The Complex Legacy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons 

I just adore you so, so, so much.

This was an incredibly well written essay, better than most of the analyses and retrospectives I've seen for Animal Crossing so far. A very detailed yet digestible and entertaining look back at the game. Keep up the good work!!

apparently, happy home designer unlocked 20 new items for timmy and tommy's catalogue. i searched this up quickly because i realized i didn't know, either, so i hope that this is right. also, your voice is really relaxing to listen to! thank you for putting such an amazing video essay out. :)

8:16 and they added black people! Nintendo, why did it take that long?

I picked up the game right after 2.0, and was brand new to the series. I have stuff left to do (critters, art) but after 1 and 1/2 years the game feels sort of hollow. Which is sad because I enjoy it. But I haven't picked it up in 2 weeks and I'm not really sure I have the motivation right now. And then I get the guilt trip from the villagers when I come back 😭

as someone who only ever played the original GameCube version before New Horizons, just being able to decorate OUTSIDE was huge for me and I personally still adore New Horizons for that reason. I do wish that they still let us do errands for villagers tho

Firstly just have to say that you're such an underrated creator, Salem! Video essays are a ton of work and yours are always so funny AND thoughtful. Really hope they get some more attention! As for my opinion on ACNH, I think there's kind of a misconception among a lot of people that we should be able to play a game every single day for hours on end without getting bored or tired of it. I can't really think of any game that's best played this way tbh, all the ones that seem to captivate people like that are these massively multiplayer experiences with an emphasis on social aspects and microtransactions, and I wouldn't want Animal Crossing to become that anyway. Even as a kid playing Wild World or New Leaf, I would always pick up the game for a few months, usually in the summer when I was out of school. I'd start a new town or revisit an old one, and I really enjoyed it, but after a few months I'd put it back down and forget about it for a few more months- then repeat the cycle. That was my relationship with New Leaf, it's my relationship with New Horizons, and I'm fine with that! I think it's a little unrealistic to expect to be endlessly entertained by a single game. That being said, there are a few seemingly "easy" features that could be added to ACNH to vastly improve the longevity of the game. If there were more shop upgrades, some built in multiplayer minigames, some more interesting daylies (still can't believe all the cooking was introduced just to fill stamina instead of some deeper mechanic or minigame) and if the villager dialogue issue was resolved (the personality types and subtypes are already there... make them actually do something!) , along with some QoL adjustments like bulk crafting, I genuinely think a lot of people wouldn't feel so disappointed. It's the fact that ACNH has so much potential and is *so close* to being an amazing game that hurts the most.

another wonderful video salem!! i love your commentary videos a whole lot

About to listen to this three times in a row, absolutely CANNOT wait

YESSSS omfg class is in SESSION 🤓✍🏼

Amazing video! This was my first animal crossing game and I loved it. I got it when it released during the pandemic. Although I’ve stopped playing for the most part (besides a few visits here and then) I’m so grateful for the game. It brought me so many happy/cozy/wholesome moments. Especially during the pandemic. Playing with friends online and hanging out on our islands during the lockdown is a memory i’ll never forget. I sometimes miss those moments. But i look forward to the next animal crossing game ☺️

I just picked the game back up a few days ago. reset my island with 1,000 hours into it and honestly it's the best. since things have quieted down I feel I can enjoy the simple pleasures of the game again especially without worrying about people judging me or the toxic community it had around it years prior. honestly watching this just after restarting my island feels great and like cathartic?! Either way it's amazing, thanks for making this video :).

fantastic essay, definitely changed my perspective on the game as a whole and has made it so much more rewarding to pick up after taking a nearly two year break because i didn't think it was possible to have fun in the game anymore.

This was an amazing video, very in depth and it was very nice to have somebody looking at it from several perspectives. And to me, I'm just gonna enjoy my cozy lil game, updates or not. Honestly hearing the same old "yeah, there's probably no updates, they might be making a new game though" every day played differently gets annoying, but I can just ignore that. My experience with animal crossing is only what I make it. (Also you forgot froggy crossing in the list of ac RU-vidrs that made it what it is today/j)

OMG I was deleting photos from my phone for 5 hours today when I could have been watching THIS on repeat I’ve wasted my life T-T Truly, this is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Salem. Amazing job, as always :)

Not me commenting and liking twice. ILY. Your video essays always are the peak of RU-vid content Period.

I am still having fun with the game tbh, I play daily. But, I honestly miss the hype of 2020, trading on nookazon and following the turnip exchange. I hope the hype is as strong with the next installment.

I love long Salem videos! Your voice is so lovely and soothing. Thanks for helping this lonely little night shift nurse relax. It’s so appreciated. 🥺💖

Such a good video, love the long critique and comparisons

Just found your channel because of this video and I've never followed someone that fast! This essay was SO well done and I really enjoyed watching, thank you so much for your hard work! 💙

I was just recently thinking that someone should make a video about various trends in the community and glad that you went over a lot of the rises and falls in the community after updates stopped

i personally really enjoy ACNH still. I got the game right in the middle of the week leading up to the very first Bunny Day ( oh boy what a time to start playing). While yes i think Animal Crossing games have the potential to just continue to make them better especially New Horizons, I love each game for what it is and while yes there were some things i was hoping would get added to ACNH (Still sad that the Zelda amiibos didn't get added in) I'm happy playing the game still trying to actually finish a fully decorated island finally. I play everyday and when im working on a build i make sure to order all my items from everywhere as part of my routine as well as, doing my dailies is one of my favorite parts of playing. I think ACNH is still a good game and i really enjoy it.

This is awesome

I just got back into playing 2 days ago XD

Her sense of humor is very similar to mine my gosh

here from the Timmy Vs Tommy stream!

Omg i love this so much 🥺🥺🥺

Holy shit you’re hilarious lmfao

i’m so traumatized as a sims fan that i expected you to trash on the happy home DLC :,)))

guys what’s the song at 21:31

I am like number 99

All the creators mentioned, yourself included, are the best! 🖤 Currently starting another island.. again. 🤣🫠