The Animal Crossing series is one of the most beloved franchises in modern video game history with five main series games, three spin-offs and four apps. The first entry was a resounding success and readily took its place as a pop culture staple that may or may not have edged out Harvest Moon, depending on who you ask.
It’s many things, but the real spirit of Animal Crossing is that it’s a social simulation video game that can sometimes be genuinely stressful for how much it relies on real-world time and raises H-E-double hockey sticks after prolonged absences (I promise the trauma fades—eventually).
The latest entry in the series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, came out on Mar. 20 this year, right in the midst of near-universal stay-at-home orders. The game is a fun and totally adorable way to keep in touch with people you aren’t able to meet in person! While my AC adventures are quite mundane, some are using this lovely new platform for all sorts of beautiful hijinks.
Take the newly-engaged Hannah, whose absolute derp of a boyfriend proposed to her in easily one of the cutest ways ever while staying right next to her to catch her reaction. Apparently, she had wanted to be proposed to under the blanket of falling cherry blossoms, but the social quarantine meant that her now-fiancé couldn’t quite pull off a grand proposal. So instead, he proposed to her through Animal Crossing, giving them the virtual version of the outdoor proposal she had wanted. I’d argue that this isn’t a bad alternative at all.
Not every story is pure dorky romance, though: Caleb Ludlam was diagnosed with cancer last March and has been undergoing treatment since. His daughter Lily is just 6 years old and, because reasons, can’t be with him right now. That’s a tough thing for any dad and daughter to go through, but the way things are right now we need to be with the people we love more than ever. That’s a tough thing for any dad and daughter to go through—you can only imagine how much worse things could be with the current situation. Options are limited and emotions are all over the place.
Caleb and his partner Dia got Lily a copy of New Horizons so they could keep in touch and one of the first things she did was using the letter system to tell her dad that he’s her superhero and gave him a bag of medicine.
She wrote the message. On Band-aid paper.
Yeah BRB I’m gonna be bawling my eyes out for a bit.
Art by Dana Calvo
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