There’s no game over screen, no ticking clock, and very few mistakes to be made. While you’ll face pressures to pay off your loan and keep up with the busy social lives of your neighbors, you’re free to tackle the game at your own pace. Perhaps it’s the pace that’s most calming, though. The naive art style, soft yet vibrant color palette, and lullaby-like music is good for the soul. NintendoĪlthough this might not sound compelling on paper, the way Nintendo presents Animal Crossing elicits a sense of calm and serenity that few other games can match. You can spend time socializing and sending letters or gifts to residents and real-life friends. You can collect shells, fruit, and seashells to sell for a profit. There’s a museum to fill with bugs, fossils, paintings, and more. You’ll then be given a new loan to work off until you’ve got the biggest house in the village.īut there are plenty of other things to do along the way. You earn currency (known as bells) to pay off your loan, which in turn upgrades your dwelling. When you start, you’ll be given a basic dwelling and a loan from Tom Nook. While the game offers many things to explore, the core gameplay loop is simple.

Animal crossing