Ever since I was a child, there was nothing I loved more than Animal Crossing. The tranquillity, fun and sense of community I feel when playing it is like no other.
I first fell in love with the franchise when the Nintendo DS version, Animal Crossing: Wild World was released in 2005. As a young girl with recently-diagnosed Asperger’s Syndrome, I had no idea of how to interact with the world. People scared me, so I had a bit of a rough time making friends. I didn’t get out much and apart from my family, I didn’t have a lot of interaction with people.
This is where Wild World came in. With the range of tasks, gorgeous landscaping and array of friendly villagers to befriend, I couldn’t wait to get home from school each day to play it. As a lonely little girl, nothing filled my heart more than my favourite villager cementing our friendship by celebrating my birthday, giving me gifts and always being available to talk. In short, the game made me feel a lot more connected to a world during a time where I felt increasingly isolated from my own. Sound familiar?
When New Horizons was released in March, I decided to purchase the game due a bit of light nostalgia, a means of passing the time during what we thought would be just a few short weeks of lockdown. What I instead received was a sense of purpose, joy and fulfilment. When the outside world, your degree and everything you thought you knew is now outside of your reach, it is comfort to be able to find some achievement in catching a fish, or building a shop.
On the other side of the coin, it meant I was able to not only stay connected with friends through island-related escapades, but it also gave me the opportunity to make a lot of new ones too! With a community of students of my University starting a group chat for New Horizons players, I have been able to continue to bond with a range of new people on a daily basis as well as being able to share tips, tricks and the occasional meme!
With the game breaking sale records and appearing to be everywhere you turn, I don’t blame you for feeling a little exasperated and sceptical. Why are so many people playing it? Is it not a little bit overhyped?
Unfortunately, Nintendo didn’t pay me to write this – I can only go off my own experience. As well as allowing me to stay connected with people and giving me a sense of productivity and achievement, this game has been an invaluable resource for me as an anxiety-sufferer. With its chill vibes, achievable tasks and friendly villagers round every corner, this game is the perfect means of grounding yourself and calming down after an attack.
Playing this game during quarantine isn’t just fun and occupying, it’s therapy.
Charlotte Colombo
Featured image courtesy of Sarah Kurfeb on Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.
