After much waiting, coupled with a delay by Nintendo to further refine it, the long-anticipated new Animal Crossing for Switch is finally on the "horizon," set to release March 20th. Building from the solid foundation of past entries, the latest iteration of this charming Nintendo-tinged sim looks to be better and more robust than ever. Elements like more flexible building mechanics, more expansive environments, and daily "Nook Miles" quests look to help enhance the experience and make Animal Crossing: New Horizons a rich, memorable experience.
Still, there are a number of fairly similar games already out for the Switch and elsewhere, and what better way to hype yourself up for this major release then to check out some of these while you wait? So without further ado, here are 10 great games to try while waiting for AC: New Horizons.
10 Don't Starve Together
While most of the games on our list possess a more overtly cheery vibe that resembles the cute AC motif, there's nothing wrong in mixing things up with a game whose tone is vastly different. Besides, the appealing sim gameplay of Don't Starve Together is quite similar to its core.
This title, a multiplayer-focused offshoot of the original Don't Starve, meshes survival horror, roguelike, and building sim gameplay, offering a deep and thrilling experience. The game puts a clever, more mature spin on the AC formula by coaxing you to build up your arsenal and expand your refuge, lest you be killed.
9 Rune Factory 4 Special
This role-playing sim tends to be somewhat overlooked, at least in the West. Yet, the Rune Factory series has quietly made a name for itself as a lavish and deep RPG experience rife with things to do and a rewarding progression system.
This revamped version of Rune Factory on Switch just might be the best way to play this charming franchise yet, with its flashier cutscenes, a harder difficulty, and "Newlywed Mode" featuring special episodes. Similar to the likes of Harvest Moon, Rune Factory balances a more traditional RPG campaign with open-ended crafting, resource gathering, and building/farming management. It's an epic, free-flowing experience dripping with satisfying content.
8 Terraria
Given that New Horizon looks to be the most expansive and flexible AC journey yet, getting acquainted with the sandbox-esque gameplay that Terraria does so well seems like a no-brainer.
While a good portion of Terraria involves going hunting and slaying hordes of monsters, much of the game also hinges on building and managing a thriving town "hub," which sort of acts as your home base. By crafting and building the required rooms and assets, more NPCs will show up at your town and allow you to expand even further. This rings similar to New Horizon's new emphasis on "starting from scratch" and taking control of the wilderness around you.
7 Undertale
Fans of role-playing sims who also fancy the more charming sensibilities of retro gaming should get a kick out of this little indie by the name of Undertale.
Like AC, there's ample content and an array of random "stuff" to do, which is subtly embedded into this seemingly simple exterior. These range from minigames that have you dodging projectiles to brain-busting puzzles. The freedom and variance in the gameplay, along with the ability to scour towns and engage in different activities, has shades of AC.
6 Moonlighter
Moonlighter provides a neat, rewarding spin on the sim/town management concept by focusing on our hero overseeing an item shop. It's a cool little role-reversal, which feels both fresh and familiar to sim fans.
Basically, you are the Tom Nook of this game, as you'll be filling out your constantly-expanding shop with goods and materials. Even the fun dungeon-crawling aspects are really just meant for you to scavenge and gather precious resources to add to your store. Added elements like customer requests take the "Nook Miles" approach of tossing specific challenges at you to mix things up.
5 My Time At Portia
Shifting gears from the flat, retro visuals of some of our prior entries, My Time at Portia allows you to take part in a dynamic, malleable environment in full 3D. The freedom granted in building, crafting, and city expansion provides countless hours of enjoyment, while the smattering of RPG traits offers a steady goal for you to strive for.
With its slew of dungeons, tasks, and abundance of goods you can gather, this game takes on a vibe that is part Minecraft and part AC.
4 Dragon Quest Builders 2
The original Dragon Quest Builders quietly became one of the more underrated RPGs in recent history with its addictive sandbox gameplay. The cool blend of traditional JRPG elements combined with town management and Minecraft-style building provided tons of fun gameplay for adventurers and scavengers alike.
Yet, this sequel expands on this lavish foundation even further by stressing cooperative multiplayer and social traits as a whole; an area that Animal Crossing excels in quite a bit.
3 Animal Crossing (GameCube)
It's probably a no-brainer that fans anticipating the latest entry of Animal Crossing would enjoy past iterations like City Folk. Yet, tracing the series back to its simpler, more humble GameCube roots can be particularly amusing. While it certainly pushed boundaries for its time - with its internal clock, seasons, and day/night transitions - it sure looks archaic in the context of 2020.
Not only can you get an Animal Crossing "101" regarding its origins, but this game's simpler, more restrictive traits will allow you to truly appreciate how much this series has evolved - and the huge leap it looks to make on Switch. Still, there is a certain charm in its more basic focus, which gives it more of a low-key, relaxed feel while still being fun.
2 Harvest Moon: Light Of Hope Special Edition
You knew it was coming - it's tough to compile a list of games in the vein of Animal Crossing without mentioning at least one Harvest Moon title. After all, this is essentially the originator that played a role in sprouting similar offshoots like AC in the first place.
This game is chock-full of free-flowing gameplay that oscillates from tending crops to slaying creatures, which will take completionists over 25 hours to burn through. The emphasis on fleshing out your farm makes this a sim-heavy romp that should click with most AC fans. The mix of story elements and open-world management makes for an in-depth journey that's tough to put down.
1 Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley isn't quite a game as much as it's a full-fledged virtual experience; and one that never seems to get old. Indie developers ConcernedApe and Chucklefish surprised just about everybody by coming out of left field with one of the richest, most delightful RPG sims of the last decade.
The main story alone will take over 50 hours, while it can take dozens more hours just getting lost in this colorful world taking on other equally fun tasks. The insane array of different activities you can take part in is truly impressive, indie or otherwise. New Horizon will have a tough time outdoing this gem of an RPG sim, though given what we know about the new features and refinements, it's certainly possible!