Written on: 10/01/26

Animal Crossing: Wild World

Though I grew up with New Leaf, Wild World was my first Animal Crossing from days that I barely remember. The copy I played was most likely my older sister's since I never bought games thanks to owning a flashcard. All I really remember from playing it back then is being creeped out by Shrunk cuz he looked like a bald guy with strange hair. I didn't know he was meant to be an Axlotl and nowadays I think he's a good fella. I've directed all my misplaced malice and disdain against the guy that follows you around constantly instead. I forget his name but I ignore him constantly so that's a given.


Anyway, many many years later around 2021 or so I bought a copy from ebay and started playing it for a little while but not really consistently. Then finally a couple months ago around July or August of 2025, I decided to play it proper, at least a little everyday.
From my experience of playing this game every day for a couple months, I can say that it still holds up well enough but, I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking it's a bit bare bones compared to the newer games.
There's a lack of real life annual events, instead replaced with made up ones such as the flea market day or la-di-day which aren't bad but they certainly aren't replacing Halloween or Toy day.

There's also a lack of some conveniences found in the newer games but I can tolerate that as well, only thing that bothers me is the game having to seemingly to register whenever you're using touch screen or dpad controls. It's only a slight pause but I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me. Should've just had both be active at the same time but whateeeeeevs.
Multiplayer was also introduced in this game, which I was able to try about a while ago thanks to the fanmade servers and it was alright, I think I would've appreciated it more back in the day cuz of the novelty but as it is, I would prefer to play New Leaf with others since there is more to do.

Okay, with the negatives out of the way, I think Wild World has pretty cozy vibes and encapsulates what Animal Crossing is at it's core, The mixture of the music, the villager interactions and lack of any real incentive the game itself pushes you towards, culminates in this chill yet grounded vibe that emanates from this game.
The villagers in this game have practically no filter, even when they are a bit friendly, and it makes them fairly enjoyable to chat with. I've taken many pictures whilst playing just because on piece of disalogue or another either mildly offended, made me laugh, or both. Having them act like this contributes to that vibe of being an outsider in a new environment and having to assimilate over time.

Another thing about the villagers I wanna mention is the process of getting their photos. I found it a lot easier to do so in Wild World compared to New Leaf, I dunno if I consider this good or bad but just something I took notice of but I guess I felt pretty good about it happeneing so suddenly and it didn't feel undeserved either.
Villagers leaving on a whim, without telling you, is another I bitterly appreciate about Wild World. It makes me appreciate the time I spent with them more, especially if it were someone I got the picture of or simply liked having around.


Moving on from villagers, I've come to appreciate the mundane nature of the stuff you do in this game. The game doesn't really push you to do anything in particular besides maybe paying off your house and upgrading it. Thanks to this there's no real pressure or sense of responsibility to do things like there is in New leaf which I think adds to the chill vibe of Wild World.
I tend to feel satisfied from just watering my flowers, talking to some villagers and doing some fishing or bug catching.




Last thing I wanna talk about ever so passionately is the music. Over the months of playing daily, this soundtrack has grown one me immensely and it might beat out New Leaf.
The music for this game peeeerrrrrrrrfectly compliments the laid back vibe of Wild World. Not gonna repeat myself in regards to my lack ability to express what I think about music without souding amateurish but my favorite tracks from Wild World are:

• 4pm: Tend to hear this after work or school. Maintains the upbeat energy expected of strolling around in the afternoon but thow twinkly sounds indicate, to me, the coming of the evening and the sky gradually being dyed orange as the sun sets.


• 10am: Feels a little more introspective, maybe a bit more fitting for the night. I think this track represents the quietness of a neighbourhood during this time on a weekday, where everyone is either at work or at school.


• 12pm: I have similar feelings about this track and 10am, but 12pm has a little more energy to it. I normally hear it on weekends and have come to associate it to idling in bed with the curtains open or tidying up my room. There's also something kinda bittersweet sounding about this song, I wanna say it's coming from the repeated do-do-do-do that shifts pitch.


• 2pm: I like this one for being kinda groovy. I like the snowy variant too.


• 2am: I rarely have the energy to stay up late enough to hear this track but it's for sure one of my favourites and has a very nostalgic feeling to it.

I could write more and I might do so if i feel the need to but that's all I wanna yap about for now. Wild World is a bit more mundane than New Leaf but I've come to enjoy that aspect of it over time. Suppose it made me appreciate the smaller things that we do everyday as a part of a routine or something.
Playing this game did actually help with making a habit of doing certain things everyday now that I think about it.
Almost forgot since it's not exactly relevant but shoutout to the animal crossing movie for being kinda goated.