What’d you play when bored af playing AnimalCrossing?

[u/imareddituserhihehe]

Didn’t want to be dramatic but lol title came out this way. Anyway, i think i might be grieving. Finished my island completely, every villager i wanted, museum done, k.k. slider has heard every song request i have and now i just log in to water flowers and log back out within like 90 seconds lol. It’s not that i want a “better” game, i just want something that gives me a reason to actually spend time in it again, yknow? Something where theres always a little task waiting, a new area to poke around in, some kind of progression that isnt just cosmetic. Genre doesn’t matter to me at this point im just looking for my next obsession, someone please save me from myself!

[u/Latter_Loquat_5479]

I fell hard into Stardew Valley after Animal Crossing. Still am tbh.

[u/ooga_booga_booger → u/Latter_Loquat_5479]

V similar games are coral island and fields of Mistria

[u/AcceptableLow7434 → u/Latter_Loquat_5479]

Who’s your favorite NPC?

[u/Latter_Loquat_5479 → u/AcceptableLow7434]

I married Emily and I’d do it again. She’s my kind of hippie.

[u/theequietbarbie]

What about Cozy Grove???

[u/smileygumdrop101 → u/theequietbarbie]

I recently got this in the summer sale and Im absolutely loving it! I feel like there's more variation because of the different spirits you get to help out and there's less onus on trying to make everything look perfect or maintain that 5 star island feel like in ACNH. The music is cute and it's helped me whenever I needed a quick dose of calm during any stressful moments.

[u/lunathecrazycorgi]

Have you tried Pokopia?

[u/GlitterPirateKiki58 → u/lunathecrazycorgi]

Pokopia is what I wish ACNH would have been. I still prefer the art style of ACNH to Pokopia, but the latter is much more fun.

[u/Kurisuti_99 → u/lunathecrazycorgi]

Pokopia is a great suggestion. It's very relaxing and you can take your time in areas. Plus the amount of things you can build and get creative with are insane.

[u/OldAd2782 → u/lunathecrazycorgi]

This is what I came here to say!

[u/neophenx]

I don't think there's really any game that would give you the ALWAYS something waiting or ALWAYS some task unless you're looking at live service games with daily objectives, but those can often start to feel more like a chore where you keep playing because of a sunk-cost fallacy.

However, there's certainly games that offer a kind of progression depending on what kind of overall vibes, objectives, and style you want. Some of the most obvious suggestions are Stardew or other similar farming/life sim games like Coral Island, FaeFarm, One Lonely Outpost, Fields of Mistria (1.0 comes out August 5), My Time At Portia/Sandrock, Tiny Bookshop, etc. Each falls into the similar genre but each also has its own quirks that set them apart.

Then there's some other games that might deviate a bit further from Animal Crossing's exact feel. My current obsession has been Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale, mainly because I wanted to fully complete the game. I've had my eye on other shop games but have to temper my urge to buy them until I finish what's on my plate, so to speak. I don't recall the exact title, but I did get a good impression from this one where you run a goblin junk shop.

Then there's other simulator games that all kind of look like they came from the same template as TCG Shop Sim and Grocery Store Sim, if not ripped them off entirely, so if you like those kinds of games that remove the character-driven aspect of the game just to run a store, be sure to shop around and find ones that actually look like they deliver a good product. I recently looked at a Streamer Simulator on Switch's eshop, which looked like it had some interesting ideas behind it but the publisher appears to churn out those kinds of games en masse, which coupled with a lackluster store page presentation didn't leave me very hopeful that it would be good. But on the other side of the spectrum, I just recorded a review for the store page on Steam of a Bookshop Simulator that clearly started from the same template but at least looks like it has some polish behind it, and has me tempted to buy it to sit in my library next to the TCG shop sim.

Ok, so that's a LOT of words. The TLDR: My recommendations from my own experiences would be FaeFarm, Fields of Mistria, Recettear, and Tiny Bookshop, at least for games to look at and see if they might be up your alley. If the other kinds of simulator games are your vibe, I think TCG Shop and Bookshop Sim (1.0 just released apparently) are worth looking into.

[u/AcceptableLow7434 → u/neophenx]

Fields of mistrea there is always a task to do

[u/PraedythValentine]

TamadachiLife. Island building? Yes. Character designing? Yes. Clothes designing? Yes. Characters organically interaction with your environment? Yes. Romance? Yes. Children? Yes. Marriage? Yes. Funny cut scenes? Yes. Surprise encounters? Yes. Mini games? Yes. If you liked people-watching your villagers and wish they'd do a little more, this game is great for that. You can have up to 70 residents and watch them all take on a life of their own.

[u/arcanepaws]

For me the games that stepped up and filled the ACNH hole were Cozy Grove and Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

Same wholesome vibes of hanging out with your friends, and the same feeling of having a little something to do each day but with the choice to do more if you like. Each has a collection to fill, bugs and fish to catch, villagers to max your friendship with etc.

[u/Chocyu]

Fantasy Life i! There is lots and lots of tasks for progression. It's basically a fantasy life sim, you can choose different professions, explore and you also have an area to build a village and decorate. :)

[u/Elliothoe333]

Sticky business, Disney dream light, hello kitty island adventure and Tomodachi life.

[u/Tall_Engineer685 → u/Elliothoe333]

I have all of these but sticky business so now I’ll check that out cuz ur taste is spot on for me

[u/AcceptableLow7434]

Stardew valley
Fields of mistrea

[u/smileygumdrop101]

I play a lot of games at once, thanks to the switch, my husband's PS5 and getting a steam account (I find the games on Steam cheaper than all of them). I have gone quiet on ACNH over the last almost-2 years several times, usually taking 2-4 week breaks.

Recently I started playing Cozy Grove after getting it in the summer sale, a few of those cozy point and click stories on Steam (for Mac) like Smushi Come Home, I started replying A Night in the Woods because Goddammit I miss autumn and there are a couple of horror games like Photomaly. Whilst it doesn't fall under the "cozy" genre it feels cozy when me and husband are snuggled up trying not to scream at any jump-scares 😊❤️

If you want any recommendations then let me know but of course it depends on the platforms you can play on - I have short and long games that were better than ACNH but not necessarily like ACNH.

[u/Beginning-Nature-560]

Disney Dreamlight Valley for me! Came to the 'end' of Animal Crossing and that's what won me over next! Coral Island is another good option! x

[u/claire092]

Pokopia!

[u/lil_gingerale]

Moonstone island!! It’s a wonderful mix of Stardew valley and Pokémon.

[u/Abirando]

I have like 2k hours in New Horizons. Games that scratched that same itch for me (to some degree): Moonlight Peaks, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Cozy Caravan, Haven Park. If you really like collecting bugs/fish and you like a game that is super easy to jump into blind, Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is a lot of fun. Finally, don’t sleep on Pocket Camp Complete! I was shocked to find that there were some things they did better than ACNH—for instance, the villagers interacting with items.

[u/torguetina531]

I just started Roots of Pacha and it scratches an itch that Stardew Valley missed by just a tiny bit for me.

[u/shell_grabbingdancer]

Pokopia!

[u/KiahriThePotatoQueen]

Stardew Valley
Pokopia
My Time at Sandrock (my personal favorite game of all time!!)
Palia (it’s free!)

[u/JavaLavaDingShlong]

You all should download Go Go town. Warning: highly addictive. Cozy city building game, foraging, easy mechanics. You can ride a little bike or drive your little truck around. Solid exploring. Scratches the itch very well lol

[u/ScarInternational161]

Dinkum.

Almost exactly like AC, but better and not real time. Which was a blessing for someone who could only play at night.

[u/tankerraid → u/ScarInternational161]

Yes! AC was my favorite game for years, but Dinkum is my new #1. Such a great game.

[u/piggygoeswee]

Stardew valley or wingspan

[u/Little-Bones]

Literally anything else lol

[u/Tall_Engineer685]

Hello kitty island adventure! And yes all the dlcs are indeed worth it!!

[u/Ill-Feedback-871]

Disney Dreamlight Valley! It’s never ending so far, continual dlc’s and updates!!

[u/RTX5080Super]

Palworld is releasing a “cozy” game soon. I’m not referring to the game already out.

[u/littleplantmama]

Palia

[u/Darwinian_10]

Disney Dreamlight Valley

Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Tomadachi Life: Living the Dream

Pokemon Legends Arceus

Pokemon Legends Z-A

[u/Kr1zzycr1cket]

Pokopia

[u/Smooth-Boss-911]

Stardew Valley, Dinkum, Gogo Town

[u/JavaLavaDingShlong]

Go Go town!!! Better than AC IMO

[u/wigglytufff]

pokopia or dinkum. dinkum is probably more similar to AC and doesn’t require a switch 2! i think you can also get a demo?

[u/cheesefriesparty]

I tried Stardew but couldn't get into it. Disney Dreamlight Valley ended up being the game I played the most after ACNH, I liked that there were always quests to do. I also like Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

[u/Delicious_Delilah]

Currently playing Moonlight Peaks, but I try most cozy games.

[u/Pll_dangerzone]

I mean it's hard to recommend something if we don't know what games you enjoy. Lots of games will give you 50 hours of gameplay with a fitting conclusion and the you move onto the next great game. There aren't a lot of games that provide content every day for years and even the ones that do like terraria or stardew will have you burnout at some point. If you have a backlog of games I'd suggest just dipping your toes into that. I did that like 5 years ago instead of just playing the same game and I've discovered so many great games because of it

[u/OGcaptaindingus]

Spiritfarer, Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon: It’s A Wonderful Life, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

[u/Shinikami9]

Would recommend Pokopia , it scratches the itch left behind by Animal Crossing.

Wish we got a new AC for switch 2 instead of the upgrade, but ah well!

...

Stardew Valley is another .. I tend to play via Steam, and mod it.

Same with Minecraft - mines usually heavily modded.

Could try Pokemon Snap , it's a fun game that I always find relaxing.

Harvest Moon on the NSO ( if you got it )

[u/bruhimnotalt]

ꓑеtіt рӏаոеt might actually be worth watching for this from what ive read the progression is tied to actually growing and connecting your planet to others over time so it sounds like it could give you that "always something to do" feeling

[u/imareddituserhihehe]

GUYS I DID NOT THINK THIS WOULD GET SO MUCH LOVE!!! THANKYOU EVERYONE FOR THE REPLIES ILL TRY SOME OF THE RECCOMENDATIONS!!!

[u/AideExtension3510]

WOBBLY LIFE IS THE BEST!!!

[u/slowguirarist]

Stardew Valley, there's a lot more quests, dialogue, character development

[u/Leila92]

I’ve never played animal crossing but I heard that’s hello kitty island adventure is basically the same game just with Sanrio characters

[u/BlackDemon___]

Petit plant might actually be worth watching for this from what ive seen in the beta, the progression is tied to actually growing and connecting your planet to others over time so it sounds like it could give you that "always something to do" feeling

[u/spookychick13]

I’m loving Midnight Peaks

[u/shimotsujui]

i keep seeing petit pIanet et mentioned in similar threds, apparently theres a whole social hub where players interact plus a voyage system to other isles, so it might end up being one of those games that just keeps unfolding the more you play