Daily writing prompt

What’s your favorite game (card, board, video, etc.)? Why?

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my fascination with animal crossing budded in a distant memory, back when anyone cool still owned a ds or a wii. i had not yet bought the game myself, but somehow it always managed to find its way to me through someone i knew. it was almost like fate.

i specifically remember being at my grandmother’s south carolina home, upstairs customizing my own chibi-like character on her wii. something about building my own colorful island paradise and interacting with spirited, anthropomorphic villagers really caught my attention. animalese is by far the cutest language i’ve ever heard.

i was never really fond of the more competitive games where i’d eventually feel my blood pressure skyrocket and the sweat bead up across my forehead. instead, i prefer to be curled up with a blanket and a warm beverage, playing what people refer to as “cozy games.” this genre of video game is an introvert’s dream and a trap for those who don’t manage their time well.

hear me out! i do enjoy a challenging task, but more in a digging up fossils over time until i’ve collected them all for blathers’ museum way and less in a defeat bowser in a super mario bros game sense. acnh has been my digital escape for over four years, and i am emotionally invested in the mini pixelated world i’ve built. my special edition animal crossing nintendo switch was worth every penny i took out of my college refund money.

my island isn’t themed but set up more on the practical side. it’s divided in distinguishable sections with features like a well-thought-out playground, soccer field, garden, carnival, beach, and several seating areas. i’ve carefully chosen which flowers to plant around certain homes based on their architectural designs. although i wish my four star island was more aesthetically pleasing, i appreciate the way everything makes sense on “moonshine.”

my favorite accomplishment in the game thus far has to be unlocking the ability to cook and bake. i probably wouldn’t down a pumpkin bagel sandwich or a slice of sea-bass pie in real life, but it is so much fun to whip up these funky little recipes on my ranch kitchen. i enjoy sharing these dishes with others through the dodo airlines mailing service with a sweet little note. speaking of my cute yellow-roofed airport, it’s always a pleasure to have my friends visit whether it be to run around and explore or barter items (a slamming way to get new produce).

in addition to this game, i have the happy home paradise dlc where your character works with the paradise planning team at a resort to match your clients with their dream vacation home. your chosen client tells you the vibe they’re going for whether it be cozy bookworm or classy musician, and the entire archipelago is at your discretion. i could easily get lost in choosing the most fitting location and decorating both the exterior and interior of their vacay homes. at the end of a job well done, i’m paid in pokie, the island’s special currency.

this game is an intense slow burn if you’re the patient and detail-oriented type. there are so many hidden pieces and little to no instruction, and oddly enough, that is the part that i enjoy most. i’ve found https://nookipedia.com/wiki/Animal_Crossing to be extremely helpful during my journey as an avid acnh player. with all of the knowledge i’ve acquired up to this point, i still have lots to attain. so if you see me on my switch, there’s a 90% chance that i’m playing acnh and getting my bells up.