Games come in all shapes and sizes. Some are grand open-world epics, and others are small, humble puzzle games, and there’s everything in between.Animal Crossingis a series that has a large swathe of fans from all backgrounds, many of whom are more casual players, and thus it has been a cornerstone ofNintendo’s offerings since first released on GameCube.
Animal Crossingis unique in many ways, but one of the key differences between it and most other titles is the way it is meant to be played. People will get the best out of the series if they take a passive approach and check on it for short periods throughout the day. It’s deliberately slow, and while some might find it frustrating, its essential toAnimal Crossing’s identity, and it wouldn’t retain the magic it consistently delivers without it.
Not All Games are Like Animal Crossing
The slow style ofAnimal Crossingis something that is increasingly rare in gaming. It was once common with games from the likes of Zynga, which were often tied with social media, designed to be checked on periodically, but never for prolonged gaming sessions. Nowadays, however, things have changed, and most gaming experiences are designed to be had in lengthy chunks. Even some ofAnimal Crossing’s contemporaries, likeHarvest MoonandStardew Valley,have a format that prioritizes long sessions, which makesAnimal Crossing’s stubborn format feel like a breath of fresh air in 2024.
It means thatAnimal Crossingcan stand out and use its increasingly rare philosophy as a strength, and a core selling point with future entries. Many people lead busy lives, so having a game that can be enjoyed in short bursts can fit more seamlessly into a tight schedule, as it is specifically designed to be sporadically checked on rather than constantly played. Fans have come to expect, and even appreciate it, and while some will circumvent the rules by changing the time and date on their system, those players are often the ones who putAnimal Crossingdown after a few hoursof gameplay, rather than stick with it for the long haul.
Like Rome, The Best Places in Animal Crossing aren’t Built in a Day
Having something likeAnimal Crossingthat is intended to be consumed in small chunks does well to give gamers a sense of pride when an in-game feat is achieved. Because it can take days to see a project come to fruition, it makes the occurrence feel like a genuine accomplishment, rather than just a box that has been ticked.Animal Crossinggives off a rewarding sense of productivityand that time and hard work pays off, unlike some other games where it doesn’t have as much of an impact.
Longevity is Part of Animal Crossing’s Identity
Animal Crossingmay have some light multiplayer features, but it is largely a single-player offering. That said, it doesn’t suffer as much as other solo games do in the longevity department, and that is specifically because it deliberately sets a slow pace from the get-go. The more time that players sink intoAnimal Crossing, the better their experience will be, and the more rewarding it becomes. Its only real ending is when the player has decided that their island or town is finally up to their own standards.
In fact,Animal Crossingis such a good fit for the rest of Nintendo’s first party offerings because it gets its longevity specifically from the format it uses.The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, for example, may warrant hundreds of hours for completionas there are so many collectibles to scoop up, but the main story does not need to take that long.Animal Crossingmay take the same amount of time, but not because there is side content to see and more things to do outside the main campaign.Animal Crossingsets itself apart from other AAA titles by showing incredible restraint, and some stubbornness, and the gaming industry at large is all the better for it.
