Video Game Keeps People Sane During COVID-19

During quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many people have had to find ways to keep themselves busy. Without the simple things of eating out, going to the movies, or walking around the mall, there has been a little less social interaction in the world. However, some have found a new way of interacting through the video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. 

Animal Crossing is a social simulation game developed by Nintendo. The player lives in a village of anthropomorphic animal neighbors and performs various tasks, such as fishing, bug-catching, digging up fossils, and pulling weeds. The series first debuted in 2001 and has grown since then.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released on March 20, 2020, as the pandemic became widespread. It broke console game records, selling five million digital copies in the first month. It has also become the best-selling game of the Animal Crossing series and the second best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch console, with over 22 million units sold. 

This success can be partially attributed to it being released during the pandemic, with players seeking a bit of calm and escapism during a worldwide stay-at-home order. The game continues to release minor updates with new content to keep players invested. The next update is due sometime this fall, in time for Halloween. 

Ana Cantu, a frequent player of Animal Crossing New Horizons since late May or early June of this year, said: “Animal Crossing was my way of going outside when we were told to stay indoors, and it was my way of keeping my sanity intact amidst this pandemic.”