Animal Crossing New Horizons Is Still Worth It In 2026
Last year marked 5 years since the release of Animal Crossing New Horizons, the game that is now famous for its unfortunate association with the Worldwide Pandemic.
For me though, it was always going to be a special game.
I want to share some of my favorite snaps from my time playing this cozy game and show you why I feel that ACNH will live on in the hearts of its players long after it stops being popular.
In celebration of the 5-year anniversary of Animal Crossing New Horizons, I’ve opened up my gates for the very first time so you can come and visit my island (Dream Code at the bottom of this post).
But first, read my review of the game I spent well over 1000 hours playing as I answer one of the most asked questions on my socials.
The History of Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing has been around since 2001 and is a highly adored video game franchise that continues to captivate players of all ages. Developed by Nintendo, it’s one of the most loved life simulation games and is often coined as the franchise that birthed the genre of cozy games.
It’s an incredibly wholesome and captivating game where you can customize your own character, build and decorate your home and island, and make friends with adorable animal characters. With each new installment, the Animal Crossing franchise has continued to evolve, offering new features, expanded gameplay, and an ever-growing fan base.
With the exception of the Japanese exclusives, here is the chronological timeline of each well-known Animal Crossing game release:
- Animal Crossing (2001) – released on Nintendo GameCube
- Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005) – released on Nintendo DS
- Animal Crossing: City Folk (2008) – released on Wii
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012) – released on Nintendo 3DS
- Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer (2015) – released on Nintendo 3DS
- Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival (2015) – released on Wii U
- Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp (2017) – released on iOS and Android
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) – released on Nintendo Switch
My Animal Crossing Journey
My personal experience with the franchise started not long after the release of Wild World.
I was introduced to the game by a friend which prompted my first-ever console purchase for myself – the Nintendo DS. A pink brick of a console that came with the Dachshund and Friends version of Nintendogs.
Many days and nights were treasured playing Wild World and many college classes were missed #noregrets!
My college years were a confusing time, I felt very lost and lonely. I jumped from one bad relationship to another and couldn’t make any friends because I was such an awkward introvert, so Wild World gave me the comfort I was craving.
I missed out on City Folk and never bought a Nintendo 3DS or Wii U, but when I heard about the upcoming release of New Horizons I played Pocket Camp for a short while in 2019.
But in all honesty, it didn’t hold my attention.
2015-2021 were my Destiny 1 & 2 years on Xbox One. A period of time when I exclusively played more looter shooters and JRPG’s than anything else, encouraged by my fiance who wanted to play more co-op games together.
That’s right, I don’t just play cozy games folks.
With the release of ACNH on March 19th, 2020 and the advent of a global pandemic, my love of aggressive and fast-paced games waned and my attention shifted to smaller, more comforting games to get me through this stressful time.
Is Animal Crossing New Horizons Worth It Buying? Pros & Cons
If you’ve never played Animal Crossing New Horizons before or you’re wondering if you should restart your island for the umpteenth time let’s take a look at the pros and cons of playing this cozy game in 2026:
Pros:
- Villager relationships – the bonds I’ve made with certain villagers (Joey, Ketchup, Goose) make me want to revisit the game each season to check in with them so they know I still care.
- Customization options – design my own clothes, display them in the shop and watch as the villagers wear them, it will never get old.
- Relaxing music – it’s not as memorable as Wild World but it still really relaxing.
- Seasonal events keep the game fresh without feeling repetitive and I can finish collecting the pieces I missed out on in previous years.
- Appeals to my nostalgia because I played it during Lockdown with my fiance and friends.
- New Content is still being worked on
Cons:
- Some players may find the gameplay slow-paced and repetitive
- Can feel overwhelming for players who are new to the series or not used to open-world games
- The game may not appeal to those who prefer more story-driven games
- Be warned! Real-time gameplay mechanics can be frustrating for players who are currently playing Disney Dreamlight Valley as you can’t time-skip on the same console or you will break your DDV game
What are your pros and cons?
Compared to other life-simulation games, this one holds a special place in my heart. This cozy game created core memories for me.
Through visiting other players’ islands, I’ve been able to connect with people from all over the world who share my love for this game. It’s been amazing to see how creative and unique each person’s island is, and I’ve learned so much from exploring and sharing ideas with others.
Overall, I would say that Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch is a must-play for anyone who loves games that are relaxing, creative, and fun. It’s the perfect escape from the stresses of everyday life.
What Other Alternatives Are There to Animal Crossing New Horizons?
If you’re so over Animal Crossing though, there are plenty of alternatives available on the Nintendo Switch that offer a similar experience.
If it’s a farming life-sim game you’re after then a game that has tried to emulate many of the aspects that made Animal Crossing so wholesome is Disney Dreamlight Valley!
I’ve logged 500 hours in this game. It could be the next ACNH. But it’s heavy on Disney, so it’s not for everyone.
Visit My Island – Cozy Cove
My ACNH Creator Codes
- Creator ID: MA-3035-8819-5159
- DREAM Address: DA-3441-1317-5953
- HHN ID: RA-7401-3517-0548
Above you’ll find all my island codes. This is the first time I’ve shared my personal island which I built with my fiance. My Rep is named after our cat Tifa, who is named after Tifa from Final Fantasy 7.
This was my third reset. I lost the codes for my first and second islands. If you know how to find them I’d be eternally grateful!
Cozy Cove is a blend of cozycore, castlecore, farmcore… well, let’s be honest here – it’s two different personalities coming together so there was bound to be a clash.
My fiance got relegated to the top right of the island once he stopped playing after he returned to work, the rest of the island I finished designing myself. I would say he spent more time on Happy Homes than I did.
It would be fun to see if you can guess which ones I designed and which he did! So in summary, is Animal Crossing New Horizons still worth it? Yes, yes it is.
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