Animal Crossing is a video game phenomenon with a difference; instead of having to shoot bad guys or beat up final bosses, all players have to do in this game is hang out on their own island with a bunch of cute, friendly animals.
The first Animal Crossing game was launched in 2001, with a further four games added over the last 20 years, including the most recent, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. All of the animals in these games have their peculiar personality traits, which can make them useful in the game. Some islanders are so much fun that they would make great friends in real life!
Eugene
Eugene the cool koala is one of the most recognizable characters from New Horizons, with his shades and leather jacket, and his rock star home and lifestyle certainly suggest that he would be fun to hang out with in real life.
All the characters in Animal Crossing are designated a personality type, and Eugene is a “smug”, which isn’t as bad as it sounds. Smug characters are generally pretty easy going, so long as players massage their egos from time to time to make sure they know that they are appreciated!
Deirdre
If anyone wants a loyal friend who will always do their best to take care of them and fight in their corner, then players could do a lot worse than Deirdre, one of the deer from New Horizons.
As a sisterly character, Deirdre’s main function is to help players, whether that is giving them hints on how to progress in the game or even treating them when they are injured. A valuable friend indeed to have both in Animal Crossing and the real world.
Audie
Audie the wolf is one of the most sought-after characters in the game, and also happens to be one of the most stylish.
There are rumors that Audie is named after 89-year-old Audrey Buchanan, a super-fan of the game who has logged more than 3,500 hours on her island. Audie is a peppy character, which doesn’t make her the easiest to get along with sometimes, but she is usually in a good mood (unless someone does something to upset her) and is very happy to make new friends.
Sherb
Lazy villagers tend to be so laid back that they’re horizontal; not the best character traits if players have a lot of stuff on their plate but ideal if they want to kick back and just enjoy hanging out.
Sherb is a lazy goat who has a penchant for fishing, and who is happy to undertake tasks so long as there is food involved. He’d make an ideal pal for people who take the world too seriously and who need to be reminded to stop and smell the flowers once in a while.
Ursala
Ursala the bear has appeared in several Animal Crossing games, but in New Horizons she is a helpful and caring sisterly character. Like other sisterly characters, Ursala wants nothing more than to make new friends and to do what she can to help them.
Ursala’s catchphrase is “Surround yourself with things you love” and that goes for people as much as possessions, although she does also live in a very cute cottage in New Horizons. With staying positive as her special skill, she would be a great friend to have had around during 2020!
Ruby
Like many real-life bunnies, Ruby the rabbit is an albino, with white fur and bright red eyes. Unlike real-life bunnies, Ruby is obsessed with all things space, and her New Horizons home is a temple to space exploration.
It is one of the coolest islander homes and one that players would want to visit either within the game or in real life. As a peppy villager, Ruby is always upbeat and happy to see everyone, though her excitement can make her a little scatterbrained when it comes to completing tasks.
Muffy
Muffy may describe herself as the black sheep of the family, but everyone knows that Goths aren’t always as miserable as they look! She is a sisterly sheep who is more interested in taking care of others than worrying about herself, and her Goth outfit is matched by a rather impressively Gothic home.
Goth and Emo Animal Crossing fans are both sure to love hanging out with Muffy, who also manages to have one of the most unusual special skills in the game; writing about pickles.
Cheri
Cubs are an animal type all their own in the Animal Crossing universe, and Cheri is one of the most cheerful cubs, as her name suggests. She is quite a girly character, and her New Horizons home is dominated by the color pink.
Unsurprisingly, Cheri is one of the peppy characters, and she uses up all that excess peppy energy on her favorite hobby, running marathons. Exercise enthusiasts would enjoy hanging out with a focused and inspirational Cheri on their training runs in the real world.
Tia
In theory, Tia is just one of the many elephants in Animal Crossing, but it doesn’t take a genius to spot that she looks as much like a teapot as a pachyderm – something that is backed up by her catchphrase “Tea is a cup of life”.
An easy-going friend, who also has the skills to provide freshly-brewed tea on tap, is the perfect pal for many people. Even Tia’s home is a shrine to tea-making, with a collection of teacups and the kettle taking pride of place in her kitchen.
Ketchup
Peppy Ketchup the duck bears an uncanny resemblance to a tomato, which explains where she gets her unusual name from. Like Tia’s obsession with tea, Ketchup has a fascination for all things foodie, and her special skill is chopping vegetables.
Her New Horizons home is set up for outdoor picnics and even comes complete with its brick oven for pizzas and a soup kettle. This is one Animal Crossing islander who would keep her friends very well fed in the real world.