How does Animal Crossing make you happy?

[Cherri Buu]

It's a strange question, I guess, that or poorly worded and I apologize! But I'm simply curious for your answers! New Leaf has been my first Animal Crossing game, and honestly, there are times in my life that aren't so great. However, this game never fails to cheer me up. The villagers are always so nice to you, no matter their personalities and even when you've been gone for such a long time they never fail to forgive you and welcome you home with open arms.

There are little things in this game that makes me happy, mainly when your villagers are singing the town tune. It's absolutely adorable and I always smile when they sing. There is also when they perfectly align their plots with another villager/residents.

I don't know what it is about this game that just fills me with joy, it just does, and I'd love to hear what the rest of you have to say!

 

[honeyaura]

Oh my, you've taken the words out of my mouth. Life is horrifying for me right now. And everytime I turn it on, it lifts my spirits. My first game was Wild World. I owe it so much. I was locked inside, and I felt so alone. I was pretty anti-social as well in middle school, so I'd play it instead of hanging out with most people. But I made friends in that world (it's "just a game", but still). Having them say Good Morning! Great to see you! I got something for you!... it's nice! I had to find those friends I made and move them in my New Leaf towns. They're so close to my heart <3 I'm glad I'm not the only one that adores AC this way!

 

[daniduckyface]

I like it because it's a very calming world and all of the animals are just so adorable and it's always been able to pick me up even when times aren't the best. It gives me hope and brings me happiness especially when you can make someones day by just bringing them a new bug or a piece of fruit off a nearby tree and how they just want you to do your best and bring out the best in our little town ~

 

[Skye]

I love all of my villagers, for starters. Each one makes me day happier. They let me know that no matter what, they'll be here for me and they'll listen to me. They compliment the town (of course it's because of the beautiful ordinance) and they help make the town even better. I love the colors in this game and the music and all of the customization...

There's just so much I could say but without rambling on, I love how cute this game is both physically and emotionally♥

 

[daniduckyface]

Also the only reason i bought my 3ds xl was for this game and the second i popped the cartidge in and booted up the game i had no regrets...i even bought a second copy not two weeks after buying my system with my first copy

 

[Mayor B]

It makes me happy that way too ^-^ its so calming going into a happy little world filled with lovable villagers! The villagers are always so happy to see you and can say the sweetest things c:

 

[useyourdrill]

Since the first game Animal Crossing has been really important to me. It's something about the calmness of the gameplay, the customization and most importantly the villagers. The villagers are always there to talk to, or just hang out with. It sounds kinda silly because they're just video game NPCs, but it's very easy to get attached to them, even when they were more mean in the first game.
I love the series from the bottom of my heart.

 

[Relly]

I think it makes me happy because I can make it what I want, I can make a pretty, friendly village, eat sweets and celebrate holidays with my villager friends. It's very relaxing and calm.

 

[Shadow Star]

To be honest, you pretty much summed it up for me. XD

I'm not a very social person and I'm often left out of things with my local friends or those who I'm friends with, but don't exactly live locally with (my college friends for example) find it hard to have times where we can meet up and hang out. So I spend a lot of my life inside my room. I guess I'm just an introvert now from that as I find it tiring if I've been outside with people for a long time. I'd rather sit at home and play games, but that doesn't mean I don't get lonely. Animal Crossing is what keeps me sane I think, or at least somewhat social. ^_^" The villagers are all so nice. Wild World was officially my first game, but I have it for GC, DS, and 3DS now. And in each of those I've had villagers that mean just that little bit more, my main one being Pinky. She's appeared in all three games for me and she's been my best friend in all of them too.

Animal Crossing just has that serene vibe about it that just calms you down and sets you straight again. You can be really upset or angry, play the game and then feel calm. It's just calming from the music to events to the villagers. (Granted on the music that there is some music the game has that are a touch more creepy, but I just save those for Halloween). And I love how everyone forms bonds with the characters in the game. Sure, the villagers have the same personalities and will say the same thing, but we form them a little bit differently in our minds for that little personal touch and suddenly it's like they're a whole new villager. For example, my idea of Poppy as a more developed character may be different to how someone else depicts Poppy. It's little things like that that make me happy with the game as it truly absorbs you into it and it's as if you live in a whole new world.

I also find myself actually talking to the villagers and giving my own real opinion on things they say. I don't why, I just do. (Mind you, I'm the same with my pokemon. I'm constantly talking to them too. ^_^")

 

[Spooky.]

For me it's good stress relief and distraction from things in my life that really suck. I also have bad anxiety and because of it I don't have many friends, so in this game I can at least feel like my villagers are my friends. I also find it oddly stress-relieving to decorate things like my home, mayor, etc. It's also a relaxed game you can play at your own pace for even a short amount of a time a day and you can run it how you want. It gives me more control over something because in reality there isn't much you have control over. But this game is like MY game, if that makes sense.

 

[eleanorshock]

It's my escape from the real world, especially when times are really frustrating. It's really nice and calming. I just like the idea of owning a village full of happy animals! always so nice to me ^^

 

[WonderK]

Animal Crossing in the only "calm" like game that I play. That makes it enjoyable to me.

 

[Noctis]

Everytime I feel down this game is my escape. I know that there will be that villager that is going to make me laugh and smile and lifts my spirit.

 

[Momo15]

Animal Crossing for me is as it is: a calming, day-by-day game made to help you relax. You have friendly to moderately friendly villagers to help cheer you up, you run your town the way you want to, it's a way to get away from life for a moment or more. Animal Crossing always makes me feel better just because of that.

 

[stitchmaker]

I'm more relaxed when I play ACNL. The villager still make me smile when they give me a picture or medicine from a bee sting.
The highlight is when you get the invite to sit on the bench and enjoy the view. Looking forward to seeing their smiles on Toy Day.

 

[pika62221]

It's partly the sense of fulfillment I experience when I finally complete different aspects of this game, and can look back, and really appreciate what I've done. Other games you can sink 2,000, or 3,000 or even 10,000 hours into it, but no one other than yourself can really appreciate it, since the game is in no way different that when you started other than filled inventory, money, etc, but since Animal Crossing games evolve little by little day by day as you play, so your work over months and months and months can be appreciated because you can't have a gaming binge (unless you time travel) and achieve all this in a day. It's set up to take months and months and months of consistent play.

You can complete tasks, earn badges, and get a sense of accomplishment more in this game than in previous games in the series too. You now can also connect with anyone from around the world without the need of a friend code, but it's limited to Club Tortimer island, and dream visits, so for village visits, you still need the FC. I kind of like that actually, because now you can show off just how hard you've worked in games through dreams and badges. I know playing a game is viewed by some people as a waste of time, but I don't see it like that. I see it as a way to rekindle the ability to set goals, reach them, and set new goals to reach. I keep playing this game because I keep setting more goals for myself, and it's such a rewarding experience when I meet them, and set new goals to reach.

The whole reason I got into this series in 2002 was because of NES games in the game (albeit you needed the GBA and the cable too). However, the part that really hooked me was that it was in real time. It was December, 2002, snowing in the game, and also in real life, and that was like- WOW, that factor totally hooked me forever in the series, but when you walk/ran on the snow you got the crunching sound as if you would in real life! I'll never not be an AC fan! This game is like a kawaii version of the real world, it's just too cute for me not to keep playing game-by-game, system-by-system.

 

[LunaLight]

Honestly your exact reason, LOL.

It's such a beautiful, cheerful, inviting game. It's such a happy and cute game that makes me smile - I love it.

 

[BlooBelle]

I have really bad anxiety, so whenever I've had a bad day animal crossing is always there to soothe me. It even helps with panic attacks, and before I found ACNL my only solution was napping until I feel better.
Even when I'm having a good day, playing animal crossing is just a cheerful, happy experience. C:

 

[snapdragon]

I don't have much to add to all of these eloquent posts, just agreement. I'm so glad that I have this game in my life and for this forum too. Such kindness lives here...^^

 

[DarkFox7]

I have anxiety problems and get stressed out very easily. But Animal Crossing has been there for me since I was 7. It's an escape for me, an escape to a paradise where everyone is nice to me and everything goes my way. I can use my creativity to develop a town suited to my desires. I can talk to all of my adorable villagers and listen to their silly stories. It's just the peaceful nature of it all that relaxes me and soothes me. It's like a little perfect world. I wish more than anything that Animal Crossing was real.