One of the biggest reasons Animal Crossing became the popular franchise it is now is because of its numerous villagers. Each is an anthropomorphic creature with unique qualities and looks that differentiate them from one another. Although some believe they are perfect as they are, there are still ways that the next Animal Crossing game can take villagers to the next level. A particular method of doing so is improving the one feature that has helped define the franchise's denizens since its inception.
The villagers in Animal Crossing are why every game is always full of life. How they show emotion, communicate with one another, offer gifts, and other life-like actions make them feel more than just inhabitants that players can talk to. But if there's one thing that helps them be more realistic, it's the personality given to them by the game. Every villager has a distinct nature, establishing their likes, dislikes, attitudes, and so on. The next Animal Crossing has the opportunity to redefine the personality feature by diving further into it. Although doing so will be difficult, it is something Nintendo will want to consider as it could help increase the franchise's popularity.
Which Animal Crossing Villagers Irritate You Most?
Animal Crossing has its fair share of personalities, but some of them you'll want to remove from your island as soon as possible. I found Beardo the Bear to be a real pain in the backside.
How Villager Personalities in Animal Crossing Can Be Improved
Giving the Animal Crossing villagers a realistic change to their personality could make them feel more alive, but how to do so is the question. The update shouldn't be too complex to the point of convolution, but it should also be enough to make it stand out from the previous games. Nintendo has a few options that can help do that:
- Making the villagers' personalities change over time depending on how they're treated or what activities they continuously do
- Allowing the players to affect how villagers feel about one another through actions like gossiping or gift-giving
- Giving unique activities for every personality type and basing a villager's willingness to participate on their mood or relationship with the player
Deepening the personalities of the Animal Crossing villagers may not be an easy task, but these changes have a chance of doing that and more. If the next game in the franchise carries over all the 413 villagers from previous games and decides to add a few new ones, then such an update to the personality feature will be needed to keep things from getting stale.
Why Animal Crossing’s Personality Types Should Undergo Changes
Updating this key part of the Animal Crossing villagers can lead to many interesting developments in the franchise. Other than making them feel more realistic, it can pave the way for more content. For example, it could lead to the addition of new personality types. With more personalities, Nintendo will have an easier time creating designs for new villagers. It can also give future games more diversity, as players will have more options when deciding who they want as neighbors or residents in their world.
A personality update could even lead to major changes that the franchise has yet to make. With more characters and unique natures, it may finally be possible for Animal Crossing to tell a proper story. This is something that the franchise has yet to do even though it has all the resources necessary to do it. Should the next mainline entry change how villagers' personalities work, it could help be responsible for finally introducing a story mode that utilizes everything the games have offered throughout the years.
Animal Crossing has many amazing villagers who have caused people to fall in love with the franchise. Modifying how their personalities work could potentially turn them into more than what they currently are, but only if done right. The opportunity is available for Nintendo to capitalize on the next entry, but if and how it decides to do it remains to be seen.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Released
- March 20, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Escape to a deserted island and create your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. Your island getaway has a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. You can hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean. The time of day and season match real life, so each day on your island is a chance to check in and find new surprises all year round.
Show off your island utopia to family and friends—or pack your bags and visit theirs. Whether playing online** or with others beside you***, island living is even better when you can share it. Even without hopping on a flight, you’ll meet a cast of charming animal residents bursting with personality. Friendly faces like Tom Nook and Isabelle will lend their services and happily help you grow your budding community. Escape to your island getaway—however, whenever, and wherever you want.
- ESRB
- Everyone / Comic Mischief, Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Expansions
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Happy Home Paradise
- Franchise
- Animal Crossing
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- How Long To Beat
- 100 Hours
