I’ve woken up feeling overwhelmed a lot this month. Between constant push notifications alerting me about the downfall of the economy due to Covid-19, and not knowing when I’ll be able to see my friends and family in person again, it’s a strange time to be a human on this rock. If I’m not overwhelmed, I’m some other adjective: anxious, melancholy, or varying degrees of unsettled.
Last Saturday, the stress really got to me, so I tossed my phone on the bed, left my Apple Watch on its charger, and went to the basement, where I made a cozy nest of blankets and put on some headphones. I proceeded to play Animal Crossing: New Horizons on my Nintendo Switch for the next 12 hours straight. It was the best thing I’ve done for my mental health this year.
Just What I Needed
When the going gets tough, it’s only natural to seek solace wherever you can. For myself and many of the staff here at WIRED, that place is on our respective islands in the new Animal Crossing.
Animal Crossing has always been therapeutic. It’s not like other games. There are no battles, hard-and-fast rules, time limits, or big bosses to defeat. Like Stardew Valley, your job is to chill and make a pleasant little life for yourself. Your daily tasks involve picking fruit, fishing, redecorating your home, and helping out your neighbors. Or, you can spend your time customizing furniture to decorate your house or changing your clothes. It’s up to you. Sure, you typically owe a greedy ra