New book examines comfort, community, and capitalism in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A new book explores how "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" provided comfort and community during the pandemic. The game's appeal stemmed from its safe, task-oriented gameplay and its ability to foster social connections, offering a sense of routine and belonging when real-world interactions were limited. The book, "Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Can a Game Take Care of Us?", also examines themes of "safe capitalism" and manipulative game design, ahead of a new game release in January 2026.