New Horizons is the near-perfect installment ahead of the 20th anniversary of the series. There is so much to do in this game, and Nintendo has really pushed the limits for the series with the amount of creative freedom they’ve handed over to the player. The only thing that lets it down is the clunkiness of an otherwise delightful multiplayer feature. Still, this is exactly the kind of game I want to be stuck at home with.

It’s been nearly twenty years since the original Animal Forest was released in Japan, and a lot has changed. The heart of the Animal Crossing experience has always been about having a relaxing life in a small forest village with cute animal neighbours, and this unusually chill approach to gameplay is what helped the series stand out. Daily activities might include catching bugs, fishing, digging up fossils, chatting to the animals in your town, or decorating your house. And when I say daily, I really do mean daily. Animal Crossing has always been played entirely in real-time. So when it’s night time in our world, it’s night time in the game, and what you can do in-game changes based on the time. For example, certain stores will be shut after 10 pm, or specific characters might be asleep. It also tracks what day it is using a real calendar. Real-life celebrations like Christmas happen in-game on Christmas day, and so on, making each day you login feel like a unique experience. These details make for a game that’s always been a little hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t already played it.

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With Animal Crossing: New Horizons releasing on March 20, Nintendo has revealed a slew of new details in the latest Direct episode.

Before setting out on their latest adventure, players will customise a new character before selecting their island destination. Players will be able to choose between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, which will determine the timing of seasons on their chosen island.

After having selected your island from a randomised selection, players will be able to alter the landscape with the new terraforming feature. This will allow things, like changing the paths of rivers or creating new pathways, which will mean you can create the perfect layout for your island.

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