Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) took the world by storm during the COVID-19 pandemic. With nothing much else to do, people who had never engaged with the franchise before became die-hard fans overnight.
Nintendo has said they’re not doing anymore major updates on the game, meaning it’s run its course for most people counting on new content to keep them invested. It has left a lot of players wondering what to play next. If Animal Crossing left an impression on you, you might be looking for something similar.
What does “similar to Animal Crossing” really mean, though? In my opinion, it tends to be wholesome games, no combat, farming/collection activities, and friendly NPCs.
You could, of course, just play the other Animal Crossing games, but some of them are on outdated consoles and may be hard to find in hardcopy.
Here’s the complete list of Animal Crossing games:
- Animal Crossing (GameCube)
- Animal Crossing: Wild World (Nintendo DS)
- Animal Crossing: City Folk (Nintendo Wii)
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo 3DS)
- Animal Crossing Plaza (discontinued)
- Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer (Nintendo 3DS)
- Animal Crossing Amiibo Festival (Wii U)
- Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp (mobile)
However, if you want something current or easier to obtain, I’ve got you. Here are my suggestions for the best games like Animal Crossing.
1. Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is an adorable cozy game on Steam + consoles, set on a tropical island where you’ll team up with Sanrio characters to restore an abandoned resort. You’ll explore lush environments, decorate your personal cabin, solve mysteries, cook meals, and bond with familiar faces like My Melody, Keroppi, and, of course, Hello Kitty herself.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: This is peak wholesome vibes. You’re helping animal friends rebuild a peaceful island getaway, and the emphasis on customization, exploration, and gift-giving is straight out of the ACNH playbook. If you ever wished Nook’s crew included more pastel and bow-wearing icons, this game is for you.
2. Dinkum
Dinkum is what happens when you mix the laid-back lifestyle of Animal Crossing with a dash of Australian outback charm. You’ll move to a rugged island, build up your town from the ground, and attract new residents by developing shops, farms, and community spaces. There’s fishing, foraging, farming, and even animal wrangling—all wrapped up in a vibrant, sandboxy world.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: Dinkum is essentially ACNH with more freedom and a slight survival twist. There is optional combat, but it’s super manageable and never the focus. The real joy comes from designing your town, building relationships, and living your best island life. Bonus points for the cozy-meets-Aussie aesthetic and chill music.
3. Summer in Mara
Summer in Mara is a charming and vibrant farming adventure game that whisks players away to a lush, tropical archipelago where they assume the role of a young girl named Koa. Tasked with tending to her own island, players must cultivate crops, befriend a delightful cast of characters, and embark on seafaring journeys to explore nearby islands teeming with mysteries and secrets.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: Summer in Mara has farming, quests, a colorful cast of NPCs, and zero combat. This is actually pretty unusual in most indie farming sims these days! Even the pirates are friendly! I would recommend this game to Animal Crossing fans who enjoyed tending their garden or meeting a vibrant cast of characters.
4. Ooblets
Ooblets is a whimsical and charming indie game that seamlessly blends elements of farming, creature collecting, and dancing. Set in the idyllic world of Oob, players take on the role of a character who cultivates their farm, grows and trains adorable creatures called Ooblets, and engages in dance battles with other Ooblet trainers. The game’s colorful and quirky art style creates a delightful experience where players can explore, complete quests, and collect every Ooblets.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: Ooblets has a cute, quirky art style that reminds me a lot of Animal Crossing. The characters are colorful and silly and the NPCs always have a humourous little quip to pass along. If you liked building out the museum in ACNH, you’ll like how much there is to collect in Ooblets. Outfits, cards, Ooblets, etc. And although there is technically “combat,” it’s turn-based dance battles so it doesn’t feel violent or rough at all.
5. Wylde Flowers
Wylde Flowers is the “inherit a farm from a grandparent” storyline but with a ton of emotional twists and turns that I won’t spoil here. The main premise of the game is farming, raising livestock, cooking, and befriending the locals. You’ll also meet a group of secret witches who will help Tara come into her power. However, anti-witch sentiment and prejudice is on the rise, so you’ll have to work fast to keep the island and your friends safe.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: This is a wholesome game about friendship and found family. Tara leaves the hustle and bustle of the city for a simpler island life. Sound familiar? There is no combat in this game, plenty of memorable and bombastic characters, and you can turn into a cat!!
Read my Wild Flowers review.
6. Cozy Grove
Cozy Grove is a charming and heartwarming indie video game that combines elements of life simulation and exploration. Players step into the shoes of a Spirit Scout, tasked with bringing life to a haunted, ever-changing island. The game’s distinctive hand-drawn art style and soothing, folk-inspired soundtrack create a cozy atmosphere where players can interact with quirky, ghostly animal spirits, help them resolve their pasts, and gradually uncover the island’s secrets.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: Cozy Grove’s tasks are tied to real-life time, just like in Animal Crossing, which uses the IRL clock to measure the passage of the day. This makes Cozy Grove a great “pop in in small doses each day” game, which is part of what I loved about ACNH.
7. Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. That’s why I picked it over other Story of Seasons/Harvest Moon games that I might like better. Story of Seasons games all follow a similar premise. You inherit a rundown farm and work to improve it; build out your crops field and livestock collection; make friends with the locals and eventually get married; and attend festivals and other events around town.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: All the SOS and HM games are great for an Animal Crossing fix, honestly. They are cute, innocent, mindless, and include familiar tasks you’ll love like tending a garden, dolling out gifts to your besties, and fishing in ponds, rivers, and the sea.
Read my full Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town review.
Note: I didn’t pick the newer game, SoS: A Wonderful Life, because the remake didn’t impress me much.
8. Roots of Pacha
Roots of Pacha is an enchanting farming and life simulation game that invites players to embark on a prehistoric adventure. Set in a lush, ancient world, the game combines elements of farming, crafting, and social interaction as you guide your character through the challenges of early civilization. You’ll cultivate crops, raise animals, and explore the mysteries of the natural world while forging connections with other villagers.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: Roots of Pacha is all about community. Everything you do is for the betterment of your tribe. In that way, it has notes of Animal Crossing, except instead of improving a city or island, you are improving your clan’s camp. The premise is “the more you give to the community, the more you get back,” which echoes what Animal Cross is all about.
Read my Roots of Pacha review.
9. Little Witch in the Woods
This game is currently available in early access and updates seem to have stalled. The game is not complete so I might wait for a really good sale or just add it to your wishlist for now. But what is there is really promising. Play as an apprentice witch helping residents with their requests, exploring the land, and logging plants and animals in her journal.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: The animal and plant “collection” system will scratch the same itch as populating the museum in ACNH. You will also make friends of both the human and animal variety, which is an Animal Crossing vibe. It has a cute and wholesome art style that I think fans of AC will enjoy, too.
10. Disney Dreamlight Valley
Disney Dreamlight Valley is an enchanting and immersive mobile game that transports players into a magical world filled with beloved Disney characters. Set in a picturesque valley, players embark on quests, solve puzzles, and interact with iconic Disney figures, all while restoring the valley’s vibrant charm and bringing happiness to its inhabitants.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: Disney and Nintendo both share the same affinity for wholesomeness. There is no combat, no suggestive content, no dark themes. It’s just a fun game about meeting animal and human friends alike and helping them restore the valley they call home.
11. Haven Park
Haven’s Park features Flint, a little bird who inherits a park from his late grandmother. Your job is to help him maintain it by listening to campers’ wishes and making them come true. You’ll be able to add facilities and items and arrange them to your heart’s content. It’s cute and colorful with a beautiful scenic park to explore.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: Haven’s Park is animal and wilderness-centric and your main task is building out the camp. It has the same essence of ACNH in that way. Anthropomorphic animals are also very Animal Crossing, obviously. This would be a great game for anyone who enjoyed arranging and decorating their island in ACNH.
12. Garden Paws
Garden Paws is a charming and relaxing farming simulation game that invites players to cultivate their dream farm on an idyllic, sun-soaked island. In this delightful adventure, you inherit a run-down farm and must transform it into a thriving paradise by planting crops, raising animals, and building relationships with the quirky island inhabitants. There is combat in the game but it is super optional.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: As you can see in the screenshot above, Garden Paws has characters that look like they could be Animal Crossing villagers! So if you love the villagers in ACNH, try this game for a similar dose of adorable!
13. Littlewood
Littlewood is a peaceful town-building RPG set after the world has already been saved. You play as the Hero who’s just woken up with amnesia, and now it’s time to rebuild your hometown from scratch. You’ll gather resources, design the layout of your village, craft furniture, go on little adventures, and build friendships with quirky NPCs. It’s all about slowing down and creating something cozy.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: Littlewood hits that same “no pressure” vibe that made ACNH so addictive. You’re free to decorate the town however you want, collect bugs and fish, and befriend a wide cast of eccentric villagers. No enemies, no combat, just chill vibes and town management with some light RPG elements for flavor.
14. GROW: Song of the Evertree
GROW: Song of the Evertree is a visually stunning, meditative adventure that lets you restore magical worlds by nurturing the Evertree and rebuilding a lost civilization. You’ll craft unique biomes, plant fantastical flora, care for creatures, and rebuild the town around the tree. The visuals are lush, the soundtrack is serene, and the whole game feels like a magical exhale.
Why it’s like Animal Crossing: If you loved shaping your island in ACNH, you’ll love how GROW lets you terraform whimsical worlds and build a community from the ground up. The townsfolk are sweet and full of personality, and the focus on growth, nature, and gentle exploration definitely channels Animal Crossing energy.
Conclusion
So there you have it! My picks for games that are like Animal Crossing. No matter which one you pick, I think they’ll all speak to you as an Animal Crossing fan.
I’m always looking to expand my lists as more games come out and/or pop up on my radar. Feel free to shout out your faves and tag me on Bluesky, Reddit, or Pinterest. My profiles are all linked on the contact page.
Stay cozy, gamers!