fans a taste ofAnimal Crossing’s roots while also taking advantage of a Switch 2 exclusive service.
An Animal Crossing Game Could Be Hitting the Switch 2 Soon, But It May Not Be the One Fans Think
The Original GameCube Animal Crossing Seems Primed for a Nintendo Switch 2 Online Addition
WhileAnimal Crossing: New Horizonscan be played on the Switch 2, offering fans a different—albeit retro—experience on the console can provide a break fromNewHorizons' island life that fans have been playing for the past five years. Comparatively, the originalAnimal Crossingmay feel drastically different from the modern series with its much simpler mechanics and dated graphics. However, withNew Horizonsbeing criticized forlacking diverse Villager personalities, releasing the GameCube game on NSO could allow Switch 2 players to have their cake and eat it too, between it andNew Horizons.
TheSwitch 2’s launch line-up of NSO GameCube titlesincludesThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker,F-Zero GX, andSoulCalibur 2, with more planned to hit the service over time.
Animal Crossing on GameCube NSO Could Kill Two Birds With One Stone
Not only wouldAnimal Crossingcoming to GameCube NSO bring fans of the series a retro experience to enjoy while waiting for the sequel toNew Horizons, but it would also allow new players who may have jumped into the series withNew Horizonsto see a different side of the franchise. The originalAnimal Crossingis infamous for having overly rude Villagers, more drama between Villagers, and agreedier Tom Nook, all of which have been toned down in subsequent entries. Giving new fans a chance to see how the series has evolved, especially in its Villager characterization, would be well worth the price of admission for an NSO subscription if the title were to hit the service.
Another feature that will likely shine on the Switch 2 is the multiplayer aspect of the series, which was basically non-existent in the originalAnimal Crossing. Players could visit other towns by inserting a second memory card into the GameCube with save data for that town on it, and each town could support up to four unique player profiles, but synchronous multiplayer wasn’t possible. An NSO release could be more than just a simple port and could include new multiplayer features to allow players to visit friends' towns and synchronously play together as a way to show off theSwitch 2’s social features like GameChat.
