Animal Crossing: New Leaflaunched for the Nintendo 3DS back in 2012 and almost immediately became a must-play Nintendo title. From its cozy atmosphere to the way it perfected theAnimal Crossingformula,New Leafbreathed some much-needed life into the series and got even more people playing it. To this day, it remains one of the best in the series, with many lauding it as the pinnacle ofAnimal Crossingand even cozy games in general.
Naturally, whenNew Horizonscame out, many flocked to that, leavingNew Leafbehind. Of course, it helped thatNew Horizonswas on Nintendo’s fancy new console, whereasNew Leafwas stuck on the 3DS that everyone seemingly swiftly abandoned. There are plenty ofdifferences betweenNew HorizonsandNew Leaf, enough that make them distinct experiences. However,that doesn’t mean thatNew Leafshould be ignored completely, as it still has plenty to offer, and in some cases, even more thanNew Horizons.
Why Care About New Leaf In 2024?
It Still Absolutely Holds Up
Animal Crossing: New Leafhas had a bit of a resurgence in 2024, with various cozy game YouTubers and others flocking to the title for a hit of nostalgia. Videos of people revisiting their old towns or starting up new ones have been popping up all over the place, despiteNew Leaflaunching all the way back in 2012. This is, of course, despite the fact thatNew Horizonsabsolutely still exists and offers several improvements over the 3DS title.
However,players are finding that there’sa lot missing fromNew Horizonsthat was featured inNew Leaf, so it makes sense that they’d return to the game that a lot of players consider the best in the series. There are so many 40+ minute videos - some even lasting an hour and a half - of people just relaxing inNew Leaf, showcasing the many wonderful facets of its gameplay.
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Of course, just because it’s suddenly become incredibly popular doesn’t mean that everyone has to start playing it. However, consideringNew Horizonslaunched over four years ago, it’s not hard to understand why people are craving thatAnimal Crossinggameplay loop.Most people have exhausted their towns inNew Horizonsand want something else, andNew Leafis easily the next best option.
Is New Leaf Better Than New Horizons?
Many people actuallypreferNew LeaftoNew Horizons, and in many ways, it’s not hard to understand why.New Leafwas a huge step up from its predecessors, putting the player in the role of their town’s mayor, giving them the ability to decide where new locations would be built, what projects to invest in, and even which items of decoration should adorn their town. There were minigames, a lot of vibrant villagers to meet, and a whole suite of new mechanics like diving.
New Leafadded a lot more to theAnimal Crossingformula while maintaining that compelling gameplay loopthat made the series so engrossing in the first place. It managed to balance interesting villagers with a plethora of things to do to ensure that the player never got bored, even when they were up at 2am listening to the peaceful music and wandering around aimlessly.
New Leafadded a lot more to theAnimal Crossingformula while maintaining that compelling gameplay loop that made the series so engrossing in the first place.
Of course,there are also a lot ofthingsNew Horizonsdoes better thanNew Leaf, which will likely not come as a shock to many. After all,New Horizonsintroduced a lot of both quality-of-life features and major mechanics that completely changed how players approach theAnimal Crossingexperience. The ability to place literally any furniture outside, as well as the terraforming mechanics, added a level of freedom never before thought possible. It also vastly improved the overall visuals and added all the extra islands players could visit.
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However, it also makessome activities feel like a chore, making the whole experience feel a lot less unique. Additionally,the villagers felt like a step-down fromNew Leafand other entries, lacking the distinct personalities that had graced previous beloved characters. It’s not that they were completely dull, but it was easy to feel like they all blended into one, and players would quickly exhaust everything they had to say.
How To Play New Leaf In 2024
It’s Locked To The 3DS
PlayingNew Leafin 2024 is surprisingly easy, especially considering it’s a game from 2012. All players will need is a 3DS, which can still be picked up pretty cheaply from eBay and other second-hand sellers, and a copy ofNew Leaf. Amazingly,New Leaf’supdated version,Welcome amiibo, can be picked up from Amazon for around $25/£20 and is all over eBay for even less than that.
TheAnimal Crossing New Leaf: Welcome amiiboversion of the game primarily added amiibo support, letting players bring over villagers inspired by other Nintendo properties, such asSplatoonandZelda.
Of course,it would be amazing if Nintendo portedNew Leafto the Nintendo Switch, but unfortunately, it’s not available there, even through Nintendo Switch Online. This means that if fans want to get their hands on it, they’ll need a 3DS. However, there are so many otheramazing 3DS games worth playing, from theYokai WatchandPokemongames toDragon QuestandMarioentries. It’s a console worth owning as its library is chock-full of surprises.
Yes, New Leaf Is Worth Playing
It’s An Animal Crossing Classic For A Reason
Animal Crossing: New Leafis absolutely worth playing nowand will always be worth playing in the future. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles thatNew Horizonsintroduced, in many ways it surpasses the Switch title. Its villagers are more dynamic, there’s plenty for players to get stuck into, and it doesn’t always feel quite as chore-focused asNew Horizons.
Animal Crossing New Horizons Needs More Mini-Games Like New Leaf
Animal Crossing: New Horizons can get a little repetitive, but adding the lost feature of mini-games from Animal Crossing: New Leaf could change that.
That’s not to say thatNew Horizonsis a bad game, but for those who’ve exclusively played it, or for those who maybe skipped the 3DS generation,New Leafis an incredible title that easily holds up today. Its gameplay is just as compelling as the modernAnimal Crossingtitles, and its visuals are still a treat, even despite being confined to the tiny 3DS screen. Fans ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizonswho are looking for anotherAnimal Crossingexperience should definitely check outNew Leafif only to see how the series has evolved.
