I don't play Animal Crossing: New Horizons anymore, but it still does one thing for me every year that no other game can
Dec. 31, 2023Opinion | I still turn to Animal Crossing: New Horizons to mark the same occasion each year
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Watching the countdown with Isabelle and the gang makes the whole affair feel a little less lonely, and every heartwarming interaction offers some comfort. When it comes to seasonal celebrations, New Year’s Eve is one occasion I’ve never really wanted to make a big deal of - especially for the past few years. But in times like these, when it can feel hard to celebrate the end of another year, much less look forward to the start of a new one, I’m glad to have a little virtual space where I can mark the milestone of making it through another year in my own small way.
Old acquaintance
I played it every day for two years before I finally felt ready to let go a little, and move on from the sandy shores that had given me so much support. Eventually, I went from playing it all the time, to not really playing it much at all as the updates for the game came to a close. But even so, I kept on finding myself coming back towards the end of December just to see out my year.
In many ways, it feels apt that a game that’s done so much for me continues to help me mark the annual milestone of making it through another year. As silly as it may sound, returning to my island is a little like going back home, and seeing the villagers who I once spent so much time with is like seeing old friends again. And isn’t that part of what New Year’s is all about? Auld Lang Syne and all that? Seeing old acquaintances, remembering what’s important to you, reflecting on how far you’ve come? Or in my case, just being proud I’ve gotten through another 12 months.
Just as Kiki said, I’m so glad I can see in the New Year with these silly characters who have meant so much to me, and gotten me through some hard times. I may not play Animal Crossing: New Horizons the way I used to, but I’ll never forget all it’s done for me, and continues to do each time New Year’s Eve rolls around again.
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I started out writing for the games section of a student-run website as an undergrad, and continued to write about games in my free time during retail and temp jobs for a number of years. Eventually, I earned an MA in magazine journalism at Cardiff University, and soon after got my first official role in the industry as a content editor for Stuff magazine. After writing about all things tech and games-related, I then did a brief stint as a freelancer before I landed my role as a staff writer here at GamesRadar+. Now I get to write features, previews, and reviews, and when I’m not doing that, you can usually find me lost in any one of the Dragon Age or Mass Effect games, tucking into another delightful indie, or drinking far too much tea for my own good.
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