Villagers from Animal Crossing New Horizons roast us on our return


What about cute video games and guilt trips? Since my first digital puppy (in Nintendogs on the Nintendo DS) turned his back on me after a few weeks of neglect, I have fallen prey to deer-eyed animals that make me feel bad for choosing to play something else.

Animal Crossing games have a long history of blaming players, of course. Go home after a few weeks, months, or years away, and you’ll likely be dragged away for being away for so long. Despite the long life of my Nintendo 3DS, I never used it again. New leaf after six months of inactivity, fearful of how her once treasured friends Curt, Sylvia and Rosie would react. Sure, I can logically tell myself that these are pre-programmed lines spit out by fake animals, but somehow they still sting, especially if I only realistically appear once every few months after the initial gluttonous play period. The inevitable guilt trips mean I’ll probably never go back.

But of course now Animal Crossing: New Horizon‘s is getting a massive, free update, and despite not visiting my beautiful Piña Island for over a year, I went back diving last week. (Like many other Polygon staff members). Were my villagers ready to make me feel guilty? Hello boy. But I endured it, and then it was over.

If you are facing the same apprehensive feelings when dealing with the residents of your island, you are not alone! Consider this a warm-up round, to help ease your conscience. This is how some of our villagers greeted us after months (or more than a year!) Away.

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Eugene, a koala with sunglasses, tells the player:

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

Many characters refused to believe that we were real. Ghosts, mirages, a different person with the same name …

Agnes the sow, talking to the player: “Well, I guess I've finally lost my mind.  I could swear i see nicole c in front of me

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

Agnes, a sow, tells the player character: “It's a very, very… REAL mirage too.  Like, super real!  It even smells a little real, snuffle

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

Some villagers just wanted us to really feel it.

Miranda, a pink bird, to the player:

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

They also pretended to forget who we were.

A bear in sunglasses and a sweater addresses a player character in an aquarium: “Yo!  Nice to meet you.  My name is Teddy.  I really like fitness, but I bet it was a no-brainer.  I was about to ... Oh!  To bite!  Hey!  Wow, how have you been?  What is your weight on the bench?

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

Canberra, a bear, to the player character: “Okay, it's great to see you again, but you really have me worried.  You just disappeared

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

Adventures like Metroid Dread or New Pokémon Snap? Rosie, I never would!

Rosie, a purple cat, tells the player:

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

Sprinkle deserves an Academy Award for this performance.

Sprinkle, a penguin, says to the player: “Huh?  Wonderful bud ?!  No way!  It's been ... 1 year and 2 months since I last saw you!

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

Sprinkle, a penguin, says to the player: “Yes.  I counted.  I have a notebook where I mark the days.  And the pages are all stained with tears!

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

This is a bit confusing, as Zucker is one of the few characters who is dressed as a meal.

Zucker, an octopus with takoyaki sauce on his head, tells the player: “You have to stay!  Show your face around here more often.  I miss my snack partner!

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

And then there are the villagers who disguise their pain with sarcasm. I see you, Leopold.

Leopold, a lion with a green mane, tells the player:

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

A totally normal comment here …

Pashmina, a goat in a sweater, tells the player:

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

Unfortunately, I think Beau has come to realize that we all live in a simulation.

Beau, a deer, says to the player: “I tell you… You left and I was very bored.  It's almost as if nothing happened around here!

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

Ugh, that was a lot. But I hope it made going back a little easier.

Thanks to Nicole Clark, Nicole Carpenter, and Emily Heller for their contributions to this story.


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