Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH), the first iteration of the franchise for the Nintendo Switch, was already highly anticipated, but the title exceeded expectations, picking up new fans and lapsed fans along the way. The game debuted to highly positive reviews and provided a much-needed escape from the pandemic-saddled world, offering a cuter, brighter reality where one has a little more control. It was so popular that then-candidate Joe Biden virtually campaigned with in-game items rather than hold superspreader IRL rallies.