The wait for a fresh Animal Crossing game continues, but that hasn't stopped fans of the series from spending plenty of time on their New Horizons islands. Over the years, Animal Crossing has quickly grown into a tight-knit community that have found fun ways to experience the game outside their Nintendo consoles.

From fan art to Animal Crossing-themed birthday parties, the lighthearted franchise resonates with a lot of people. Of course, between all the different Villagers in Animal Crossing, players are bound to have favorites, and this has inspired some fun debates and discussions within the community. The fan base has even gone so far as to vote for which Villagers they think are the best in the game, with tier lists being a common method used. Additionally, on the Animal Crossing Portal website, players can vote on their favorite Villagers in a competition to see who gets the rank of number one. What seems like a simple pastime, though, could actually be the blueprint for a fun in-game activity.

New Horizons fan creates Dead by Daylight crossover
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Player Builds Dead by Daylight Island

Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Dead by Daylight unexpectedly come together on one island thanks to a fan's incredible creativity.

Nintendo Should Take Inspiration From Tier Lists For the Next Animal Crossing Game

This Month Saw a Surprising Shake-Up

In a shocking turn of events, military jacket-donning pig Chops took the first-place lead this month. Each Villager in Animal Crossing has their own specific personality type, and Chops hasn't exactly been the most well-loved of the townsfolk. There are Villagers who are widely regarded as favorites, like Marshal and Shino, but sometimes a surprise comes to the surface. Of course, this is likely some fun trolling from players, but if Nintendo's next Animal Crossing chapter wanted to enhance its community engagement, making this tier list an official part of the game could be incredibly fun.

On Animal Crossing Portal, fans of the Nintendo life sim are allowed five votes per month.

An Official Animal Crossing Tier List Could Bring Exciting Rewards

Similar to Splatoon's Splatfest, where players get to vote on the theme of the game's next limited-time event, Animal Crossing could take a similar approach, either monthly or quarterly. Players can band together in order to vote for their favorite Villagers, and for the lucky NPCs who come out on top, special in-game rewards inspired by the winning character could be offered to players. As the wait for the Switch 2's Animal Crossing title continues, many fans have been eager to find out what's in store for the next game, and taking inspiration directly from Animal Crossing Portal could be a thrilling turn of events.

From fan art to Animal Crossing-themed birthday parties, the lighthearted franchise resonates with a lot of people.

From pillows with Raymond's face on them to a regal military-style portrait of Chops, Nintendo would have a deep well of potential item ideas to pull from. The future of Animal Crossing has continued to be a huge mystery, and as time passes, there's no clear sign that Nintendo has another entry in the works. However, there have been plenty of rumors and leaks regarding the next game, and they could bring some major changes to the franchise, if true.

The Switch 2 arrives on June 5.

Rumored Features That Could Be in the Next Animal Crossing

  • A large city
  • Vehicles
  • Shopping mall
  • Enhanced multiplayer experience with mini-games

While these possible features are exciting, Nintendo has yet to confirm any of them, and all rumors and leaks should be taken with a heavy grain of salt until confirmed by official sources. Animal Crossing rumors go all the way back to last year, when Twitter user Nash Weedle claimed Nintendo could be eyeing a 2026 launch. This remains to be seen, but until then, Animal Crossing fans can still spend their time voting for their favorite Villagers on Animal Crossing Portal or crafting their own tier lists.

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Animal Crossing New Horizons Tag Page Cover Art
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Simulation
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Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
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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
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Escape to a deserted island and create your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. Your island getaway has a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. You can hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean. The time of day and season match real life, so each day on your island is a chance to check in and find new surprises all year round.

Show off your island utopia to family and friends—or pack your bags and visit theirs. Whether playing online** or with others beside you***, island living is even better when you can share it. Even without hopping on a flight, you’ll meet a cast of charming animal residents bursting with personality. Friendly faces like Tom Nook and Isabelle will lend their services and happily help you grow your budding community. Escape to your island getaway—however, whenever, and wherever you want.

Genre(s)
Simulation
Animal Crossing: New Horizons