10 Reasons The Next Animal Crossing Game Should Be A Remake

The Animal Crossing series has won over players for years with its charming worlds, unique characters, and easygoing gameplay. Each new game in the series improves on the ones before it, adding fresh features while fine-tuning what’s already there. Now that New Horizons is behind players, there’s a lot of excitement for the next main game. While a brand-new adventure sounds great, there’s a strong argument for doing a remake instead.

This isn’t just about going back to what fans know; it’s about making the most of the series’ history, fixing old issues, and introducing new players to the charm of classic Animal Crossing. Nintendo keeps teasing new Animal Crossing games, but a remake could bring beloved games back to life with modern updates and improvements without losing the original appeal. It’s a chance to relive those favorite memories, but with enhancements that suit today’s players. There are great reasons why a remake would be the best next step for the Animal Crossing series.

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It’s Hard To Play Older Games Because of Age

If You Don’t Have Nostalgia, They’re Kind of Bad

The idea of the next Animal Crossing game being a remake is largely about making it more accessible. While the series is very popular due to New Horizons, many potential players can’t access the older games. These games are mostly available on outdated consoles like the GameCube and Nintendo DS. This makes it hard for new players to experience the important parts of the series’ history that have helped it become so loved.

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Animal Crossing is an icon of cozy and life sim games, but one prevalent mechanic is becoming outdated, making the experience too tedious.

A remake designed for current consoles, like the recently announced Nintendo Switch 2, would solve this problem. By updating a classic game, Nintendo could introduce more people to the roots of the franchise, letting them appreciate how it has evolved. New players would understand the history, while long-time fans could enjoy old favorites with better graphics and gameplay improvements.

9

Capitalize on Nostalgia For The Series

Nostalgia Is A Strong Selling Point

Many fans believe that instead of creating a brand-new Animal Crossing game, it would be better to remake an older title, especially Animal Crossing: New Leaf, which is a favorite among players. Fans want to experience the gameplay and unique aspects of these older titles again, such as the diverse personalities of the villagers, the special feel of the original GameCube version, and the simpler gameplay that many found less overwhelming than in New Horizons.

While New Horizons was successful, it had its drawbacks. Many players felt that the game was launched without some beloved features, like Brewster’s Café and gyroids, which were added later through updates. A remake could fix these issues from the start, delivering a complete and polished experience instead of piecemeal updates. By tapping into this strong sense of nostalgia, Nintendo could ensure a successful release and rekindle excitement for the series, which could lead to good sales and strengthen the franchise’s future.

8

Nintendo Needs To Fill the Gap for Switch 2

It’s A Long Wait Between Animal Crossing Games

The long wait between main Animal Crossing games poses a big challenge for Nintendo. With a significant gap since New Horizons was released in 2020 and the next game likely still years away, fans are left wanting more content. This pattern has happened before, especially with the long wait between New Leaf in 2012 and New Horizons. The upcoming Switch 2 makes things even more complicated, as a new Animal Crossing game might not be ready when the console launches, which could leave new players without much to play.

A remake would curb the immediate need for new Animal Crossing content while getting fans ready for future titles.

A great solution would be to remaster an older favorite. This would allow Nintendo to quickly provide a polished version of a beloved game, taking advantage of nostalgia and what fans want. Nintendo has successfully released remakes in the past that have filled long gaps, showing this strategy works. A remake would curb the immediate need for new Animal Crossing content while getting fans ready for future titles.

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Reintroducing Beloved Features That Have Dropped Over The Years

Some Features Need To Make A Comeback

Although Animal Crossing: New Horizons was very popular, it was easy to be disappointed about the removal of some beloved features from earlier games. For instance, Brewster’s café, which a lot of players loved, and Resetti, the reset advisor known for his quirky personality, were both missing. In addition, the villagers in New Horizons felt more similar to each other and didn’t have the unique, sometimes quirky personalities that fans missed from past games.

Animal Crossing Isabelle next to two players using the terraforming app

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New Horizons was a massive success for Nintendo, but it still faced plenty of criticism that its sequel desperately needs to acknowledge to succeed.

A remake would not just be a straightforward update; it could also improve these missing features with better graphics and gameplay. This kind of remake would please long-time fans looking for familiar elements while also giving a fresh and polished version of a classic game. A remake could do more than just a new sequel or spin-off, making it the best choice for addressing fans’ desire for a fuller Animal Crossing experience. It would be a great way to satisfy nostalgia and also set the stage for exciting future games.

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The Success of New Leaf Makes It A Strong Candidate

It’s The Best For Some Players

The idea that the next Animal Crossing game will be a remake mainly relies on the popularity of Animal Crossing: New Leaf. While people have fond memories of the original GameCube game and other versions, the success of New Leaf is clear. It was well-received by critics and many would consider it a highlight of the series. It also sold really well on the 3DS.

Remaking New Leaf would let Nintendo take advantage of this proven success. Instead of making a completely new game—which can be risky and time-consuming—a remake reduces those challenges. The gameplay is already loved by fans. A New Leaf remake could include better graphics and improved features to address earlier complaints about performance and loading times while keeping the charm that made it a favorite. Adding new content, characters, or items could attract both old fans and newcomers.

5

Remakes Come With A Blueprint Already

It’s Like A Roadmap Is Ready For Developers

The idea that the next Animal Crossing game could be a remake rests on the idea of being able to make a game where the developers already know what to do. Making a brand new main game in the Animal Crossing series takes a lot of time, money, and resources. However, in a remake, a lot of the work is already done and in a version the developer needs to do better.

Lucky, Stitches and Ankha Unique Animal Crossing Villagers

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Since players are familiar with the original game, there’s less chance of upsetting loyal fans, and it gives Nintendo a chance to see how players react to these new ideas in a safe way. Basically, a remake lets Nintendo improve the Animal Crossing formula without the risk of a bad new game.

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Nintendo Needs To Lower Expectations For Next Game After New Horizons

Players Are Expecting A Lot For The Next AC Game

The huge success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons has created a tough challenge for any future games in the series. While many people loved New Horizons, it also got a lot of criticism for being incomplete at launch, lacking features, and having overly simple villager personalities. These points raise the expectations for any new game, making it hard to impress fans. With a remake, Nintendo can lower player expectations because remakes usually stick closely to the original game.

A remake doesn’t have to bring in major innovations, which protects Nintendo from harsh criticism. This could avoid the backlash that came with the unfinished launch of New Horizons. Managing what players expect and delivering a polished version of a familiar experience, a remake can serve as a safe step before introducing a completely new and ambitious game. This minimizes risk and increases the chances of a positive response from fans.

3

Final Fantasy Has Already Shown How Great Remakes Can Do

Square Enix Proved This Strategy Works

The idea that the next Animal Crossing game might be a remake is strong because it could stand out in a busy gaming market. There are many new games coming out, all trying to grab the same players. However, a carefully made remake could take advantage of nostalgia and attract the existing fanbase who would love to experience the game again. This approach has worked well for other game series, like Final Fantasy 7, which have seen great success with their remakes.

Nintendo could tap into the love for a classic Animal Crossing game to create something similar. This way, Nintendo can appeal to both long-time fans who miss elements like the varied villager personalities from earlier games and new players who might not know much about the series. By choosing to do a remake, Nintendo can reduce the risks that come with launching a completely new game while still providing a product that can be easily promoted through its dedicated fanbase.

2

Remakes Are Great For Controlled Experimentation

It’s Like Bonus Content, With Guaranteed Sales

An Animal Crossing remake can reduce risk and encourage new ideas for the franchise. Since many fans would likely support a well-made remake, Nintendo has a great opportunity to try out new mechanics and features. The nostalgia and existing fan base of a classic title help decrease the chances of poor sales that often happen with new gameplay elements that haven’t been tested before.

Animal Crossing spinoffs with mario kart and tomodachi life screenshots behind the characters

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Animal Crossing is an iconic game franchise that relies on a specific formula, but there’s so much potential for spinoff games in other genres.

This way, Nintendo can see how players react to these changes and figure out what works and what may need more improvement. This careful approach helps ensure that future mainline games are as polished and player-friendly as possible, using the feedback gathered from a successful remake. A remake allows for a more organized way to evolve the series while maintaining the franchise’s high standards.

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Nintendo Could Use An Animal Crossing Remake As Market Testing

This Could Be Step One For Planning A Brand New Game

An Animal Crossing remake would not only tap into the existing fanbase, but it would also help Nintendo understand how successful and profitable remaking older popular games might be. If a new remake sells well, it would give Nintendo valuable information about whether other classic games, like Metroid, F-Zero, or older Mario titles, could also be remade profitably.

The feedback and sales from this remake would inform Nintendo about the demand for nostalgia-driven games and help shape future development plans. In short, a successful Animal Crossing remake could pave the way for more remakes of beloved titles, giving a steady income while minimizing the risks typically associated with new game development.