What happens in Animal Crossing?
For many gamers, Animal Crossing was so appealing during the early months of the Covid-19 lockdown because playing it was a little bit like taking a relaxing holiday with friends. In the game, players get away to their own personal desert island. Here, they can catch, fish, craft and gather together natural resources, to decorate and customise their island. They can interact with a cast of cute, anthropomorphic, animal characters, such as Tom Nook, a Japanese racoon dog, Isabelle, a shih tzu, and Gulliver, a seagull; and they can also visit other players’ islands to hang out with fellow gamers.
There are a few specific goals in Animal Crossing. Players customise and upgrade their houses, decorate their island, and try to attract visitors They can also collect things, such as fish, insects, fossils, deep-sea creatures, and paintings. The real goal, however, is to have a good time!
Money in Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing has its own in-game currencies.
The main one is called bells, with which players can collect in the game by hitting rocks and shaking trees, as well as crafting and selling things. Unlike other games, Animal Crossing does not offer players the opportunity to buy additional bells.
There are also Nook Miles, which are a bit like air miles, which players can earn by completing tasks. Again, these can only be earned, not bought.
And, as of autumn 2021, there’s a new currency, called pokis. These are used exclusively in Animal Crossing first and only piece of downloadable content, Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise.
That’s right, Animal Crossing hasn’t offered much in the way of downloadable content (or DLCs); these add-on to games often cost money, and so may worry some parents who want to keep track of their children’s spending.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise was launched in November 2021, and cost £22.49. It enabled players to create and remodel holiday homes on their islands. Pokis (which again can only be earned, not bought) were used in the creation of these homes.
In conclusion, there aren’t many things for kids to spend real money on in Animal Crossing, when compared with other games. It feels fairly safe, from a purchase point of view.
Is Animal Crossing for kids?
Animal Crossing has a PEGI 3 rating, and so is suitable for all children ages. There’s no scary violence or bad language, and users say the game is a blissful, relaxing experience. However, there are a few things you might want to consider, if your child is an avid player.
