STACK #255 January 2026

FEATURE GAMING

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the fifth main game in the franchise, sitting alongside a handful of spinoffs. Here’s a quick look at what they were and when they hit… 2001 Animal Crossing Nintendo 64 The originator was born, released for Nintendo 64 solely in Japan and known as D ō butsu no Mori , which translates as Animal Forest . Later that same year the game was ported to GameCube, entitled D ō butsu no Mori +. Australia had to wait two years for the GameCube version’s release. 2005 Animal Crossing: Wild World Nintendo DS The second in the series saw the player moving to a somewhat more remote village, with similar gameplay to the original release. But this time it was portable! 2008 Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City Wii The series returned to console, with motion controls introduced. Despite the title, we’re still talking village life rather than any big sea of skyscrapers – they were a bus ride away for all-important shopping expeditions! The game, which supported the Wii Speak microphone peripheral, went on to be the 21st highest selling Nintendo Wii release, with over three million copies sold. 2012 Animal Crossing: New Leaf 3DS A return to portability heralded a case of mistaken identity, as the townsfolk believed you to be the new mayor. Several gameplay enhancements provided evolution rather than revolution, which fans were perfectly happy with. 2015 amiibo Sixteen Animal Crossing -themed models joined the amiibo collection of figurines with embedded chips to enhance gameplay in several Nintendo titles, including many non AC releases. The first of five series of collectible Animal TAKING A NOOK – UH, LOOK – BACK… We got our decorator on in this spinoff release that saw us decorating homes for villagers to their specifications. Amiibo cards unlocked more characters to carry out work for, too. 2015 Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival Wii U It was time for merrymaking, in this spinoff game that bore more than a passing resemblance to Mario Party and relied heavily on amiibo action from figurines and/or cards. 2017 Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp The series went camping on Android and iOS devices. 2020 Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch The world rejoiced as Animal Crossing finally made a main series return – this time straddling both portability and home console play in one clever package! Crossing amiibo cards was also released. 2015 Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer 3DS

It’s been a sensation on the Switch, bringing people worldwide together in good times and bad, and this month Animal Crossing: New Horizons is receiving a Switch 2 upgrade. Let’s dive into the series’ history, but first, we’ll check out what’s new in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition … Words Amy Flower WHAT’S NEW ON SWITCH 2? The new and improved Switch 2 Feel like shouting? Good, because with the new megaphone – an in-game currency purchase at Nook’s Cranny - you can use the Switch 2’s inbuilt microphone to track down your island friends by calling out their FANTASY ISLAND! FORMAT: GENRE: Social simulation MULTIPLAYER: Yes

experience – available as an upgrade if you have the original Switch game – offers up a raft of enhancements that utilise the new console’s features to make island life even more special. The first noticeable difference

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is out Jan 15

names. Even if they’re on the other side of the island, they’ll hear you calling. Want to bring more friends in on the experience? Sure thing! Up to 12 players can now join in the fun on one island online, or eight via local wireless play. Meanwhile, you can use the new GameChat feature to talk with friends while playing, and if you have a USB-C camera connected, you can even see each other.

is, when playing on a TV, the crisp visuals, now hitting your screen in luscious 4K resolution – if you have a 4K TV, of course. You know how the Joy-Con 2 can double as a mouse now? Well, Animal Crossing: New Horizons now supports the control method, allowing you to do things like redecorating your

home, rearranging furniture, creating custom designs, and even posting to bulletin boards more intuitively.

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