The Evolution Of... Animal Crossing!

The journey of Animal Crossing began with its debut as Dobutsu no Mori (which translates to Animal Forest) in Japan in 2001 for the Nintendo 64.

Unlike typical games that focus on set goals, Dobutsu no Mori encouraged players to relax and interact with their surroundings, other residents, and their town at their own leisure.

The game took place in real-time, meaning that the in-game time synced with the real world. This concept of real-time simulation, along with the idea of the seasons changing in tandem with real-world seasons, was a revolutionary concept that gave players a sense of immersion.

Due to the limited capabilities of the Nintendo 64, the game’s release in Japan was followed shortly by an enhanced port to the GameCube in 2001, titled Dobutsu no Mori+.


Nintendo recognized the game’s potential and sought to bring it to a broader audience. In 2002, Dobutsu no Mori+ was translated and released internationally as Animal Crossing for the Nintendo GameCube.

The game was localised with several improvements, including new holidays, characters, and items that catered to Western audiences. For example, in the North American version, Japanese holidays like Setsubun were replaced with events like Halloween and Christmas.

The freedom to play without pressure, combined with charming dialogue and interactions with quirky animals, appealed to a broad demographic, from children to adults.



In 2005, Animal Crossing: Wild World was released for the Nintendo DS, bringing the franchise to handheld consoles for the first time. This move made the series even more accessible, allowing players to carry their virtual life with them wherever they went.

It introduced new features such as the ability to visit other players' towns using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, marking the first time Animal Crossing had online multiplayer capabilities.

The touch screen of the DS allowed for easier customization and interaction, while the game continued to embrace its non-linear, real-time gameplay. The portability of the DS made Wild World one of the most popular entries in the series and helped solidify Animal Crossing as a cornerstone franchise for Nintendo.


In 2008, Animal Crossing: City Folk was released for the Nintendo Wii. While the gameplay was largely similar to Wild World, City Folk introduced a new location: the city. In addition to living in a village, players could now travel to a bustling city filled with shops and special characters, adding a new dimension to the experience.

City Folk also supported the Wii Speak peripheral, which allowed players to voice chat with each other during multiplayer sessions. While this feature was not widely adopted, it showed Nintendo’s desire to keep pushing the boundaries of social interaction in their games.

Though the game received positive reviews, it was often criticised for not introducing enough new mechanics compared to Wild World. Despite this, City Folk expanded the Animal Crossing fanbase, particularly due to its presence on the hugely successful Wii platform.




In 2012, Animal Crossing: New Leaf was released for the Nintendo 3DS. This entry was widely regarded as a turning point for the series. In New Leaf, the player took on the role of mayor of their town, giving them unprecedented control over its development and layout. Players could now enact ordinances, build public works projects, and customise their village in more meaningful ways.

New Leaf introduced many quality-of-life improvements, such as expanded storage, deeper house customization, and the ability to swim and dive in the ocean. The game also took advantage of the 3DS's hardware features, including StreetPass, which allowed players to share house designs with others.

The game was praised for its charm, depth, and sheer amount of content. It sold over 12 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games on the 3DS. Its lasting appeal was further reinforced by the release of a free update in 2016, Welcome Amiibo, which introduced even more features and compatibility with Nintendo’s Amiibo figurines.


In 2017, Nintendo ventured into the mobile gaming market with Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, a free-to-play version of Animal Crossing for smartphones. Unlike the traditional village setup, Pocket Camp took place in a campsite, where players could befriend animals, craft furniture, and decorate their camps.

While the game lacked the depth of the mainline entries, Pocket Camp allowed fans to enjoy the world of Animal Crossing on their mobile devices, introducing the franchise to a new audience. The game was designed around microtransactions, but it maintained much of the series’ charm.



The next major evolution in the series came in 2020 with Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch. It was released during the global COVID-19 pandemic, which many credit for its meteoric rise in popularity as people sought comfort and escape in the game’s relaxing world.

New Horizons introduced a deserted island setting where players could completely terraform their environment. For the first time, players had full control over the layout of their island, the placement of homes and buildings, and even the design of rivers, cliffs, and paths. The crafting system was another major new feature, allowing players to gather materials and create furniture and tools.

The game also offered deep multiplayer integration, with players able to visit friends' islands, trade items, and share design codes. Regular updates and special events, along with an emphasis on customization, have kept players engaged long after its initial release.
New Horizons quickly became a cultural phenomenon, selling over 40 million copies and becoming one of the best-selling games of all time.

Last edited by: mctt - 3 months ago

Good post, never played it myself I don't get the.. hype LOL

i LOVED acnh, i played it so much until my controller started drifting nd havent picked it back up since.. i miss sherb

the hours of my life that i sunk into this game x

love the concept of animal crossing! but the hype for new horizons has died down completely now since they stopped adding new features to it. shame! can't wait to see the next installment though

literally never played this, think i missed the trend cuz im so young xxx