Animal Crossing Following Pokemon’s Lead Could Solve New Horizons Problem

Animal Crossing Following Pokemon's Lead Could Solve New Horizons Problem

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I’ve seen the evolution of digital communities and the impact they have on beloved franchises like Animal Crossing. In my humble opinion, Nintendo could significantly improve the villager trading system in New Horizons by taking a cue from another iconic series – Pokemon.


The game known as Animal Crossing has solidified its position among the top games in the relaxed genre, with its laid-back gameplay, comforting visuals, and adorable characters winning over gamers worldwide. It’s the captivating villagers of Animal Crossing that have likely played a significant role in the franchise’s popularity. Given the strong affection many players have for these villagers, Nintendo might consider incorporating some of the most popular gameplay elements from Pokemon to better engage and satisfy the fans of Animal Crossing.

Since the initial release of the franchise, gamers have consistently favored villagers, but “Animal Crossing: New Horizon” took this preference to unprecedented levels. A unique culture surrounding the villagers emerged, centered around real-world currency instead of in-game bells. Importantly, none of this money is going to Nintendo. Although this proposed solution wouldn’t directly increase Nintendo’s profits, it could potentially reduce villager buying and trading activities.

Villager Trading Could Solve Animal Crossing’s Third-Party Selling Problem

In the game Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can welcome 413 distinct villagers onto your island. These villagers belong to thirty-five various species and can exhibit one of eight different personality traits. Although a few villagers share similarities, most players carefully select their preferred types of villagers when deciding which ones will reside on their island.

In the Animal Crossing community, certain players prefer to extend invitations only to cat species or outgoing personality types for their islands. On the other hand, there are some players who have particular villagers in mind, whom they deeply desire. These coveted villagers are often referred to as “Dreamies.

As an avid player of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, I must say that some standout villagers include Tangy, Zucker, and Merengue. Many players like myself are always on the hunt for iconic characters like Rosie or Ankha from previous games in the series. But it’s the fresh addition to the franchise, Raymond, who debuted in New Horizons, that truly embodies the new villager dynamic that has emerged since its release.

Trading Villagers Can Be Pricey

Following his debut, Raymond swiftly became the beloved character among fans, causing prices on prominent Animal Crossing trading sites such as Nookazon to soar, with him being valued at millions of bells. For those who choose to buy and trade using actual currency, Raymond has previously been listed on eBay for a thousand dollars.

This trading platform not only empties players’ wallets, whether they are using real or in-game money, but Nintendo seems to be left out of the loop. It appears that Nintendo might prefer some control over this system before launching a new edition of the Animal Crossing series. Introducing a system like the one used in Pokemon, therefore, could potentially enhance the experience in Animal Crossing.

A Not-So-Sketchy Way to Trade Villagers

In Nintendo’s game New Horizons, one of the commonly used methods for trading villagers, which many find straightforward and cost-effective, relies on an empty plot on your island and a substantial list of friends. When by chance, a villager from a friend’s island is preparing to leave, you can visit the ‘moving box’ villager and attempt to persuade them to make your island their new home.

In Animal Crossing, not every player has a long list of friends, making a trading solution based on friend requests uncertain. For instance, finding a specific Dreamy villager through a friend might depend on luck. To make this method more practical, creating an online marketplace for villagers, similar to Pokemon trading, would be easier and less time-consuming.

Instead of relying on community-based platforms for the management of in-game trading in Animal Crossing, Nintendo could directly integrate an anti-scam and trade verification system within the game itself. This new feature might draw inspiration from Nook Miles Tickets, though it’s important to note that even these in-game currencies can sometimes be misused on fan-created marketplaces as well.

Instead of urging players to catch them all as Pokemon does, Animal Crossing’s community is instead focused on carefully selecting specific villagers they desire for their island. Despite no new installment being announced yet, a trading system for Pokemon within Animal Crossing would make an ideal addition to the next entry in the franchise.

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2024-11-26 01:34