Image Credit: Bethesda
Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Cyrus and Reese in the wedding chapel in Animal Crossing
Image via Nintendo

All Animal Crossing games listed in release order

Stay cozy.

When it comes to cozy life simulator games, the Animal Crossing series rules the roost and has released several titles over the last couple of decades.

Recommended Videos

Whether you’re an aspiring home builder, looking for friends, or a collector of shiny things and creepy crawlies, Animal Crossing games are perfect for curling up on the couch and playing by yourself for a little me time or with your friends as you build out an adorable town. There have been a handful of titles within the franchise, but one aspect remains across all versions: Don’t forget to pay Tom Nook.

If you are curious about all the games released over the years or want to play them in release order, here are all the mainline Animal Crossing games and when they were released.

Every Animal Crossing game in release order

The key art for Animal Crossing: Wild World, featuring both player characters with pink trees and a house in the background.
Familiar faces and a place to call home. Image via Nintendo

There are six titles in the Animal Crossing franchise, starting with the original version of the game, Animal Forest, which was only sold in Japan. Afterward, there was a three-to-four-year cycle for new Animal Crossing games until the latest version was released eight years after its predecessor.

Game titlePlatformRelease date
Animal ForestNintendo 64 (Japan Exclusive)2001
Animal CrossingNintendo GameCube2001
Animal Crossing: Wild WorldNintendo DS2005
Animal Crossing: City FolkNintendo Wii2008
Animal Crossing: New LeafNintendo 3DS2012
Animal Crossing: New HorizonsNintendo Switch2020

2001: Dōbutsu no Mori (Japanese Exclusive)

the japanese box art cover for Dōbutsu no Mori
Where it all began. Image via Nintendo
  • Release date: April 14, 2001
  • Sales: Unknown

The game that started the franchise was a Japanese exclusive and was never destined to leave Japan. It spawned three different versions within a year of being out, including the one most Western fans know today.

2001: Animal Crossing

animal crossing gamecubes main cover art showing a villager exiting a large red house next to the game logo
The Western release. Image via Nintendo
  • Release date: Dec. 14, 2001 (JP), Sept 16, 2002 (US)
  • Sales: 2.71 million

Known as Dōbutsu no Mori+ in Japan, Animal Crossing was the series’ debut in the West and came out nearly a full year after the Japanese version. It didn’t turn any heads but sold over two million units at a time when the Gamecube was an underperforming console.

2005 Animal Crossing: Wild World

the main box art cover for animal crossing wild world, showing the logo on top of a planet with multiple buildings and characters from the series
Handheld debut. Image via Nintendo
  • Release date: Nov. 23, 2005 (JP), Dec. 5, 2005 (US)
  • Sales: 11.75 million

Wild World is considered one of the best games in the series, and for good reason. The geniuses behind the game made two fundamental changes: Adding online multiplayer at a time when Nintendo was only entering online play and putting the game on portable devices to make working on your town much easier. This led to the series gaining worldwide appeal and turned Animal Crossing into a flagship Nintendo series.

2008: Animal Crossing: City Folk

citry folks main box art has two villagers going towards a cvity with a lot of shops, with a fountain in the center.
Wii imagine the city is like this. Image via Nintendo
  • Release date: Nov. 16, 2008 (US), Nov. 20, 2008 (JP)
  • Sales: 3.38 million

City Folk is one of the more forgetful titles from the series. Despite coming out after the success of Wild World, the game used a bunch of gimmicks, including the short-lived Wii Microphone that required an awkward placement to work and was hardly used. Despite the Wii’s, the game was pretty mediocre and didn’t evolve the gameplay outside of adding a city hub hardly anyone visited.

2012: Animal Crossing: New Leaf

animal crossing new leaf main box art shows villagers around isabelle and main characters deciding what the city should look like
Mayor duties and cute dogs. Image via Nintendo
  • Release date: Nov. 8, 2012 (JP), June 9, 2013 (US)
  • Sales: 13.04 million

New Leaf was a revival and added a bunch of mechanics we have come to know and love from the series to this date. You could create your own town instead of being locked to a set village design with no way to pretty it up outside of planting flowers, and the game gave us Isabelle, the cute mascot the series is known for nowadays. What isn’t to love about that?

New Leaf was followed by New Leaf+ Welcome amiibo, which added amiibo support for the first time in the series’ history. It allowed you to use certain Nintendo amiibo to get Nintendo-inspired villagers, like Wolf Link.

2020: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

new horizons teaser image with a bunch of villagers on a beach looking off to the distance as the logo appears over the ocean
Making waves. Image via Nintendo
  • Release date: March 20, 2020 (Worldwide)
  • Sales: 44.79 million

Last but not least, we have the biggest game in the series, New Horizons. A combination of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced players to be stuck inside and rely on games, and a complete overhaul where you could completely design your island elevated the series to new heights. There is no better way to play Animal Crossing than the Nintendo Switch release.

Spinoffs

Outside of the mainline games, there are a few Japanese exclusive games like Dōbutsu no Mori e+, and spinoff titles like Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer and Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival, that were also released to fill the gaps between the main releases.

These games offer enhancements or use characters from the series in different genres to fill the void between each release.


Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
More Stories To Read
Author
Image of Tyler Esguerra
Tyler Esguerra
Lead League of Legends writer for Dot Esports. Forever an LCS supporter, AD carry main, with more than five years in the industry. Sometimes I like clicking heads in Call of Duty or VALORANT. Creator of the Critical Strike Podcast.
Author
Image of Adam Newell
Adam Newell
Assigning Editor. In 2015, Adam graduated from the University of Aberystwyth with a bachelor's in Media and Communications. Working in the industry for over ten years. If it has anything to do with Nintendo and Pokémon chances are you will see me talking about it, covering, and likely not sleeping while playing it.