The game has been used as a substitute for social interactions such as weddings and graduation ceremonies, as well as political campaigning and virtual protests. Its commercial success has been attributed in part to its release amid global stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the best-selling game in the Animal Crossing series, the second best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch, the best-selling game of all time in Japan, and the 14th best-selling video game in history. It was a major commercial success, selling over 40 million copies worldwide and breaking the console game record for most digital units sold in a single month. The game was nominated for over a dozen awards and was a contender for Game of the Year. New Horizons received acclaim from critics, who praised its gameplay and customization options and called it the best game in the Animal Crossing series.

The game was announced at E3 2019 via a Nintendo Direct and after an extended development period, released worldwide March 20, 2020. With art and graphics, the developers used the concept of 'trigger of play' and the 'imagination gap', where the former kept the gameplay simplistic and easy to pick up while the latter kept the art style simple for the player to imagine the rest. The game director, Aya Kyogoku, retained old content from previous games to keep fans happy and also ensured that the game was simple enough to appeal to newcomers. New Horizons began its development in 2012. They can gather and craft items, customize the island, and develop it into a community of anthropomorphic animals. In New Horizons, the player controls a character who moves to a deserted island after purchasing a getaway package from Tom Nook, accomplishes assigned tasks, and develops the island as they choose. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a social simulation game developed and published by Nintendo in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch it is the fifth main entry in the Animal Crossing series.

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