Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re aware that Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released Friday, and it couldn’t have been timed better. It’s an easygoing game where players fish, catch bugs, dig fossils and live happily on an island surrounded by their friendly neighbors. The game has also provided a way for friends to be and play together while still social distancing.

The game itself is really fun. You can design your villager to be cute, cool, goth, trendy or whatever fashion style you want, and from there on out, you can play however you want. However, an added bonus is that the game does a great job of making it fun to just be in the presence of your friends again.

My mom laughed at me the other day when I told her my friends and I all got together online to show each other our outfits, help give home decorating advice and virtually fish to then donate to a museum. Animal Crossing makes it fun to sit in comfortable silence with your friends again. Although we’re all stuck in our homes for the foreseeable future, I recommend trying Animal Crossing. It’s a wholesome experience that helps fill the need for social interaction.

Jordan Soudelier and David Norman, CIS seniors from Houma, have been using Animal Crossing as a way to fill the time and connect with others during these orders to stay at home.

“Animal Crossing: New Horizons has definitely been a hot topic since its release. One of the most attractive aspects of the Animal Crossing games has always been the calm and slow-paced nature of them. Given the state of things in the world, I know I definitely needed the change of pace, and I have been thoroughly enjoying working on my own personal island. I, along with many others, can all agree that these games have always been truly special and each unique. New Horizons is no exception, and there is something for just about anybody who is looking for a fresh and unique game to pass the time,” Soudelier said.

“Animal crossing takes my mind away from the stressful time we find ourselves in currently. I smile when my mechanical ostrich, Sprocket, comes up to me with tips on how to make my muscles big like his. It’s amazing how mundane activities like chopping wood, collecting fruit or strolling through my newly-erected museum looking at all creatures I’ve donated can make me feel at peace. I can’t recommend this game highly enough,” Norman said.

Along with it making the game twice as fun, you can also get rewarded for playing with friends. There are many fruits to collect in the game, and each new player starts with one of the many options. I started with cherries, and all of my friends got a unique fruit. My cherries sell for more money on my friends’ islands and vice versa. The game also has a sort of virtual stock market where stocks may be selling for more on a friend’s island than yours. 

It always starts as a business trip to a friend’s island, but it turns into spending a whole day with a friend, watching the sunset. Without Animal Crossing, I definitely wouldn’t be handling this situation as well as I am.