Animal Crossing Deserves the Mario Treatment: Here’s Why It’s Overdue

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The original “Animal Crossing” video game debuted in Japan back in April 2001, marking the series’ completion of 24 years last year. Given its status as Nintendo’s sixth highest-grossing intellectual property, it appears that the animal-focused simulation series has no plans to slow down anytime soon. Although a release date for the next “Animal Crossing” game hasn’t been announced yet, anticipation for it is high, especially considering the incredible success of “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” in 2020.

On the other hand, the “Mario” series was introduced two decades prior to “Animal Crossing,” with the initial release of “Donkey Kong” in 1981. Regardless of Mario being Nintendo’s most prosperous franchise for more than four decades, it doesn’t exclude the possibility that “Animal Crossing” could receive equal attention and resources. In fact, it’s long overdue for Nintendo to invest similarly in its charming social simulation series, allowing it to explore various genres through distinctive spin-offs.

Nintendo Has a Major Opportunity to Seize with Animal Crossing

Mario’s Video Game Presence Throughout the Years

Over time, the popular Mario series has produced numerous games, including spin-offs such as Mario Party, Mario Kart, Paper Mario, sports games, educational titles, and mobile apps. With two of gaming’s most iconic characters at its helm, the Mario series has sold over 900 million units by June 2024, as reported on the Video Game Sales wiki. In fact, Mario himself has starred in more than 250 games across different genres.

Due to Nintendo’s repeated success with their emphasis on the character Mario, devoting similar dedication towards Animal Crossing could be advantageous. Compared to Mario, Animal Crossing has only a small number of mainline games, mobile titles, and DLC releases, with fewer than ten entries in total: [List Animal Crossing entries here].

  1. Animal Crossing (2001)
  2. Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005)
  3. Animal Crossing: City Folk (2008)
  4. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012)
  5. Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer (2015)
  6. Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival (2015)
  7. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp (2017)
  8. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020)
  9. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise (2021)

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Diversify the Animal Crossing Series

There’s been persistent chatter about a fresh edition of “Animal Crossing”, and with the Switch 2 scheduled for release on June 5, 2025, it seems that Nintendo is nearing an ideal opportunity to broaden the series’ scope. Although there’s been talk that a new simulation game might debut on the Switch 2 at some point, Nintendo hasn’t confirmed whether “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” will get a sequel yet. Still, fans would undoubtedly be ecstatic if the series made a comeback in any form, particularly if it ventures into unexplored genres ambitiously.

It’s important to mention that various characters from the popular game, “Animal Crossing,” have made appearances in other Nintendo games such as “Mario Kart” and “Super Smash Bros.” Although the franchise has only produced a few spin-offs, “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp” was a free-to-play mobile adaptation that allowed players to run a campsite, interact with animal characters, and personalize their surroundings. Regrettably, this game closed its service in November 2024 after seven years of operation.

In a hypothetical scenario, if the game “Animal Crossing” were to explore different genres, games showcasing its charming characters such as Tom Nook, Isabelle, and Brewster would undoubtedly garner attention. One could imagine party games similar to “Mario Party”, 3D platformers like “Super Mario Odyssey”, action-adventure titles akin to “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom”, and sports games reminiscent of “Mario Tennis Aces”. Given its family-friendly character, recognizable cast, and unique art style, it appears that Animal Crossing is long overdue for a spin-off treatment in the vein of the popular Mario series, which often fills the gaps between mainline releases.

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2025-05-11 03:00