Animal Crossing

Boss Fight Books #33

by Kelsey Lewin

Before the world of Animal Crossing became a pandemic lifeline for millions, the “social sim” communication game Dо̄butsu no Mori, or “Animal Forest,” debuted in 2001 on Nintendo 64 in Japan, then once again in 2002 on GameCube to critical and commercial success all over the world.

An open-ended casual game ahead of its time, Animal Crossing set the stage for the series’s many incarnations to come with its focus on building community and friendship, its in-game currency of Bells, and its village of Animalese-speaking friends like Tom Nook, K.K. Slider, and the mean Mr. Resetti. You could visit the villages of your friends and give them gifts—all without being connected to the internet.

Video game preservationist and historian Kelsey Lewin tells the story of how a mundane-sounding game full of bug-catching, letter-writing, and furniture-collecting became one of Nintendo’s best-loved franchises, with Animal Crossing: New Horizons eclipsing Super Mario Bros. for all-time sales in Japan, unlocking gaming’s massive potential to tap into our desire to plant trees, find friends, and make the world a better place.

Genres: Nonfiction, Video Games, Gaming, Audiobook, Games, Game Design

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2024

Reviews

[Síle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Kelsey Lewin, RBmedia and NetGalley for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun little treat!

Obnoxious cover aside (seriously, they could’ve gone way cuter), this audiobook felt like a warm trip down memory lane. I grew up with Animal Crossing and still adore the franchise, so skipping this would’ve been a crime against my inner child.

I actually learned quite a lot too! About the origins of the game, the intention behind its cosy chaos, and how it ties into Japanese cultural values. Who knew I’d be nodding along to insights while also giggling at the idea of being terrorised by a bell-hungry tanuki?

Was it deep? Nah. Was it worth the listen? Absolutely. Take it with a pinch of salt and a big dose of nostalgia.

[Hannah-Renea Niederberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty, earnest, and super informative, it was such a treat to learn about the first title(s) in the Animal Crossing series. Lewin continues to shine as my favorite video game historian, I had the privilege of getting to meet her at her store, Pink Gorilla Games in Seattle, where she signed my book and took a picture with me. This book did not disappoint, it was very good!

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This felt like watching a video essay on a game I’ve played since I was wee. Would have liked a touch more depth in some of the analysis, but overall a luvly read.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a short 220 pages, Kelsey Lewin manages to take us through the history of the original Animal Crossing game, including the multiple Japanese variations, in a way that is fascinating and immensely digestible. Her level of research is on-par with some of the most impressive academic articles written by PhD-holders, but her style is often entertaining and presents the complex history and elements of the game in understandable terms. The book delves into the development history, localization challenges, and theoretical frameworks involved while interacting with the game. If you are familiar with the franchise, especially the US GameCube entry, this is the perfect analysis. Lewin is smart to balance the technical and thorough recounting of behind-the-scenes material with her personal experiences, narrating the ways in which the game impacted her as a younger player when it released. The anecdotes immediately brought me back to my own first time playing Animal Crossing as a 10-year-old kid living in a small town with little in the way of friendly community. Lewin traces this same thread, examining Animal Crossing as a "communication" game that inherently constructs a digital community and facilitates the building of a physical one. The game was truly a comfort for those of us yearning for a social group, and this book does an excellent job explaining why it succeeded.

Check out the Talk Booky to Me podcast that I co-host with my girlfriend for more on this book and several others. I will be discussing this one in the November 15th, 2024 episode.

[giuliano · Rating 3 out of 5]

A welcome, palatable historical approach to the first Animal Crossing game. While the final chapter’s critique of Animal Crossing: New Horizons was very nuanced, I was left desiring more literary analysis of the game.

[Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another super cool release in the Boss Fight Books collection, this one by Kelsey Lewin looks at the original Animal Crossing (for N64, but also for GameCube; it's complicated; read the book), which is an excellent game that I rented a few times way back when. (Though intermittent Blockbuster rentals are really not the way to play a game like this). The book provides a ton of useful context around why this game was and is so unusual yet compelling, and it makes great use of interviews from Japanese publications in the 2001ish era to delve into some of the game's development background. The one thing it's missing, which is pretty standard for Nintendo-related topics because of how locked-down the company is, is any new interviews with the major creative figures who were involved in the original game. That's a bummer, but we still get a decent amount of development stuff from the aforementioned sources, and there's also some fascinating material about the communities that formed around the game. As with some of the other Boss Fight Books titles, we get some autobiographical material dealing with the author's personal relationship with the game, which I thought worked great here.

(I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that my editor brain did notice a decent number of copy editing things that could have been fixed, but this didn't detract from the overall reading experience.)

[Alley Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was obsessed with Animal Crossing when I was a kid so the entire time I was listening to this, I just had these warm, fuzzy, nostalgic feelings the whole time ❤️

It was so interesting to read about the history of Animal Crossing. I learned a lot of things and was reminded of things I had forgotten.

Half of the book is the history and how Animal Crossing came to be, while the other half is more of how and what to expect when you play the game.

The narrator did a fantastic job! I definitely recommend listening to the audiobook!

Highly recommend for a short and sweet little nostalgic kick 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Elias Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read for fans of Animal Crossing or video game history enthusiasts. The book is primarily a comprehensive, historical account of just the GameCube game, and the author does a great job in that regard. I think the book is at its best when Lewin is writing about her personal history with the series and providing commentary about the state of the franchise. These come across in anecdotes throughout the book, as well as in one of the final chapters dedicated to 2020's Animal Crossing New Horizons. While I have some difference in opinion on the evolution of the series, Lewin's perspective is valuable and interesting.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since the pandemic, I have been a casual observer of Nintendo's beloved town management sim without a true appreciation or understanding of its premise. I still remember when all twenty-four of my friends on Nintendo Switch were suddenly and simultaneously playing Animal Crossing New Horizon on its launch day for the system. Some of whom still check on their anthropomorphized neighbors to this very day with up to eight-hundred playtime hours. After finishing Miss Lewin's thorough tell-all book, I think that I finally understand the enjoyment to be found in catching bugs, planting trees, and writing meaningful letters. For which, I am grateful. My only complaint is that there certainly are a lot of profanities for a book about a game with such a young target demographic.

[Edith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I had to read a book about Animal Crossing, and from an author I had discovered on YouTube years ago! This little book offers a great analysis of why the game is so strangely addicting, its beginnings, and where the series is headed. Loved every page.

This was my first Boss Fight Book, and certainly won't be my last.

[Colby · Rating 4 out of 5]

a delightful, informative, and nostalgic dive into the creation, execution, and legacy of the original japanese and english animal crossing games (and—in lesser ways—the rest of the series). as with all books from boss fight books, this is a short, excellent dive into video game history and one fans of animal crossing won't want to miss!

[jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly delightful book that helped me with cozy read the same way New Horizons helped me with a cozy game. It’s mostly about the first AC game, and because of this book, I’ve been playing the GameCube version of that one because I had to check it out!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelsey Lewin’s book on Animal Crossing was exactly what I needed to read. Like millions of others, I didn’t jump aboard the series bandwagon until New Horizons in March of 2020. I remember my first few hours with the game: I ran around cutting down trees (big mistake), gathering wood, hitting rocks (didn’t know the trick about digging holes behind you to remain steady in front of said rocks), and generally wondering what all the fuss was about.

Then, day by day, week by week, month by month, I grew attached to my island and my animal neighbors. And I got it. I got the hype, and even went back to play New Leaf out of a desire for more Animal Crossing.

Lewin’s book cracks open the original game, and the franchise as a whole, by exploring what makes it special. I didn’t know, for instance, that Nintendo labeled the original a “communication” game. That fits. Even though the franchise is definitely headed more in the simulation direction, communication is at the heart of every experience I’ve had in New Horizons.

I understand why Lewin isn’t gaga over New Horizons. Don’t get me wrong! She herself writes that it’s an incredible game and has enjoyed her time in it, but she misses things like the deliberate limitation placed on agency over your town. In the previous games, you couldn’t do whatever you wanted to your town, whenever you wanted to do it. You were part of a community; you were one voice among many.

Lewin sharing her experiences with the original game have compelled me to share what makes New Horizons so special to me. I’ve spent over 1800 hours in the game building my island, talking with my neighbors (Tutu is my bestie), and traveling to friends’ islands after inviting them to mine as we talk about why we made this or that decision. That, to me, is where this latest entry maintains its emphasis on communication. I have so many stories (and screenshots!) of friends coming to visit; of them exclaiming over my three-story library and movie theater complete with surround sound; of swinging by the coffee shop to share a toast with friends, only for one, who didn’t have any bells on him, to get stuck with a glass of water! We still laugh about that today. On New Year’s Eve 2020, my wife and friend rang in the New Year on my island, counting down with the clock and waving our glow sticks as my animal neighbors pranced around the town square. When I invite my nieces to my island or visit theirs, we play tag by chasing and swatting one another with bug nets.

Communication carries over to my villagers, too. It’s true that their existence on my island (and it’s definitely more mine than theirs) is at my whim, but I genuinely love them and cater to their personalities whenever I can. One of my favorites is Ione, an adorable, tiny blue squirrel. Nine times out of ten, Ione can be found wandering through a forest I built on the northeast quadrant of the island. I moved her house next to the forest so she can be closer to it. She visits every day. I know this because other than a few weeks here and there, I’ve played every day since March 2020.

Again, none of this should be interpreted as me making my case for New Horizons being the best Animal Crossing, or as disagreeing with Lewin’s book. If anything, this is a case for her book and her perspective. Years after my friends stopped playing, I feel like I’ve made a new friend in this author who cares about her villagers and creative spaces as much as I care about mine. Animal Crossing, reading, writing—it’s all communication, and I’m so grateful this book exists.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was introduced to the world of Animal Crossing via my DS, with the second installment Wild World, and like many others across the world rejoined the franchise through New Horizons. While I’ve been aware of the other iterations between those two, the original game remained a bit of a mystery to me, and it was really nice to discover it through this book.

The highlights for me were the details about the game’s creation. There were so many little nuggets of trivia which fascinated me, and I loved finding out about the journey the game went on before eventually becoming the game we know and love.

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The in-depth description and analysis of the original game was perhaps slightly over-detailed at times, but it was still really interesting and I especially enjoyed when it was linked back to the game’s development. Details such as the localisation process or the way the real-time function was created were particularly interesting, and weren’t things I’d ever thought about before.

The final chapter, focussing on the latest and biggest release New Horizons, was what let the overall book down for me. Lewin was very upfront about the things she didn’t like about the game, but it was her final claim that it went against the principles of the original game that I disagreed with. She spent so much of the early chapters talking about communication, and how communication had been the goal of the original game designers. I would argue – including with some of Lewin’s own examples of the far-reaching nature of New Horizons – that it accomplishes this better than any other instalments. To ignore this in favour of her own opinion about the game felt like a huge oversight, and did leave some of her arguments feeling unfinished.

That being said, this is still a fascinating read/listen for any Animal Crossing fans, that will change your appreciation for the franchise.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

[amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.00 ⭐️
Animal Crossing - what a game! This was my first Boss Fight Book so I knew little of what to expect, but I loved learning the history of the title & all the easter eggs behind different features & design decisions. The interwoven elements of personal experience with the detailing of the history behind the game was well done. It was however most poignant the verbalisation of what the core of the game was - community & communication that I loved most.

> "The Animal Crossing series had never been about playing God. .... You're carving out a space for yourself, rather than carving out a whole world for yourself."

The final two chapters really put into words the changes of the games into the modern equivalent. Kelsey Lewin put into perfect words what I found personally detailed below & I wonder how many others resonated with that as much as I did.

-- Below is simply my own addition to the personal experience of playing the game --
My two entry points to the franchise have been Wild World & New Horizons. Wild World captivated me, as a single child, to no end & I played it for HOURS! Alone - entirely isolated. While New Horizons was neat to jump into it once more & all my friends were playing it - churning the 'turnip stock market' & visiting my friends' islands were great activities, but that's just it. The fun died when we stopped playing. I attempted to 'jump start' that fun by blowing away my island & re-beginning, but I still find myself longing for my first one & the memories there. But terraforming felt restrictive because I was treating it more like Minecraft than a world that existed without me prior & would not change to my every whim. I miss the characters that would insult me to my face & their quirkiness & Resetti yelling at me when I didn't save bc I shut down the DS before I got caught playing it when I was supposed to be asleep.

[Dana Larose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book on the history and development of the Animal Crossing series. I played a bunch of the OG (outside of Japan) GameCube game and like all humans a ton of New Horizons in 2020.

Lots of wild details -- Animal Crossing sort of started as Diablo clone??? -- and a lot of thoughtful discussion of what made the game unique.

Also some interesting critique of New Horizons at the end, talking about giving you near god-mode over your island was a big departure from previous entries, and fundamentally changes the tone. From Kelsey's perspective, the fact that you could only control the town and your neighbours in very small ways in earlier entries forced in you into the experience of living in a community. In older Animal Crossing games you are /a/ character in the town but not really the main character. Of course, she also acknowledges that giving people a toy world you had near total control over was a serendipitous balm during the early pandemic.

It makes me curious to return to the old GameCube Animal Crossing and play it again. (Which I should get on, because I learned in the book that it will mostly stop working at the end of 2030 due to technical decisions made in the programming...)

[InfiniteLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Kelsey Lewin, Netgalley and Highbridge Audio for a complimentary audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like many people, Animal Crossing is a game that is close to my heart, and particularly during the time of the pandemic where the new release, New Horizons helped create a sense of community and routine in a very strange lonely time. I was excited therefore to listen to this book from the Boss Battles series about one of my favourite games.
The book is well researched and the audio narrator does a great job in making the title accessible, but I was a little sad that this book mostly covers the early years and release of the franchise rather then all the games. It was interesting and I found a lot out about the creation and information based around the original Animal Crossing but I did wish it had been a little more comprehensive.
Overall, this was a decent overview of the early years of the series and the author clearly did their work with meeting and interviewing the original creators of the series but it felt a little lacking in terms of the personal impact the game series had on people, which could have been a really touching thing to look at given the impact of this game during the lockdown.

[Keilah Villa · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars. Thanks for LibraryThing for this ARC.*

Since 2011, I've spent hundreds of hours playing Animal Crossing - specifically Wild World, City Folk, and New Horizons. If you're a longtime Animal Crossing enthusiast like me, this book is for you. Lewin maps the unique history of Animal Crossing and outlines how gameplay differs among versions of the game. She also shares her experiences growing up playing Animal Crossing. She does an excellent job citing sources, some of which are interviews she conducted with Nintendo employees.

Despite my frequent visits to online forums about Animal Crossing, this book taught me a lot that I didn't know. I really enjoyed reading it. I would have enjoyed the book a little more if there were images to show some of the game features discussed. This would have been helpful for those like me who haven't played all versions of the game. Overall, this is a wonderful book for Animal Crossing fans who want to expand their knowledge and love of the game.

[KDub · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟

Ok, this was way more fascinating than I thought it'd be. For example, did you know that Diablo initially inspired the creation of Animal Crossing? It was going to be a dungeon crawler game, but with animals. Consider my mind blown. Thankfully, hardware limitations meant they had to scrap that idea and make something more similar to the Animal Crossing we know today. This book presents various interesting facts about the different iterations of the game, in chronological order.

Granted, I am new to Animal Crossing, having only played New Horizons. Admittedly, this game helped save my sanity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. (This phenomenon is touched on towards the end of the book.) I'm not even sure what the older versions of the game are like, but I wish I had played them when I was a kid.

Amanda Dolan narrates the audiobook. She does a great job. It's like just listening to a close friend gush about Animal Crossing to you.

Recommended for any Animal Crossing fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the ALC.

[Armina Fonacier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Kelsey Lewin, RBmedia, and NetGalley for the audiobook copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

This turned out to be such a delightful little surprise!

Gotta say—the cover? Pretty plain. They easily could’ve gone for something a bit more charming. But once I hit play, it felt like a cosy stroll down memory lane. I grew up with Animal Crossing and still have a soft spot for the series, so skipping this would’ve been a total betrayal of my inner child.

To my surprise, I actually learned quite a bit! From the game’s origins, the meaning behind its gentle chaos, and how it all reflects certain Japanese cultural values. Never thought I’d be learning new things and cracking up at the idea of a tanuki out for my hard-earned bells.

Is it profound? Not really.
Is it worth giving a listen? Absolutely.

A light, nostalgic experience best enjoyed with a pinch of skepticism—and a whole lot of Animal Crossing love.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished and the last chapter distilled a weird, profound emptiness I felt with New Horizon.

I basically jumped from the first US-release when I was also a pre-teen, directly to New Horizon (no DS, no time for the Wii game).

Kelsey does such a great job at explaining & documenting what made the first game so unique and impactful. Because of that work, the chasm is HUGE once you see it. I’m very grateful there’s a historical record of what was, one that can be shown to folks to explain WHY it worked. And I hope someone can pick up the mantle of that beautiful, intentional, friction. Because it’s special.

Also, not a grump! I spent a TON of time in AC:NH. Organized weekly IndyHall island hops during COVID, friend hangouts, etc etc.

All to say, I want to see what the next game looks like. But more importantly; what a new generation of devs raised on its lessons can do.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative read about the phenomenon Animal Crossing created within the video game world. As a decades old Animal Crossing lover I was excited to learn more of how the game was created and the trailblazing path the game has traveled. If you’d live an infodumo about Animal Crossing you’ll love this book. But, it is very straightforward and at times technical so I don’t recommend it unless it is an interest for you. For me, it was well worth the read and I love knowing more about one of my all time favorite games. I also loved traveling down memory lane thinking about all of the games in the series, even back to the GameCube days and remembering the common experiences players shared.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. I really enjoyed learning more about this series!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

How nostalgic! I was someone who played Animal Crossing as an adult on the GameCube, and then various iterations over time. I have the Animal Crossing-themed 3DS and Switch, and I spent probably many too many hours during early/mid-2020 playing New Horizons before burning out.

What this thoughtful book did was make me nostalgic for the old, pre-New Horizons days (and frankly, only pre- because of my own burnout during certain Tumultuous Times). It was a cultural history both through the Japanese and American versions and why a lot of changes were made to the Western version when it was brought over. Some of the things I knew just from being around, but some I did not!

An engaging listen, and although there were some pronunciation issues/inconsistencies they weren't awful honestly.

Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for review!

[Emmy P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight up, if you're in your AC era step right up darlings this audio arc was a riot.

While not my typical genre, when I saw Animal Crossing I was like yeah, that's a bitta me. There's nostalgia there isn't there?

I had a great time reveling in the intention and cultural contexts that Kelsey presents, and this had all the fun facts, history, and development details you would (and could) want. There were even a few Easter egg hot tips and hints that I will promptly be filing away for future game nights.

Easy read, well presented, and hey, maybe even a few life lessons to be taken from this about the way we socialize? It's a reflection on how we consume and interact both from the top down and the bottom up.

[Gracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I have no complaints. I had a great time listening to Animal Crossing by Kelsey Lewin. The narrator did a fantastic job presenting the information clearly while still infusing the narration with energy and emotion. There was only one mistake in the audio I noticed, where she repeated a sentence twice with slightly different inflection, but that wasn't enough to detract from the experience. As someone who has only ever played Animal Crossing New Horizons, I was curious and excited to learn more about the origins of the series. This book somehow managed to make me feel nostalgic for games I've never played, and I intend to purchase an older animal crossing game as soon as possible.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelsey Lewin covers the inception, reiteration, and localization of the original Animal Crossing. Throughout she talks not just about the game, but also about the culture surrounding the series, how it would continue to grow, and her own personal history with the game, and franchise.

Kelsey clearly has a deep love for this franchise, and she discusses it with humor and insight. It's clear a lot of research went into writing this book because it is one of the longer books Boss Fight Books series. If you're a fan of Animal Crossing I would recommend you check this out. Boss Fight Books rarely disappoints.

[Paige Petruzzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and HighBridge Audio for the Advanced Listeners Copy!

I picked this audiobook because I am a huge Animal Crossing fan and felt I would be able to judge it well from that perspective.

I enjoyed learning about the beginning and history of this game. It was a quick listen but still provided a ton of information on the history and gameplay.

I loved that Nintendo found women so valuable in the development of the game. I appreciated the description of the opening scene in the GameCube version; it was so nostalgic.

The narrator had a great voice and the perfect amount of enthusiasm for an informative book.

[Kitai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was so lovely! ALC provided by Highbridge Audio

I absolutely adored Kelsey Lewin's effortless and nuanced explanations of Animal Crossing's many iterations. She easily conveys her passion and experience with Nintendo's Animal Crossing franchise. This book is a good mix of history, personal anecdotes, and information related to the franchise. Amanda Dolan nailed the happy-go-lucky informative tone the book is written in and was easy to listen to. I learned a lot about localization in video games and I appreciate that only the last 5% of the book was focused on the time period of Animal Crossing New Horizons.

[Jared Natsis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being near the same age as Kelsey, I related to this book immensely. It was nostalgic and satisfying to read not only the development story and Kelsey’s appraisal of the GameCube Animal Crossing, but also her experiences with the nascent online community of early-00’s Internet forums. Throughout the book I felt like saying, “I’m not alone!” And speaking of which, with the last chapter, her thoughts on New Horizons matched my own—appreciating the game for what it is, but slight disappointment in what was lost from the early days of the series. If you read this, Kelsey, you are not alone!

[MrFortyFive · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful look into the early iterations of Animal Crossing, their history, and most importantly, the amorphous, indefinable quality that makes them so special. Coverage of the later installments is much shorter, but Lewin’s concluding analysis of the latest game, New Horizons, is spot on.

Strongly recommended for fans of the series or anyone looking for a closer look into one of Nintendo’s most unique offerings