In fact, a lot of the player-made systems that have cropped up as a consequence of its overwhelming success have exposed an alarming dark side to this supposedly wholesome game. It makes a lot of sense – Animal Crossing has become a serene salve for the millions of people stuck at home due to the coronavirus, but not every community development related to this game has been wholesome. Personally, I don’t have time for that, but there are hordes of people who have latched onto the game with admirable gusto. It wants me to check in every day, work to its schedule and meet its spectral standards so I can get a little dog with a guitar to come play ‘Wonderwall’ in my plaza. Yet, as the pandemic has trudged along, I’ve found myself increasingly disillusioned with this – admittedly – great game. Of course, I’m worried about the weeds and my ninja rabbit neighbour Snake who’s probably been aching to tell me about his workout regimen, that loveable little rascal.

I put the game down one day in late March and I haven’t been back. I’m scared to go back to my town in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Animal crossing wild world