Animal Crossing: New Horizons marks the longest time between the release of two main Animal Crossing series games at 7 years, 4 months, and 12 days from Animal Crossing: New Leaf's release in Japan on November 8, 2012. Animal Crossing is Nintendo’s tentpole social simulator franchise that launched in 2001. Think about it like you’d think about the Sims — except it’s much more chill and you can plant trees, fish. Animal Crossing Timeline Animal Crossing is a social simulation games series created by Katsuya Eguchi and Hisashi Nogami and developed for Nintendo. It was first released on April 14, 2001in Japan. The games center around a player living in a village with anthropomorphic inhabitants.

If you’ve logged on to the internet in the last week or so, you’ve probably seen a lot of tweets about money hungry raccoons named Tom or animals crossing…. or something.

Don’t be alarmed. I assure you everything is OK. The social distancing hasn’t gotten to people’s heads just yet. When did animal crossing city folk come out. There are just a bunch of people on your Twitter timeline playing Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons that released over the weekend for Switch.

Confused as to what that is? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered here. This is everything you need to know about Animal Crossing.

So, what is Animal Crossing?

Animal Crossing is Nintendo’s tentpole social simulator franchise that launched in 2001. Think about it like you’d think about the Sims — except it’s much more chill and you can plant trees, fish and perform other work-related tasks for bells (cash).

It’s latest title, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, is a Nintendo Switch exclusive and the franchise’s first installment since 2012 when Animal Crossing: New Leaf dropped for the Nintendo 3DS — great game, btw.

So what do you do in animal crossing?

Logic pro computer. So, in this game you’re transported to a deserted island owned by Nook Incorporated (more on that later) and your overall goal, ultimately, is to turn it into a utopia.

On day one you’re given a tent and sent on missions to set the other islanders up. Eventually, you start to fish, collect fossils, and perform other tasks to make the island a habitable space.

What kind of animal are you?

You’re not. At the jump you get to create your own human and then you’re off on your deserted island experience with your new raccoon buddies, Timmy and Tommy. Wild, I know.

Wait, where are the animals?!? I want animals!

So you live on this island with a bunch of animals that have human-like traits. They walk, talk and interact with you as if they were people — just with animal heads.

More and more animals visit the island as the game progresses and it’s your job to build it up and convince them that it’s a nice place to live.

Animal Crossing Timeline Cartoon

What is all this I’m seeing about raccoons?

DON’T TRUST ‘EM.

Nook Inc. is a family-owned business run by Tom Nook (the dad raccoon) and his two kids Timmy and Tommy. Once you get to the island, Tom hooks you up with a tent that you eventually pay off.

After that they hook you up with a loan of a whopping 98,000 bells (the island’s currency) to buy a house from Nook. You are eventually able to upgrade your house… for another 198,000 bells from Nook. And that’s kind of how the game goes.

You’re basically Nook’s island servant…but you still have a ton of fun fishing and farming and junk so it’s all good!

Animal Crossing Games In Order

So should I play this game?

Absolutely! It’s exactly the kind of calming fun that you’re looking for right now while you’re social distancing. There’s online multiplayer, so if you can get it and convince your friends to get it you’re all set.

If you have a Nintendo Switch, you can get it for $59.99 from the Nintendo store right now. If can swing it, it’s a good time.