Highlights

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons continued the series' success, offering players a cozy escape with familiar gameplay elements.
  • The next Animal Crossing game is likely to follow 'New' subtitle trend, focusing on new beginnings and creative possibilities for players.
  • Speculation suggests the next title may be 'Animal Crossing: New Dawn' or 'New Heights,' promising a fresh and exciting experience for fans.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been one of Nintendo's most successful titles in the 2020s, after being released during a worldwide pandemic and being the perfect escape for those who needed a pleasant distraction. It is still widely considered one of the best Animal Crossing games ever made, so whatever comes next for the franchise certainly has big shoes to fill. Unfortunately, news of the next Animal Crossing has only been fueled by rumors up to this point, with some rumors even pointing to 2026 as a potential release year for the game. As such, fans will likely need to wait a couple more years before they see what's next for the series.

While not much is currently known about the next Animal Crossing game, there are plenty of things that can be assumed about it based on the series' iconic cozy social simulation formula. It can be assumed that players will be allowed to participate in various activities like fishing, catching insects, and hunting fossils. The next Animal Crossing game will also presumably feature plenty of familiar returning characters, a multitude of customization options, and a cute open-ended story to drive everything home. However, all of that said, there is yet another characteristic that seems almost certain about the next Animal Crossing game, and it has little to do with its gameplay.

animal crossing player on undeveloped island with two axes
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Animal Crossing's Next Title Will Likely Follow the Naming Scheme of the Last Two Games

The Last Two Mainline Animal Crossing Games Have Had the Word 'New' in Their Subtitles

It may seem like an insignificant detail to point out, but it's true nonetheless — the last two mainline Animal Crossing games have had the word "new" in their subtitles. Animal Crossing: New Leaf was released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2012 to very positive reviews, as many felt it took full advantage of the 3DS' stereoscopic effects to make the world feel tangible and real. It was the first game to include the word "new" in its title, and its mainline successor continued the trend.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which is also considered to be one of the best Animal Crossing games, launched in 2020 on the Nintendo Switch, garnering universal acclaim for its visuals, progression, crafting system, and city-building mechanics. More than anything else, it placed an unprecedented amount of power and creative liberty into the player's hands — a highly requested feature in modern gaming. It is still enjoyed by many to this day, so the only question is where the series will go next.

'New' Will Likely Be Included in the Next Animal Crossing Game's Subtitle

As the last two mainline Animal Crossing installments included the word "new" in their subtitles, it would only make sense for the next game to include it as well and round out the "new" trilogy. It's currently unknown what the next Animal Crossing's full title will be, though it's largely irrelevant to the gameplay. That being said, it's possible to speculate on some possible titles based on what the phrases "new leaf" and "new horizons" imply.

New Leaf's subtitle comes from the idiom "turn over a new leaf," which means "to start fresh." New Horizons' subtitle, on the other hand, comes from the idiom "explore new horizons," which means "to explore new opportunities, ideas, and possibilities." Each one of these subtitles implies going beyond where one once was, which likely means the next Animal Crossing game will follow the same naming scheme.

Specifically, it would make sense for the next Animal Crossing game to be named something like Animal Crossing: New Dawn, meaning "a new beginning," or Animal Crossing: New Heights, which would fit right in with the rumors that the next Animal Crossing will include a shopping mall in a bustling city. Whatever the next Animal Crossing's name ends up being, it seems almost guaranteed to include the word "new," likely providing an all-new experience right along with it.