Escape to the outdoors and catch fish and butterflies in “Animal Crossing: New Horizon,” released on March 20 by Nintendo Switch. The release of the game came at a perfect time, as seemingly innumerable Americans are confined to their homes during the mandated quarantine period. As the game has augmented to one of the best-launched games on the Nintendo Switch, according to Famitsu data, the title sold 1.88 million games in three days in Japan and increased Switch sales by 585% from the previous week prior to launch. 

“New Horizons” is a smoothly rendered game with no visible pixelation. The island is a break from our current reality; offering a vibrant landscape filled with running rivers, waterfalls, blue beaches, fruit trees, thriving bugs, and a capitalist crook raccoon. 

Starting with a few tools, like a shovel and an ax, the delighting island starts to come together. The game begins with the creation of a character, as different body features are chosen by the player, such as the hairstyle, nose, eye shape, and skin color;  followed by choosing an island to build a town. The game is a non-linear simulation game that is played using the real clock system. It is set on a deserted island where the player gathers resources, plants trees, and fishes. There are a variety of fish and bugs that appear based on the time and month.

The objective of the game is to create a utopian island filled with neighbors and plenty of harvest, as the player pays their debts to Tom Nook. Altogether, it reigns as a seemingly simple, yet entertaining game for many. 

Tom Nook is a raccoon that sells the player a house at the beginning of the game. “His status as a shop-owner-turned-landlord has become a meme among players. He’s constantly forcing you into new surprise loans to upgrade your house; everyone knows he’s a crook,” says Ricardo Contreras, writer for VICE.com. It certainly makes the player work around the island to gain bells: the currency used in the game. 

The characters are different types of charismatic animals. The player can interact with the characters to have conversations and make exchanges of goods from the island. 

In the game, the player is able to craft, play with online and local players, shop for clothes and furniture, fish, chop trees and catch various bugs. During the progression of the game, additive features are unlocked, keeping the player engaged and motivated to advance within the game. 

Each island offers random items that are unique to each gamer. One player can grow cherries on his or her island as another player grows pears. To have a variety of fruit trees, players can visit online islands with real-life friends and exchange goods or gift them through the mail, or trade in-person on the island: making it a way to socialize in a virtual world with friends. 

“Well, of course, there are people out there who want to collect everything. But really I think that’s just one playstyle. And again, we didn’t really design with that in mind as the main goal,” said creator and spokesman of Animal Crossing, Katsuya Eguchi. 

“Plus we made it so that you could almost never collect everything. You’d have to visit other people’s towns and such if you wanted to do that. So you’d have to talk to other human players in order to do it, which is sort of a vehicle for our main goal, which was communication,” Eguchi said. 

Regardless of the current global crisis, “Animal Crossing” has made its mark for 2020 in the gaming culture. It has brought in new players and become the newest obsession for players around the world. “New Horizon” is relaxing, positive and resplendent in its craft. The virtual escape came at the right time.