Nintendo is celebrating big milestones this year for a number of popular games, including the Pokémon series, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The Pokémon franchise has reached its 25th anniversary, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been providing customizable island fun for over a year. With summer ramping up, and few events currently on the event calendar for New Horizons, it could be the perfect opportunity for Nintendo to introduce an anniversary crossover between Pokémon and Animal Crossing, allowing fans of both games to celebrate with collectibles, DIY recipes, and themed outfits.
Animal Crossing crossover events have been a means for both New Horizons, and past Animal Crossing titles, to mix up gameplay with the help of other popular series. These Animal Crossing crossovers have included the Legend of Zelda in New Leaf, Sanrio Amiibo cards in New Leaf and New Horizons, and more recently a special anniversary event between Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Mario. These events aren't usually reoccurring and offer players a limited-time opportunity to participate in a special milestone together.
A Pokémon crossover event for Animal Crossing: New Horizons could be done without the use of the player's entire island. For a small-scale event, players could be able to purchase a handful of 25th-anniversary merchandise from the seasonal section of the Nook Shopping App. This could include a wall decoration with the Pokémon anniversary logo, Ash's hat from the Pokémon anime for players to wear, or a Poké Ball decoration for their homes. However, this type of small event may be less appealing to fans who enjoyed the in-depth Super Mario crossover event earlier in the year.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Players Could Craft Pikachu Pajamas
There are a number of ways Animal Crossing could make a Pokémon crossover event one to remember. First, the town plaza could be turned into an event center with a visiting Professor Oak-themed NPC. Poké Balls could spawn around the player's island every day of the event, and the player must collect them and return them to Oak to earn Pokémon-themed prizes like decorations or DIY recipes. Able Sisters could sell a line of different clothes inspired by the main character outfits of different Pokémon games, and there could be the opportunity to find a DIY recipe to craft a pair of pajamas based on Squirtle, Charmander, Bulbasaur, or Pikachu.
While turning Animal Crossing: New Horizons characters into Pokémon trainers would be a fun touch, it is unlikely an event of this type would include any actual Pokémon species being translated into an Animal Crossing mechanic. Instead, the event would likely focus on offering players a large number of decorations and wearable items, so fans of both games can show off their Pokémon pride on their own islands, or while visiting others. Because events are such a large part of the game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons would benefit from continuing to add new crossover events, to help keep content exciting and encourage fans to check in on their islands.