3 reasons Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect game to play right now

With so many staying inside and self-isolating, Animal Crossing: New Horizons couldn’t have come out at a better time. Here are three reasons it’s the game you should be playing right now.

With so many social distancing, self-isolating, or self-quarantining during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, people are turning to television, films, books, and video games to stay occupied while remaining inside. And Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out at the perfect time to become a comforting distraction for many as this pandemic unfolds.

The latest addition to the Animal Crossing franchise, Animal Crossing: New Horizons released in late March and has taken the world by storm in a somewhat surprising way. Nintendo Switch players have taken to Twitter to share their islands, characters, costumes, and more — all aspects of the virtual world the game enables players to build and customize. And given how little control we have over our own world currently, it’s nice to fall into a routine and make decisions in this virtual setting instead.

If the praise all over the internet isn’t enough reason for you to give this game a shot, though, here are three more reasons it’s what you should be playing right now.

It’s Relatively Stress-Free

While some video games come with the anxieties of losing lives or being unable to level up, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is fairly stress-free. Sure, the goal is to build a bigger house and pay off debts, and there are dangers (like those sneaky tarantulas), but the gameplay is laidback. If you do get eaten by a tarantula or stung by wasps, there are really no negative consequences. And there’s no pressure to “level up” quickly, as there’s still plenty to do within the game regardless of where you stand financially with Tom Nook.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is easy to mindlessly lose yourself in — and we could all use a break from thinking and stressing right now.

You Can Play With Friends

While social distancing implies no physical contact with friends and loved ones, it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t spend time with them digitally. And given that Animal Crossing allows players to visit the islands of their friends, it’s the perfect way to hangout with those you can’t physically go visit right now. Sure, it may not beat going outside and adventuring IRL, but it does make for a pretty fun alternative.

As a bonus, visiting friends within the game is also a great way to find new items — and we all love discovering new things, especially if we can sell them to the Nooks!

It Gives Players Something to Look Forward To

With travel being restricted and large gatherings postponed indefinitely, there’s not a whole lot in the outside world to look forward to in the next few months. When it comes to Animal Crossing, however, each day brings a new adventure — whether it’s a larger house, an addition to your island, a new resident, or even new critters to capture.

With so many new surprises constantly being added to the gameplay, it’s no wonder people are turning to Animal Crossing during these tough times. After all, we could all use some pleasant things to look forward to — even if it’s just an expansion on a virtual home.

Have you been playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons to pass the time? If not, what are some video games you have been playing?