The opinions, viewpoints, and beliefs expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the opinions, viewpoints, or beliefs of the Titan Times newspaper, Tuscarora High School or Frederick County Public Schools.

On March 20th, 2020, the latest version of the popular video game Animal Crossing became playable on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch LITE. The game has gotten hype since before its release due to the multiple positive reviews regarding the last games from 2001 to now. Animal Crossing has been a great way to relive memories of the older games and give new players the Animal Crossing experience. Upon its release, the video game has received many positive reviews. What is the game about? From a new players perspective, Animal Crossing is a relaxing but slightly frustrating game about building and creating your own little island. In the game, your islander is customizable to look like you and you can pick from three different island types. Nintendo describes the game as a “life simulation” game. It involves taking out loans, buying materials to make certain items and a lot of patience.

My experience with Animal Crossing: New Horizons is very positive. I found the game to be a calming and relaxing way to spend the two weeks off without any work. My favorite part of the game is the fishing experience. In Animal Crossing, the islander is able to craft themselves a fishing rod and go fishing around the item. Though the task of finding fish can be difficult as well as the art of getting said fish, once the fish is caught you get a pun from the game along with the name of the fish. I also enjoyed the custom designs that are included in the game. Players are able to create their own outfits and designs to go around their island. Once you unlock the clothes shop, you can share your outfits and designs to the world. You can also wear outfits from other players. My outfit currently is a Naruto Hoodie that was made by a player in Japan. It is an interesting take on other people’s creativity. An interesting feature of the game is the airport feature. With the airport feature, players are able to visit the islanders of friends through Nintendo Switch Online. This is one of my favorite features of the game because of the opportunity to interact with people I’m friends with around the world and the United States. You are able to give certain items to people and collect materials from other islands. 

This game is 100% recommended for students who want a more calming and fun game. It’s sort of like Minecraft but it is easier to craft materials. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a hit in the United States and many people have invested time into the game. It is certainly addictive and hard to put down once you get started. You will go from a small islander to a islander manager looking out for villagers who are moving in. It is your responsibility to make sure your island is tidy and that the villagers are content with your island. If you are looking for a challenging yet calming game on the Nintendo Switch then Animal Crossing is definitely worth the money. If you can’t afford the Nintendo Switch version, you can also try out Animal Crossing on IOS or Google Play. It runs the same way as the console game and it is equally as entertaining.