10 Video Games That Let You Brutally Mess With Other Players
3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Messing With Others’ Islands)
When it released in March of 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons became a massive hit, with the series’ expanded formula being unexpectedly useful in supporting people’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After all, players can relax while spending hundreds of hours fishing, decorating, gardening, listening to calming music, and generally chilling out on their personalized virtual island. Friends (and strangers) can even bond by exploring each other’s homes, sharing resources, and doing other things to strengthen their social connections.
In providing such an open means of access, however, Animal Crossing: New Horizons also allows villagers with mischievous intentions to run amuck across any new location that’ll have them.
Primarily, they can alter landscapes in varied and detrimental ways, including chopping down trees, removing flowers, and digging holes to completely disrupt the vibe and ecosystem of their host’s home. Plus, visitors can suddenly steal (or mysteriously leave) all sorts of items; write misleading or antagonizing notes on bulletin boards; and even convince neighbors to move.
Therefore, it’s entirely possible for the villager who owns the island to be totally confused, upset, and even harmed by what their guest does (especially if said guest is given Best Friend status).