One of the biggest reasons Animal Crossing has become one of Nintendo's most popular franchises is because of the number of memorable and charming villagers it produces. Its many entries have graced people with adorable, anthropomorphic entities that players have grown to love and enjoy engaging with, making for an exciting occasion whenever new ones are planned. The next Animal Crossing game could arrive sooner than people think, given the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2, and that means potentially new villagers for fans to look forward to. Should that be the case, it raises the question of whether Nintendo should keep everyone in the dark about them or expose them as soon as possible.
When it comes to a new Animal Crossing title, people always look forward to what kind of changes it will bring that will make it unique and memorable when compared to its predecessors. Adding more villagers is one way to go about that, and it will certainly gather the attention of fans while promising them some new experiences. However, the choice of whether to reveal such a move as soon as the new game is announced or keep it as a surprise until its official release is one that Nintendo might find difficult to make. While sharing the news about adding new villagers immediately has its benefits, there is also a lot to be gained from withholding the information, which means both must be given a lot of consideration.
With The Next Animal Crossing, Nintendo Could Make a Community Pastime an Official Feature
Animal Crossing has grown a strong community, and one favorite pastime of players should finally become part of the next game.
How Keeping New Villagers a Surprise Would Benefit the Next Animal Crossing
Adding more villagers to the next Animal Crossing is something that Nintendo is likely to do, but not sharing the news about it immediately may be what's best for the game. As for why it can be seen as a good move, it's because of a few opportunities it presents:
- Keeping it a secret means giving players that feeling of discovering something new, helping ensure that they remain interested in playing the game due to the unpredictability factor
- Something as big as new villager types in Animal Crossing being added could leave a more lasting impression if kept as a surprise, which can lead to more people talking about it and bringing more attention to the game
- Withholding details about the new additions and allowing people to find out about them on their own can increase the amount of playtime one can have with the game, as those who play it will likely try to uncover every new villager that was kept secret
Keeping new villagers a surprise certainly has its benefits, but it's still a decision that Nintendo has to put a lot of serious thought into. Because, as good as what it can do sounds, perhaps what could be gained from revealing what's coming right when the next title is announced makes it a more worthwhile option.
Why the Next Animal Crossing Shouldn’t Keep New Villagers a Secret
If Nintendo was to decide to share the next Animal Crossing's potential new villagers as soon as possible instead of keeping it a secret, then both it and the game would find themselves in an interesting position. Letting fans know about the idea ahead of time allows for the opportunity to dole out the information at a slow pace until the official release date.
This could result in weeks or months of content that allows for a lot of speculation, giving fans something to look forward to while generating a lot of anticipation for the game. It would also make the wait for the next Animal Crossing feel more like an event due to the constant news being shared, which can help ensure that fans' excitement towards its release day doesn't wane even if it takes a long time.
Especially given the upcoming release of the Switch 2, the franchise may see itself with a lot of new villagers. Whether they're kept secret or shared with the public immediately is ultimately up to Nintendo, but hopefully, whatever decision the company makes regarding the matter is one that's thought out with the best intentions for the game and its fans.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- March 20, 2020
- ESRB
- Everyone / Comic Mischief, Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Havok
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Expansions
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Happy Home Paradise
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- Animal Crossing
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 100 Hours
