Animal crossing is an extremely popular Nintendo game, which is popular even among non-gamers. There’s something about its cute, cozy design and gameplay style that compels players to return to their island every day. The game puts players on their own island, where they can collect bugs and fish, greet residents, decorate their homes, and even terraform the island.
There is no other game like animal crossing, although many have tried to enter the same cozy gaming niche. Many games were inspired by B.C franchise, some with better results than others. Although there hasn’t been a single game that gets this right yet Animal crossing I feel like there are several excellent titles that come very close.
10
Webfishing lets you chat while fishing
Developed by lamedeveloper
Web fishing he was only gone for about a week before he caught the attention of Animal crossing fans. It doesn’t yet have a Metacritic score, but at the time of writing, it has an extremely positive review on Steam based on over 7,500 reviews. The game’s premise is deceptively simple: Players can chat while fishing. The beauty of this game is in the interactions players can have while waiting for a bite from nearly 100 different types of fish.
The title is clearly inspired by Animal crossing with its charming dog and cat characters and colorful world design, but it brings a new twist through chat integration. The review left by the Steam user Pixel is a great example of the types of positive, healthy interactions that occur in this game: “Upon entering my first public lobby, I was warmly greeted with an invitation to a wedding ceremony. The procedures were carried out on a private island, with drinks, snacks and most importantly, bait provided!“
9
Critter Cove has a lot in common with Animal Crossing
Developed by Gentleman Rat Studios
Animal Cove It’s still in early access, so it doesn’t have a Metacritic score yet, but it’s already attracting a lot of people. Animal crossing fans. The title features animal-like characters who live and explore an open world.
As B.C, Critter Cove offers fishing, crafts and interaction with localsbut also includes agriculture and underwater exploration in some beautiful and prosperous reefs and marine locations. Players work to restore a series of islands to their former glory in a post-apocalyptic yet relaxed and cozy game.
8
Tiny Glade has fun with city design gameplay
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Little Clearing is what’s left when a city design game like Animal crossing is reduced to its essentials. The game has a Metacritic score of 74 and has already become a fan favorite in the cozy indie gaming scene. Its focus is entirely on design, removing all other gameplay mechanics. There is no combat or quests, no time or resource management, allowing players to truly take their time to create whatever their imagination conjures up.
The game calls itself a “small diorama builder,” and the design possibilities are endless here. It’s the perfect little game for anyone who wants to take advantage of the decorating and terraforming elements of Animal crossing without any of the other distractions. And since terraforming is notoriously complicated in B.C, Little Clearing offers a step up with smooth, intuitive controls for any player who just wants to create their own little house, whether it’s an elaborate castle or a small cabin in the woods.
7
Loddlenaut lets players clean up a planet and an ocean
Developed by Moon Lagoon
The once vibrant, bustling oceans of a distant planet are in desperate need of cleansing, and it’s up to the player to restore them to life. Loddlenaut. The protagonist of Loddlenaut is a diver and astronaut who was sent to the planet to help clean its waters. The title features a relaxing underwater atmosphere with vibrant colors and laid-back gameplay, and it does it well enough to earn a Metacritic score of 77.
Players control an “interstellar guardian” whose job is to clean the oceans. To do this, they will need Find and collect trash, explore and care for adorable axolotl-based aliens. As animal crossing, This game has a relaxing atmosphere and cute style that is sure to win over fans.
6
Minami Lane has a great island design
Developed by Doot, Blibloop
Players who want more island design and decoration elements Animal crossing you can find it at Minami Street, that has a Metacritic score of 78. The aim of the game is “unlock and customize buildings, manage your shops and maximize your villagers’ happiness“ and has a charming feeling similar to B.C.
Minami Street has a much smaller scope than animal crossing, with just one street, but it’s enough to keep it immersive. The game has players build and design their own street, full of life and love. The game has management simulator elements, but approaches them from a casual, low-stress perspective, perfect for Animal crossing fans.
5
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure Lets You Save a Wildlife Refuge
Developed by Ustwo Games
The premise behind Alba: a wildlife adventure and that “Even the smallest person can make a big difference.“The game, which has a Metacritic score of 79, follows the titular Alba on her mission to save the wildlife refuge of her fictional Spanish island town of Secarral. With the help of her friend Inés and the newly founded Alba and Inés Wildlife Rescue League (also known as AIWRL; current members: 2), she set out to restore the island’s natural beauty and wildlife.
The game also challenges players with upgrading different areas of the island, helping residents with side quests, and cleaning up trash. For those who love catching insects and fish animal crossing, One of Alba’s goals is to document every living creature on the island, but with a camera, not a net.
4
Wylde Flowers lets you help on the farm
Developed by Studio Drydock Pty Ltd
The story of Wylde Flores It feels generic at first, following young Tara as she arrives on the small island of Fairhaven to help out on her grandmother’s farm. The cozy farming and rural life simulator has a fun twist as Tara is not just an ordinary young girl, but also a witch. Wylde Flores has a score of 82 on Metacritic and is praised for having an engaging story and well-developed characters.
There’s a lot to do on the farm, like caring for the animals and planting and harvesting crops, as well as spells to cast and potions to brew. Like a cottegecore version of animal crossing, Tara’s story features her meeting and getting to know the locals, crafting, fishing, gathering, completing side quests, and more. The witches game also has lots of emotional moments and an underlying local mystery to uncover.
3
The Cult of the Lamb is a Darker Life Sim
Developed by Massive Monster
On the surface, Cult of the Lamb looks like a lovely and innocent game with excellent Metacritic score of 82. A closer look at the title and its gameplay reveals an adorably dark title that demands players “perform dark rituals to appease the gods,” and “destroy the unbelievers.“
Although he lacks the innocent charm of animal crossing, offers some similar features like developing a town and recruiting villagers, except instead of a charming island, players are developing a cult. The game was alternatively called Animal crossing with violence and “The Binding of Animal Crossing”, and not all B.C fans will like it. To find out if Cult of the Lamb It is a good choice for a player, Polygon suggests asking the following questions: “Have you ever wished Animal Crossing was less sweet? A little darker? Have you ever thought about sacrificing a villager?“
2
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is very similar to ACNH
Developed by Sunblink
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is the only game on this list that is not available on Steam or Switch, as it is exclusive to Apple Arcade. It’s a shame that this exclusivity makes it unavailable to many, because the game may be one of the closest experiences to Animal crossing of all the titles on this list. With an impressive high Metacritic score of 83, The cute game is worth checking out for anyone with an Apple Arcade subscription.
Island adventure is a cozy island game like Animal crossing featuring Hello Kitty and other recognizable Sanrio characters. The game allows players to customize the island, decorate the interior of houses to attract new visitors, create, solve puzzles and Embark on missions to get to know your neighbors better. It’s a very relaxed and cozy game that matches the feeling of Animal crossing franchise.
1
A Short Walk Could Be the Best Game Like Animal Crossing
Developed by adamgryu
A short walk follows the story of Claire, a young bird with an ambitious mission to climb to the top of Hawk Peak mountain. The short and sweet game has a Metacritic score of 88, the highest of any game on this list, and the praise is deserved. Everything in the game is well designed, from its cozy atmosphere and adorable style to silly side stories and a more serious overarching theme of independence, family, and growing up.
Although there are no decorations or daily tasks to complete in this game, it still has elements that make it similar to Animal crossing. Claire meets many characters along her journey, and they are as charming as any other Animal crossing villager. These new friends send Claire on side quests like collecting shells, fishing, finding lost items, and more as she hikes, climbs, and slides down the mountain. With a cozy feel, cute villagers and lots of things to collect, A short walk It’s a great accompaniment to Animal crossing.
Sources: Steam (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), Pixel/Steam, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, PolygonMetacritic (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Platform(s)
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To replace
- Released
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March 20, 2020
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo EPD
- Editor(s)
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Nintendo