With the Wait For a New Animal Crossing Unlikely to End Soon, This Cozy Game Could Be a Needed Alternative

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Nintendo recently excited its fans with a variety of new game announcements. There’s a new *Fire Emblem* title that feels similar to *Three Houses*, and a relaxing *Pokemon* spin-off – both promising hours of fun for Nintendo Switch 2 owners. However, while many fans are thrilled, *Animal Crossing* players are still hoping for a new installment and wondering when their favorite series will get some attention.

Man, being an Animal Crossing fan has been a wild ride lately. New Horizons came out and blew everyone away – it was huge for the series! But since then, things have been pretty quiet, and it’s tough when Nintendo has so many other games everyone’s excited about. It’s not always easy being a dedicated villager!

Good news for Animal Crossing fans: the relaxing world of life-sim games is doing really well! Thanks to games like New Horizons and other popular titles, this genre is attracting a lot of players who enjoy a more laid-back experience. While everyone is eagerly waiting for the next Animal Crossing game, there’s currently a title that’s capturing the attention of those who miss the charming sounds and atmosphere of the Animal Crossing universe.

Cozy Grove is the Perfect Title for Animal Crossing Fans to Try

Cozy games offer a wide variety of experiences, ranging from fast-paced time management to immersive role-playing games. However, once someone finds a cozy game they love, it can be difficult to find another that feels quite right. Someone who enjoys the emotional storytelling of *Spiritfarer* might not be interested in the simpler farming of *Stardew Valley*, and vice versa. But if you’re craving a relaxing island life and the chance to build a new beginning, like in *Animal Crossing*, then *Cozy Grove* could be perfect for you.

Cozy Grove is a game with a lot in common with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You play as a Spirit Scout who explores a mysterious island. As you explore, talk to the island’s spirits, and play the game, the island changes from a sad, empty place into a beautiful one – and players familiar with Animal Crossing: New Horizons will quickly understand how it works.

Cozy Grove Scratches the Same Itch as Animal Crossing

One of the things that made *Animal Crossing: New Horizons* so beloved was how it transformed simple, everyday activities into enjoyable moments. The game wasn’t about achieving a specific goal quickly; it was about regularly visiting your island, noticing the little changes, and gradually creating a personalized space. *Cozy Grove* captures that same relaxing and rewarding feeling, offering a similar experience in a fresh setting. Here’s why *Animal Crossing* fans will likely enjoy *Cozy Grove*:

  • Daily routines that encourage short play sessions: Much like checking turnip prices or talking to your favorite villagers, Cozy Grove structures its gameplay around manageable chunks that make sense to revisit every day.
  • A charming cast of spirits: Instead of animal villagers, players meet ghostly spirits. Each spirit bear in Cozy Grovecomes with its own backstory, personality, and quest for the player to complete. Building relationships with them allows the player to experience the communal aspect that makes titles like Animal Crossing so memorable.
  • Island growth that mirrors progress: As players spend time on the island, it shifts from gray and desolate to colorful and lively, echoing the way a New Horizons island slowly blossoms over time.
  • Decorating and personalization: Players can collect items, craft, and upgrade a campsite in Cozy Grove as they please, which can impact the ambiance. Decorating can also affect pets, flowers, fruit trees, and more, which is reminiscent of how decor and upkeep affect the island rating in New Horizons.

Animal Crossing Fans Have a Title to Make The Wait Tolerable

While not exactly like *Animal Crossing*, *Cozy Grove* offers a similar relaxing and creative experience that keeps players engaged. Since new *Animal Crossing* games typically come out after several years on Nintendo consoles, it looks like fans might be waiting a while for the next installment.

I’ve been really enjoying *Cozy Grove* lately! If you’re like me and love *Animal Crossing* but want something new to sink your teeth into right now, this game is perfect. It has that same relaxing feel of taking care of things, making friends with cute characters, and slowly building up a world to your liking. Honestly, if you don’t want to wait for the next *Animal Crossing* game, this haunted island is absolutely worth checking out!

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2025-09-24 02:05