Every Animal Crossing Game Ranked from Worst to Best

Nintendo’s beloved franchise centered around a friendly animal village is called Animal Crossing, and enthusiasts have immersed themselves in these games for more than two decades now. The most recent installment in the series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, was one of the top-performing titles on the Nintendo Switch, and past versions have enjoyed comparable success on their respective systems. Over time, the franchise has undergone numerous modifications, generally for the better, but certain elements have been omitted as the series progresses. Fans are excited to discover what the next Animal Crossing game will bring for the future of the series on the potential Nintendo Switch 2 and which enhancements will be implemented.

Each game within the Animal Crossing series has its unique strengths, yet it’s evident that certain titles outshine others, despite all being generally well-received. Here, we’ve compiled and arranged a list of what we believe to be the top-tier games in this beloved series:

[List of ranked Animal Crossing games]

8) Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival

The concept of Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival had immense promise, with the potential to compete alongside the popular Mario Party series. However, it failed to maintain its initial momentum and essentially vanished quickly. Despite successfully capturing the warmth and appeal of the series, the gameplay felt dull and awkward. Numerous factors hindered its success, but a sequel could breathe new life into it if Nintendo makes substantial improvements. The aesthetics and overall identity are already established, but everything else about Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival requires adjustments.

A follow-up to amiibo Festival should definitely enhance its mini-games, offering more diversity but ensuring they remain enjoyable and captivating. Frequent encounters with these mini-games are essential as well. One key modification should be streamlining the amiibo functionality, which currently makes gameplay tedious and challenging due to excessive reliance on amiibo. In a sequel, amiibo could still be utilized, but their role should not necessitate them functioning as a rolling device. Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival was underwhelming in the series, but with proper development, it has potential. If developed like on Nintendo Switch 2, it could result in an outstanding sequel.

7) Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer

Compared to other spin-offs like “amiibo Festival”, “Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer” stood out more successfully. In fact, it was incorporated as an expansion for “Animal Crossing: New Horizons”. Instead of managing a town or village, players focused on designing homes for the Villagers in this game. Although it had some innovative concepts, it didn’t quite measure up to the main series games and lacked the depth needed to keep players coming back.

In “Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer,” the freedom to design became a refreshing change for the series, although it narrowed the range of player actions using that freedom. By focusing on one aspect, Nintendo was able to highlight its unique feature, which players appreciated. However, the gameplay soon felt repetitive and lacked sufficient rewards or challenges. This issue was addressed in “Animal Crossing: New Horizons,” where it combined with the core gameplay of the series, demonstrating the potential of this spin-off.

6) Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp represented one of Nintendo’s initial forays into mobile gaming, and it generally proved successful. The daily activities in Animal Crossing suit short play sessions on portable devices perfectly. Initially, Pocket Camp was quite minimalist, but subsequent updates enriched the game with a wider range of content and introduced innovative ways to engage. However, some players found issue with the in-game transactions and the occasional delays characteristic of mobile games.

Nintendo has recently released the fully paid game titled “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp“. While

5) Animal Crossing: City Folk

In a significant leap for the Animal Crossing series, Animal Crossing: City Folk on the Wii introduced multiplayer elements more extensively than ever before. This allowed up to four players to reside in individual homes within a single village and visit a city, creating an experience that felt somewhat like a Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) game. Nevertheless, Nintendo’s focus on multiplayer aspects was perhaps too intense, leaving solo players feeling somewhat neglected. Furthermore, the return of Animal Crossing to a home console meant longer gaming sessions, which contrasted with the brief, casual play that the series is renowned for.

In its multiplayer expansion, Animal Crossing: City Folk didn’t make significant advancements in the series’ primary aspects. To some players, it appeared more like an upgraded version of Animal Crossing: Wild World, with a new coat and the addition of multiplayer. This setup paved the way for the multiplayer features in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but it didn’t offer much uniqueness on its own. It should be noted that this doesn’t make it a poor game, but other Animal Crossing titles excel beyond it.

4) Animal Crossing

The story begins with the game “Animal Crossing”, either on the GameCube or Nintendo 64 in Japan. Although it may not be as engaging nowadays, this game laid the foundation for the entire series and helped it achieve its current level of popularity. Upon its release, players were captivated by its endearing qualities and straightforward mechanics. To this day, many consider it their favorite “Animal Crossing” game.

Initially, upon its debut, Animal Crossing was groundbreaking, setting new standards in the gaming world. Upon its arrival in America, it boasted additional features that broadened the gameplay experience even more. The core mechanics of Animal Crossing offered a tranquil and comfortable atmosphere, allowing players to engage at their leisure. The rewards and sense of progression drew players back repeatedly.

3) Animal Crossing: Wild World

In a fresh twist for the series, Animal Crossing: Wild World offered an unprecedented gaming experience by letting players enjoy it wherever they went, thanks to its compatibility with the portable Nintendo DS console. This mobility transformed the casual gameplay of Animal Crossing into a versatile pastime, enabling players to drop by their virtual village to accomplish tasks or make significant progress from any location. The newfound freedom that came with this handheld version of the game made Animal Crossing: Wild World a memorable addition for many enthusiasts.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to say that the touchscreen in Animal Crossing: Wild World revolutionized my gaming experience. It wasn’t just about catching fish or bugs anymore; it was about organizing my inventory, crafting messages, and even sketching designs for clothes! The game took customization to a whole new level, letting me tweak the environment to my heart’s content. And let’s not forget that Animal Crossing: Wild World was the first in the series to offer online play. It truly set the stage for all future games in this beloved franchise.

2) Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s widely recognized that “Animal Crossing: New Leaf” is among the top games in its series. Some enthusiasts argue that it’s the best Animal Crossing game, but this preference depends on what players seek in their gaming experience. In essence, “New Leaf” enhanced and refined everything that was previously offered in the Animal Crossing franchise. For the first time, players were given the role of the town mayor instead of working for Tom Nook, although they still had interactions with him indirectly.

For the first time, residents were given the freedom to mold their town according to their preferences in “New Leaf.” The expanded player customization was more engaging than ever due to these new powers, sparking a wave of creativity among players. Fresh activities and characters were introduced, with Isabelle becoming a popular favorite. Moreover, an increased number of events were available, and players could utilize the SpotPass feature on their Nintendo 3DS devices to engage with friends. “New Leaf” remains popular today, with many original players still managing their initial villages.

1) Animal Crossing: New Horizons

In the latest installment of the series, titled “Animal Crossing: New Horizons“, stands out as the finest addition so far. While it encounters some repetitive dialogue and general monotony, particularly in contrast with its predecessor “Animal Crossing: New Leaf“, the convenience upgrades and novel elements effectively compensate for this. The game “New Horizons” presents an expansive and daring design, allowing players to customize their very own island.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons” has emerged as the most comprehensive game to date, offering a wealth of activities for players. Although it felt somewhat sparse at its initial release, an array of free updates and additional paid content have significantly expanded the content available. The multiplayer options also enhance the game’s appeal, making it even more enjoyable when playing with friends. A significant factor in the game’s success is its launch during the pandemic, resonating deeply with many fans. Nintendo has announced that players will be able to transfer their “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” data to the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, extending the game’s lifespan even further.

2025-05-17 14:40