Animal Crossing: New Horizons and the Rise of Games as Social Media

Animal Crossing has been a popular franchise for many years and across many platforms. But Animal Crossing: New Horizons has enjoyed the kind of global popularity that Nintendo could hardly dream of.

Part of this comes from the “right time, right place” nature of its release. This game came out right as COVID-19 forced many people in quarantine and social isolation. In short, there’s no better time to hunker down with an addictive and low-stakes game with adorable graphics.

Dig deeper, though, and something else is going on. Nintendo is redefining what “social media” means in the 21st century. And it’s entirely possible they are changing how we will interact online for years to come. Here’s the inside scoop on why Animal Crossing: New Horizons is thriving.

Animal Crossing thrives during quarantine

Of course, Animal Crossing isn’t the only game that came out during the COVID-19 crisis. So why has it enjoyed meteoric popularity when other titles have not?

On the most basic level, this has to do with our need to feel in control of our lives. As newbie gamer Areeba Imam told MIT Technology Review, “I can’t control what’s going on right now, but I can control the tasks I do on my island, and it’s calming.”

The COVID-19 global pandemic has caused a lot of uncertainty around the world. People don’t feel in control of things like their health and their jobs. But feeling in control of a virtual island can restore a sense of normalcy and balance to a chaotic life.

Our collective need for that sense of control has lured millions of people to check out Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Is it any wonder that the game became its own kind of social media?

RELATED: Nookazon: How One Animal Crossing Fan Created the Ultimate Fan Trading Site

What makes Animal Crossing: New Horizons so special?

If you’re not an Animal Crossing fan, you may wonder what makes this game so special. After all, other games give you a sense of control. So why does Animal Crossing: New Horizons resonate in a way that games like Overwatch or Doom Eternal do not?

Most games have some kind of competitive element built in. You may be battling other players online or fighting enemies in campaign mode, but the goal of coming out on top is very clear. That can be rewarding, but it can also be stressful.

By contrast, there is no real competition in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You simply create something beautiful and then share it with the world whenever (if ever) you are comfortable doing so. And the need to trade for items helps encourage players to interact in a wholesome manner with visitors to their island.

Nintendo has long been criticized for making it difficult to chat with other players. Ironically, that is part of Animal Crossing’s transition into social media. Players are finding new ways to visually express themselves, and they don’t have to worry about a random visitor screaming at them over the Nooklink voice chat (which you can only use with friends).