What Animal Crossing Can Teach Us As An Individualist Society
Animal Crossing was not always the hit franchise that we know it to be, and there was no telling that it would become a global success. Since the first game’s release, Nintendo has sold about 59.83 million units across all its Animal Crossing games. But its origin can leave us with more to think about than any trailer may lead on.
The franchise’s latest release, New Horizons, was released worldwide on March 20, just before many initial COVID-19 lockdowns began. With the lockdowns restricting many people’s day-to-day routines, the game served as a form of escapism — a return to normalcy, albeit a simulated one. But rather than focusing on the escapism the game may provide, a look into the franchise’s origin and the game’s objectives can allow us to reflect on our culture and values.