10 Video Games That Didn't Go FAR ENOUGH
4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing is a franchise that is near and dear to so many. From its beginnings on the GameCube to a thoroughly underappreciated mobile offering in the form of Pocket Camp, it is known for cute characters, pick-up-put-down gameplay and menial tasks that are far more fun than they have any right to be.
The latest, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, is perhaps the series' best game, with plenty of elements from past entries being refined for its debut on the Nintendo Switch. However, so many annoyances that plagued previous games remained, and though there are hours upon hours of fun to be had, the perfect island getaway always feels restrictive.
Most of what is done in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is for aesthetic purposes. Arranging flower displays, meticulously reorganizing garden decorations or filling out Blathers' museum all serve to make running around the island a more pleasing experience to look at.
Only a few items in the game provoke new gameplay mechanics, and while social elements are included, it never feels like there's anything for multiple players to do. It's a beloved franchise for so many reasons, but so much of it feels surface level, and it should have offered more substance this time around.