Summary
Since its first title debuted,Animal Crossinghas become a household name for gamers that enjoy the life simulation genre. Over the years, Nintendo has continued adding new features to make theAnimal Crossingfranchise all the more exciting to play. 2020’sAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsincluded a multiplayer feature that allows people to visit other’s islands, though this option and local co-op have rather limited results.
Animal Crossing: New Horizonsisa great game to make friends in, but it could still do more in that regard. While Nintendo’s beloved animal-based simulation is known for being a relaxing game without too many difficult tasks there are those who could benefit from making multiplayer a more rewarding experience. Not only could this be groundbreaking for the series, but it could also yield new ways to interact with one another.
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Animal Crossing Could Make The Most Of Multiplayer
Since the early years ofAnimal Crossing, travel to other towns has been a possibility, thoughAnimal Crossing: Wild Worldwas the first game to allow up to three to do this together. The most recent title to the series,Animal Crossing: New Horizons, allows eight people to joinsimultaneously. While it may not be as common to see eight people on one island at once anymore, this was certainly a popular course of action during the game’s prime, as exchanging materials and resources built thriving islander economies.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much more that players can do with one another when visiting one another, not including players that live on the same island together. For example, inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons players must be best friendswith the host to even use a shovel or an ax. Trading resources can be helpful, but beyond this, running around with one another taking in the sights is as deep as online co-op goes. This is a strange contrast toAnimal Crossing: New Leaf, which some players believe had a better multiplayer experience.
Of course, there are plenty of funthings to do with friends inAnimal Crossing, but many of these activities are born from players own creativity and imagination. The community invented ways to do their own hide-and-seek challenges, obstacle courses, and scavenger hunts that could be officially implemented if Nintendo chose to do so. Challenges with the NPC villagers on the island such as Bug Offs and Fishing Tourney’s already exist, so co-op mini-games would likely not be too strenuous to add.
Either way, Nintendo could still evolve multiplayer to be more complex. It would be nice if it allowed friends to truly contribute to the island’s overall state without being limited to just tending to flowers and digging holes. A change could see friends helping catch fish and bugs todonate to Blather’s museum.
The nextAnimal Crossingtitle, though not yet confirmed, could borrow elements from games likeMinecraftand allow its players to help customize features in the world. This could range from decorating and furnishing houses, terraforming landscapes, and placing objects. Perhaps friends could evengo on Mystery Island Tourswith the host in order to help farm new resources and hunt for desired villagers.
Nintendo could truly go any direction it likes for a futureAnimal Crossinggame. Afterthe success ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, it’s expected that the next title will surely be incredibly popular no matter what. However, if the game wants to stay ahead of competitors such asDisney Dreamlight ValleyandHello Kitty Island Adventure, it may want to continue adapting and making changes that its community has petitioned for.
