For many players, myself included,Animal Crossing: New Horizonshit at just the right time—when the world needed a safe, cozy means of escapism during the COVID-19 pandemic—and I’ll forever be grateful that it could provide that sense of security during such an uncertain time. Being able to connect with friends and strangers alike inAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsto spread positivity and foster community in a time when the world needed it made the game one of the most impactful experiences in the franchise to me. However, looking at it more critically now thatNew Horizonsis well in the rear-view mirror, it’s clear that the game was lightning in a bottle, and I don’t think one feature would be as well received in the next game.
As someone who has been playingAnimal Crossingsince I took out my first loan fromTom Nook on the GameCube, I’ve long touted that the brilliance of the series is in the way it offers a simple, cozy experience with secrets to find as you peel back its layers throughout its real-time day cycle. The crafting mechanics added inAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsgave me a similar sense of discovery when I first landed on my island, and I enjoyed receiving new recipes from my Villagers and players I connected with. But I’m not sure I’d have that same experience again if the nextAnimal Crossinggame brought crafting back, and as time went on, I felt that the charm of why I fell in love with the franchise was ultimately buried by the feature inNew Horizons.
Crafting Was a Fun Experiment in New Horizons, But Doesn’t Feel Like Animal Crossing to Me
The Simplicity of a Cozy Village Life is the Star of the Animal Crossing Series
Before the cozy genre really blew up within the indie game sphere,Animal Crossingwas the perfect game to curl up with on a rainy weekend afternoon. I remember before the release ofWild Worldmade the series much more portable, I would drag my GameCube around when visiting relatives for the holidays because I didn’t want to miss out onrare NPCs like Jinglevisiting my town. While other kids at my school were hyping upGTA 3and all of the crazy, violent things they were doing in that game, I would boast about the rare fish I had caught inAnimal Crossingthat weekend, or how I had befriended the curmudgeonly squirrel Static.
The simplicity ofAnimal Crossing’s daily check-in, alongside the occasional stumbling upon rare interactions or events, was what hooked me on the franchise. However, I still welcomed changes to the formula when warranted, such as the added emphasis ofWild World’s sky thanks to the DS' second screen, or visiting the city inCity Folkregularly to learn a newemote from Dr. Shrunkor pine for the expensive items for sale at GracieGrace. WithNew Horizons, though, I never felt like I could take the game at the same relaxed pace because everything was a constant pursuit of materials needed to craft the next tool or furniture item I needed.
New Horizons' Crafting System Distracted from What I Love About Animal Crossing
While the addition of crafting made sense forNew Horizons' premise of building a new community on a deserted island, I would prefer it remain a one-off gimmick in the larger franchise. The living, breathing town full of quirkyVillager personalities of pastAnimal Crossinggamestook a backseat to the survival gameplay that the game’s crafting system brought with it. I’m generally a fan of crafting in other life-sim games, such asGraveyard KeeperandMy Time at Portia, but that’s not the reason I playAnimal Crossing.
Instead of spending my time solving the beef between Rosie and Ankha on my all-cat Villager island, it felt like I was constantly scavenging for materials to craft tools that were breaking or trying to keep up with all the new furniture recipes I was receiving. Rather than enhancing the experience of building relationships with my animal neighbors, they simply became a source for new recipes that I would spend the rest of my daily check-in time crafting before getting bored and logging off. While the inclusion of these tasks helped keep me busy during the height of lockdown whenNew Horizonswas released in 2020, I think it ultimately contributed to my burnout with the game after only a few months of playing.
If Crafting is Here to Stay, An Understated Approach Might Be Better for Animal Crossing’s Future
I’m hopeful that therumors of anAnimal Crossinggame set in a cityare true, because it sounds like it could basically beCity Folk2.0 — which is, in my opinion, the most underrated entry in the series. It’s also a promising sign that the franchise may be moving on from crafting as it moves away from the deserted island theme and into a more urban setting. While I would want the emphasis on crafting toned down for sure, I wouldn’t be opposed to it remaining in some small capacity, since I do think it can have its place within the series.
Rather than needing to craft tools or furniture, however, I would want crafting to be much more optional. For example, I like how custom clothing designs and patterns are worked into the game, with players having the option to create their own or simply download ones they like from other players via theirNookPhone.
Something like this could work with craftable furniture, with a dedicatedAnimal Crossingmarketplacefor players to purchase pre-crafted items if they don’t feel like taking the time or resources to craft their own. This way, I can still connect with other players to access unique furniture items, but can also spend more of my time simply enjoying the company of my Villagers, fishing, or wandering around my town to soak up the cozy vibes without feeling like I’m missing out on a crucial gameplay mechanic.
Rumors suggest that anewAnimal Crossinggame won’t be arriving until 2026at the earliest.
