Research-backed game lineage

Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing is included in the Series Atlas after independent recognition and an authoritative game-by-game roster audit. Editions, simple ports, DLC, bundles, canceled projects, and cameo-only appearances are excluded.

7 curated games 2005–2020 release span 0 connected branches

Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer cover

Genre profile

Primary-root profile.

The researched entries keep a consistent primary-root profile.

Observed shapeSimulation7 researched entries

Primary roots

Simulation4

Frameworks

01Simulation2005 02Simulation2008 03Simulation2012 04Unclassified2015 05Unclassified2015 06Unclassified2017 07Simulation2020

Subgenres representedSocial Life Sim 4 Pet Sim 1

Entry points

Starting points.

Use the researched chronology, ratings, and remake relationships to select a starting title.

Chronological startAnimal Crossing: Wild WorldMainline · 2005

Highest ratedAnimal Crossing: New LeafMainline · 2012

Most recent mainlineAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsMainline · 2020

Release chronology

All researched entries.

Ordered by researched series position, then original release date. Ports, DLC, and duplicate editions are intentionally excluded.

7 games in this lineage

Mainline2005

Animal Crossing: Wild World

Players move into a living, breathing world inside the Nintendo DS...and then invite their friends to visit from anywhere on earth. In Animal Crossing: Wild World, the sequel to the popular Nintendo GameCube game, players and up to three friends can hang out in the same village and interact in real time -- either through wireless LAN or over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Players can visit a friend's village from thousands of miles away. The touch screen makes item management and world navigation a breeze. Typing letters and designing patterns are now just stylus strokes away. Days and seasons pass in real time, so whether players want to decorate their homes, catch bugs or fish, collect brand-new items like hats and sunglasses or just chat with the wild and wacky characters in their villages, there's always something to do.

Nov 23, 200577/100

↗

Mainline2008

Animal Crossing: City Folk

Step into a living, breathing world where days and seasons pass in real time and your destiny is yours to create. Enjoy a new house, a new neighborhood, and some new friends. Try your luck in a Fishing Tourney, collect shells, or participate in special events and holidays. Communicate with friends and family; travel to the new City, get a Mii makeover, and more. The world is your sparkling, fresh canvas. You choose the pace and you craft the adventures!

Nov 16, 200874/100

↗

Mainline2012

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

The charming community-building franchise returns for with Animal Crossing: New Leaf. The Nintendo 3DS entry into this popular franchise introduces a number of options new to Animal Crossing, including the ability to become the head of the village and boost its development, a way to install certain items in the village to make its characteristics more personalized for each player, and the ability to view homes of other players who are tagged through StreetPass connections.

Nov 8, 201287/100

↗

Mainline2015

Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer

Show off your style by designing homes for all of your favorite Animal Crossing villagers! Use your creativity to design the perfect houses—inside and out—for both old and new friends. With the new amiibo cards, you can call your favorite villagers into the game.

Jul 30, 201564/100

↗

Mainline2015

Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival

The Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival game is a brand-new way to play with your favorite Animal Crossing characters. Your amiibo figures are front-and-center in this party game, and you’ll get to use them with fun content. Bring to life an expansive and dynamic board game where the board is based on the months of the year like the core Animal Crossing series. The goal? Make your villager the happiest in town and party hard with your friends.

Nov 12, 201538/100

↗

Mainline2017

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

In Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, it's up to you to build a fun campsite for you and your friends to enjoy. Tents, hammocks, fireplaces, a stuffed-animal sofa... mix and match to your heart's content! Make a trendy open-air café, or line up some microphones and guitars to create an outdoor music festival. In the mood for a little extra fun? Set up a merry-go-round and open a theme park. You can even make a pool, or fill the sky with fireworks!

Oct 25, 201769/100

↗

Mainline2020

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Escape to a deserted island and create your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Your island getaway has a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. You can hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean. The time of day and season match real life, so each day on your island is a chance to check in and find new surprises all year round.

Mar 20, 202086/100

↗

Sources and method

Built from the public record.

Membership is researched from external official and independent sources. Mainline games, direct spin-offs, remakes, remasters, and standalone expansions are included; DLC, simple ports, duplicate editions, compilation-only duplicates, rumors, cancellations, and cameo-only crossovers are excluded.

database Animal Crossing collection — IGDB
IGDB maintains a distinct collection record for Animal Crossing and supplies the authoritative roster used for membership verification.
reference List of best-selling video game franchises
The independent catalog recognizes Animal Crossing as a multi-game franchise and supports its inclusion in this major-series research sweep.