Highlights

  • Animal Crossing could improve fossils' value and meaning in the next game.
  • Possible changes include mini-games, new Blather-approved items for fossil hunting, and fossil arrangement in the museum.
  • If successful, this update could lead to other museum collectible changes and influence other aspects of the game.

Aside from the plentiful amount of unique-looking villagers, one of the biggest reasons Animal Crossing is so popular is the vast number of items to collect. Players can gather and use any of them however they see fit, and they're responsible for making one's home and residential area feel more alive. While the next Animal Crossing has a big choice with its setting, there's no doubt it will still have numerous collectibles for players to gawk at or have fun with. However, there is one item in particular that, while already a staple in the franchise, could benefit from some changes in a future title.

Every Animal Crossing game is full of items that are either purely decorative or interactable by players and the villagers. The museum, a structure that has become synonymous with the franchise, is where players can submit special collectibles to gather as a form of in-game and personal achievement. Of all the special items, fossils are the easiest to acquire and offer as all one has to do to get them is dig in marked spots where they could potentially be. However, the next game could change how they are obtained or presented so that they'll have more value and meaning than in previous titles.

Animal Crossing Steve Alex and Villagers-1
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How Animal Crossing’s Fossils Could Be Changed

The next Animal Crossing has a golden opportunity to turn a collectible that some might see as an afterthought into one that's fun to obtain and offer to the museum. While there are many different ways to change the game's fossil mechanic, a few that could be easy for Nintendo to implement include:

  • A mini-game where Blathers and the player can dust off the fossils together to determine what species the fossil belongs to
  • Allowing the players to arrange the different pieces they've collected however they want in the museum
  • Adding new Blather-approved items that can help locate small fossils or excavate and deliver ones of the larger variety
  • Giving Blathers the ability to tell you if the fossils that can be collected within the day are ones the player already has

If there's any way to make Blathers a secret weapon in the next Animal Crossing, it's by giving the fossils these changes. The modifications may not appeal to those who are used to how the collectible is handled, but they can at least guarantee a fresh new experience for players. If properly executed, altering how fossils work in future titles could make many appreciate the item more than ever before.

How a Fossil Update Could Lead to Other Changes in Animal Crossing

If Nintendo sees that the fossil changes are well-received by fans, the company might consider updating other museum collectibles. For example, the numerous types of fish that players can donate might include an activity where players can feed what they've managed to catch. Other museum-related items such as those belonging to the art and bug department can also have unique activities that make gathering them more beneficial. Even if the next Animal Crossing were to go the opposite direction after New Horizons, such changes would be relevant and groundbreaking to the franchise, regardless of where the games go.

Modifications to the fossil mechanics can also influence updates to other aspects that tie into the changes. For example, the villagers could be given the ability to help players with fossils or other museum-based item activities to speed up the process. While having other aspects involved with the museum collectible process might feel intrusive, it does at least offer something different to the franchise. If Nintendo decides that the next Animal Crossing should have changes to one of its important features, it's possible that the fossils could be the first step to many major updates.

There's still no telling what's next for Animal Crossing after New Horizons. While many quality-of-life changes, mechanics, and features will likely be carried over to the next title, there's still room for many improvements. Implementing an update to how fossils are handled could be what the future mainline entry needs to distinguish itself from its predecessors while improving the collectible's value and status for players.