The setting for the next Animal Crossing could be one of the most important decisions to be made for the game. There are a lot of aspects of the Animal Crossing games that are certain to remain, since they helped to build the series up to its current status. However, the actual game can still vary wildly depending on the decisions made by the developers. The result could be a game similar to the past, or even a completely new experience. One of the deciding factors will be where the next Animal Crossing game takes place.

The sheer amount of creative projects made by Animal Crossing players is a big part of the series' charm. Given the chance to decorate towns and even entire islands to their liking, eventually some impressive creations will come out of it. In fact, the increasing amount of things that players can do with customization are easily one of the series' main draws alongside the villagers themselves. By diving into the options available, every player's Animal Crossing game can look completely different from any other, as has been shown countless times. Animal Crossing may reward creativity more greatly than any other game in Nintendo's library to date.

RELATED: How Animal Crossing Villagers Could Benefit From a Beloved Pokemon Feature

Animal Crossing's Next Location Could Be Vital to its Gameplay

Animal Crossing Settings Have Always Been Significant

A big shift in the series saw players making their own islands in New Horizons, while previous Animal Crossing games took place in small towns. While players still had the same general goal of befriending villagers and undertaking various tasks on the island, the new venue had a distinct effect on the game. Redesigning a whole island did feel like a more intense undertaking than a town, after all. For the series, this was a change of pace that helped New Horizons feel like a more distinct part of the franchise. The location of the next Animal Crossing may have a similar effect.

The setting that the developers ultimately decide on will likely have a significant effect on the focus of the next Animal Crossing. After all, some ideas may only work for certain settings. For example, a small town may not have a beach for players to decorate, but another island certainly would. Similarly, setting the game in a big city would likely have a lot of bigger building options than previous games, providing another change in structure similar to what New Horizons offered. There is more to think about regarding the setting rather than a simple change of scenery, because it could shape the whole game.

Animal Crossing's Next Setting Has Big Shoes to Fill

Animal Crossing's next installment could do something completely new with the setting. In fact, it could be an amazing opportunity for the next Animal Crossing to make itself memorable. For example, the next game could take place at a resort, with villagers coming to visit rather than living there permanently, changing the series' usual dynamic. Another such idea could be a completely new biome, such as somewhere in the mountains or creating an oasis in the desert, working aspects of such a location into the game's new mechanics. There is a world of ideas that wouldn't be possible without Animal Crossing going to a new setting.

Whenever the next Animal Crossing comes around, the setting should be an aspect that fans should keep a particular eye on. In addition to further upgrading Animal Crossing's customization, it could set up a dynamic that hasn't been seen before in the series. Even if the game goes back to a small town, or gives players another island, it can still play to the setting's strengths to make the game stand out compared to past installments.

Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing is a Nintendo-exclusive life sim franchise spread across numerous Nintendo consoles. Featuring anthropomorphic villagers, strong customization, and a real-time day cycle, the Animal Crossing series offer unique and varied gameplay.