Villagers from Animal Crossing New Horizons roast us on our return

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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.

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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