Written by Zachary Reaves (Features Writer)
While we are all stuck indoors during quarantine, many people have had trouble finding things to do while we wait out the pandemic. A lot of these people have filled their free time playing video games. One such video game is Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Released on March 20th for the Nintendo Switch, Animal Crossing is already a very popular game, and it’s not hard to see why.
The game’s premise is relatively simple; you move to a deserted island and it’s your job to improve, decorate, and customize the island to your heart’s content. Your companions on this venture are a variety of talking animals who can come live on the island with you. Some of them, like Tom Nook (a raccoon) or Blathers (an owl) have special jobs, like helping you upgrade your house or hosting the in-game museum, respectively.
There’s a lot to do in Animal Crossing. For instance, you can catch fish and bugs to display in your aforementioned museum, as well as fine art and fossils. Some players like to plant and tend flower gardens or transform their island into a bustling urban city. All of this and more make for possibly hundreds of hours of content.
Players also have a lot of freedom in a lot of categories. You’re able to choose what you look like, where your villagers live and even move around the other in-game buildings. Of course, the interior of your own home is completely customizable as well. Once you’ve made some progress in the game, you’re even able to completely change the terrain of your island, like the cliffs and rivers.
The game runs in real-time, which means the game’s time and date match up to those of your Nintendo Switch. This allows for daily and time-based events, like virtually celebrating your birthday, or witnessing your tree orchard grow over the course of a few days. There are even holiday events, like the recent Easter event that allowed players to find hidden eggs and use them to get Easter-themed items.
Thanks to the tons of activities to do and the timed-event system, you’re bound to get a ton out of this game, whether you play for hours on end or just a few minutes daily. All this makes Animal Crossing: New Horizons the perfect game to play during the long hours spent at home during the quarantine.
The Claw 