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.
Many characters refused to believe that we were real. Ghosts, mirages, a different person with the same name …
Some villagers just wanted us to really feel it.
They also pretended to forget who we were.
Adventures like Metroid Dread or New Pokémon Snap? Rosie, I never would!
Sprinkle deserves an Academy Award for this performance.
This is a bit confusing, as Zucker is one of the few characters who is dressed as a meal.
And then there are the villagers who disguise their pain with sarcasm. I see you, Leopold.
A totally normal comment here …
Unfortunately, I think Beau has come to realize that we all live in a simulation.
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.
www.polygon.com