It's been over five years since Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released for the Nintendo Switch. Release dates between mainline Animal Crossing games range from two to seven years. Although these life simulation games don't always debut as launch titles on new Nintendo consoles, they tend to be released early on in the console's lifecycle.
However, while the gap between console releases and new Animal Crossing games is typically one to two years, Animal Crossing: New Horizons broke this pattern by releasing three years after the Nintendo Switch. Therefore, it's difficult to determine whether a new installment for the franchise is currently in development, as Nintendo has not yet made this information public, and when it will launch. Regardless, it feels like only a matter of time, and if a follow-up to New Horizons wants to make a strong impression, it should focus heavily on quality-of-life improvements.
Love Island Villa Recreated in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
A fan of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is showing off their in-game re-creation of the island villa from reality romance series Love Island.
Animal Crossing is a Staple of the Cozy Life Simulation Genre
The Next Animal Crossing Has to Keep Pace with the Genre It Inspired
Animal Crossing is, without question, a cornerstone of the life simulation genre and is one of Nintendo's most successful IPs, behind franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokemon. As such, the next Animal Crossing will likely arrive on the Switch 2. Unfortunately, the exact release window remains uncertain.
Notably, there has been a surge in cozy gaming titles over the past few years, ensuring that there is no shortage of relaxing and charming atmospheres for players to immerse themselves in. Animal Crossing can be credited for inspiring many of the games that have, in turn, become its competition. Friendly rivalries can be healthy and even productive, which is essential when considering popular life simulation titles like Disney Dreamlight Valley, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, and Palia are available on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Quality-of-Life Features the Next Animal Crossing Needs Most
To keep pace with the others, Nintendo needs to consider fine-tuning specific mechanics that existed in New Horizons to streamline its gameplay. For instance, Minecraft allows players to craft items in bulk, which can eliminate the tediousness of crafting one item at a time. Disney Dreamlight Valley offers a similar feature, allowing players to cook multiple dishes simultaneously. The follow-up to New Horizons could take inspiration from this by allowing its player base to batch craft.
Likewise, Hello Kitty Island Adventure's storage space is worth noting, because this game does not have an inventory limit. Not having to worry about a lack of space puts some players' minds at ease, particularly since there are often other features that require constant attention, such as completing quests and gathering sufficient materials for specific tasks. Animal Crossing doesn't necessarily need to go the infinite storage route. Still, Nintendo should consider enlarging the inventory to allow players to store and carry more items, especially in the early stages of the game.
Other quality of life features that could be improved upon or added include, but certainly aren't limited to:
- Streamlining in-game communication, perhaps eradicating the time it takes to write out a message
- Faster, more seamless travel when visiting other players’ islands
- Saving builds or blueprints for more effective decorating and reconstruction
- Optimized loading times for the Switch 2
- Automated inventory sorting with filters and categories like Hello Kitty Island Adventure
- Fast travel between locations like Disney Dreamlight Valley, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, and Palia
Hopefully, Nintendo will opt to share its plans for the Animal Crossing franchise in the near future. Though the Switch 2 launch titles are currently garnering the majority of attention, having an equally exciting line-up after this initial excitement has died down will be important. Still, with the powerful specs that the Switch 2 offers, the next Animal Crossing title is poised to be a success.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- March 20, 2020
- ESRB
- Everyone / Comic Mischief, Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Havok
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Expansions
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Happy Home Paradise
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
