Animal Crossing is one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises that started around 2002 and has been going strong since. Fans of the series can notice the progression through the art style that has since smoothed and flushed out thanks to simple details within flowers, rain, snow, and footprints in the sand around the beaches.
Not only has the style of the game developed incredibly throughout the years, but the cover art is also a great way for fans to look at how well the game has transformed over the years. Granted, not all the games received amazing art, but most have been gifted with beautiful first glances at what it entails. Looking at all the games in the series, this is the ranking from least to most amazing-looking cover art.
8 Pocket Camp (2017)
Even though Pocket Camp is a later addition to the Animal Crossing franchise, the cover art was not as exciting as some of the other games in the series. Granted, the cover art was made to be simple for mobile users and there isn’t a lot of space to create such interesting designs like the rest of the series, but it still ranks as one of the least appealing cover arts.
While the game itself has developed in its art style, showing off the smoother textures and character design, the cover leaves fans wanting more like they usually see. The cover art explains the game well enough by showing the simple design of the van and the tent with a few villagers, but it's pretty basic nonetheless.
7 Animal Crossing (2002)
As the first Animal Crossing game in the franchise, there is no doubt that it doesn't fit with the rest of the series' art style. It's simple and lacking in what becomes common in the rest of the series. It shows the iconic house style that is in every game.
However, it doesn't show off some of the other games mechanics that is so popular, and only has a few villagers rather than what is usually at the center of the games cover, an abundance of characters.
6 Happy Home Designer (2015)
Happy Home Designer was a spin-off of the series for the Nintendo 3DS and didn't have a lot of the options that most of the franchise games give like fishing and catching bugs, however, it did give players the option to design homes. Players will accept tasks from Tom Nook to design villagers homes with more content like outdoor furniture.
While the game gives players a new spin on what is normally part of the game, the cover art is busy and bright. Showcasing some of the more iconic characters in the game like Tom Nook and some villagers, players can gather what the game is about pretty easily, as well as how it is different than most games. However, it is not as pretty as some of the other games listed.
5 Amiibo Festival (2015)
Another spin-off of the main series, Amiibo Festival is similar to Mario Party, giving players mini-games with different modes. There are eight total modes to the game including board games, amiibo card battle and desert island escape.
And like Mario Party, the cover art resembles Nintendo's other mini-game series with Isabelle holding a dice block and steps of the cobblestone resembling spots for players like a board game. With iconic characters and villagers at the front screen, it's a beautiful and new design for the art.
4 Animal Crossing: City Folk (2008)
City Folk not only expanded on the Animal Crossing franhcise, but brought in a new mechanic that was never done before, being able to travel to the city! Because of this, having the bus in the background is a beautiful design, giving players enough infromation in the background to get them excited to play such a new game.
It is a busy cover, which can be overwhelming for those new to the series, but for those who have experience with the game, fans can pick out what is new easily with just the cover.
3 Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2013)
New Leaf is one mid-release of the series that isn't a spin-off or mobile game, giving players more content that wasn't necessarily a side game.
The cover art is a basic design that becomes common in most of the franchise, not only showing characters but some beautiful scenary such as the structures in the background, exciting players to dive into what the game will give them.
2 Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005)
While Wild World is one of the first games in the franchise, the cover art is a unique look that transformed the cover art into what it is now. Besides just showing a simple house with a few villagers, the cover now represents what the game is entirely.
While players will never have the pleasure of being able to live in a whole orb like it shows on the cover, it does represent the large plot of land with an abundance of things that can be done and the different buildings surrounding the land. It shows some of the best parts of the game as well as showing the staple characters that is in the game.
1 Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020)
As the newest addition to the Animal Crossing franchise, it is no wonder that this is at the top of the list. Not only is the art in the gameplay is magnificent, but the cover art showcases just how far the franchise has gone with their art style.
With smooth round shapes, beautifully complimentary colors and unique details with the island and boat in the background, New Horizons properly shows the franchise in a new light. The cover is not crowded, allowing old and new fans to take in what is involved properly while still feeling there is ample mechanics in the game.