Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A cute life simulation:

here couldn’t be a game better suited to easing self-isolation anxiety than Animal Crossing:New Horizons. What could be more relaxing than frolicking on a desertisland with a bunch oftalking animals? In this firstSwitch entryin the laid-back life-sim series, you volunteerto be part of an island relocation led by property tycoon (and raccoon) Tom Nook. While previous instalments saw your human character moving into a smalltown already occupied by eccentric beasts,the firstfew days herewill be spentliving out of a tent, asNook cheerfully asks you to create a paradisewith little more than a handful oftwigs. Luckily, laying the foundations for a functioning economy isn’t difficult. Forage for materials, catch a few bugs, do some fishing, and soon you’ll have a proper home, a shop, even a museum. From then on, it’s up to you. There’s always a loose objective to pursue, butNew Horizons is a lifelike slowburn. Shops have normal opening hours, and ifNook says the bridge you justinstalled won’t be ready untiltomorrow, you’ll just have to wait untiltomorrow. That might sound frustrating, butthe gentle pacingand lack of urgent demands is what makesAnimal Crossing so appealing. That said,there’s a lotto get stuck into. CollectingDIY recipes forthe new crafting system is key to getting the bestfurniture to fill your home with, and in time you’ll be able to build roads,relocate your house and even terraform the island itself. Then there’s Nook Miles, a new sub-currency that you earn by doing different activities in the game and can redeem forrewards. Online multiplayeris also a big part ofNew Horizons, as you’re able to visitfriends’ islands,where you can swap fruit and fetch a better price for your haul of turnips on theStalk Market. It’s a whole thing. And really we’ve only scratched the surface. The coming months will bring seasonal events and plenty more surprises, some of which could take years to turn up.