With rumors of a new Animal Crossing title to debut after the launch of the Switch 2, players are speculating about how this new addition to the franchise will expand upon existing gameplay elements. Additionally, Animal Crossing has many more competitors than when the series first debuted in 2001. The simulation genre is now a giant in gaming, with popular titles from both indie and AAA developers seeing success. One newcomer to the genre - at least for PC and console gamers - is Hello Kitty: Island Adventure, which could be a great source of inspiration for Animal Crossing’s Gyroids.
Technically considered furniture items, Gyroids have been a staple of the Animal Crossing franchise since its first installment. The creatures are one of many mascots of the franchise despite their status as pieces of furniture. Players can find Gyroids when digging the day after a rain or snow storm, before transporting the creatures into their inventory. A bigger collection of the creatures is better, as Gyroids sync their movements and noises when surrounded by others. Though Gyroids ultimately provide no additional bonuses for players, capturing Gyroids is a fun pastime that many players indulge in. Still, there is potential for Gyroids to grow in one key way.
Hello Kitty: Island Adventure Could Be the Key to Improving Animal Crossing's Villager Hunting
With Villager hunting seeming like a never-ending issue for Animal Crossing, perhaps Nintendo should borrow Hello Kitty: Island Adventure's approach.
Gyroids and Hello Kitty: Island Adventure's Gudetama Share Undeniable Similarities
Hello Kitty: Island Adventure does not have a full-fledged version of Gyroids in it, but one of Sanrio’s most popular characters embodies a similar role to the creatures. Gudetama, the world’s laziest egg, is available in the game not as a companion, but as a set of over a hundred figurines scattered around the island. The “Gudetama Snap” quest must be completed in order for players to use their camera. Pochacco asks players to take photos of various Gudetama figures around the Seaside Resort for rewards.
Pushing Gudetama into this Gyroid-like role rather than a full-fledged companion makes sense, as the lazy egg cannot physically walk around. His jiggly nature outside Hello Kitty: Island Adventure also suits the same repetitive dancing movements that Gyroids make, especially when they are synced. The “hide-and-seek” nature of capturing Gudetama also reflects the core laziness of his personality. Though this trait isn’t one that Gyroids have, the number of similarities between the creatures and Gudetama is clear as day.
With Gyroids being beloved yet inctedibly simplistic mechanically, it's clear that they deserve a chance at expansion, and studying Gudetama’s role in Hello Kitty: Island Adventure can help Nintendo find a way to help them evolve.
How Animal Crossing Could Implement Gyroid-Gudetama
A large part of Gudetama collecting in Hello Kitty: Island Adventure involves taking pictures with a camera. This is an aspect of gameplay that could switch up how Gyroids are hunted, making the creature collection process feel fresh. At the same time, players have been used to digging gameplay for decades now, which could make the switch to camera collecting frustrating. Instead of switching to camera collection cold turkey, Animal Crossing could make this version of collecting exclusive to mystery islands.
Another option is to ditch the camera aspect and treat Gyroids like fossils, bugs, fish, and more, with the goal of making Gyroids available as donations to Blathers' Museum. These Gyroids could be exclusive to mystery islands to create a more elusive and exclusive feel, with common gyroids gathered through the traditional process of digging. After all, Gyroids feature many different designs, making them perfect for varied collection methods and a dedicated museum wing. If Animal Crossing decides to integrate the camera collection aspect, perhaps Blathers will accept photos of these rare and mysterious Gyroids instead. Many museums in the real world have photography exhibits, giving Blathers a concrete reason to accept the hypothetical photographs.
At the end of the day, time will only tell if a new Animal Crossing title debuts alongside the Switch 2. Whenever it does happen, though, it would be fun to see Gyroids become expanded in the franchise’s next title.
