Animal Crossing Scrapbook: Part 1

A little over a month ago, I started playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and it was the best possible decision for my mental health. In a time of uncertainty, isolation, and depression, Animal Crossing has given me something to look forward to every day, a creative outlet, and a sense of community. Here are just a few memories from the first month or so of living on the island of Rosehaven.

This is the den in my house. It was the first room I decorated to my satisfaction; it's changed a little, but not much.

The bamboo garden was one of my first major projects. It's come a long way since then, but this is still one of my favorite pictures.

Another big project I had in mind from the beginning was this park lane. Here it's still in progress, before I could add paths.

Donating to Blathers' museum is my passion project. I love filling out all the displays, especially in the aquarium. Sitting in front of the Serenity Tank is one of my favorite places in the game; it's so peaceful.

As soon as I found out there was a gravestone in the game, I knew I had to include a cemetery on my island. It was a long process tracking down the DIY recipe for the headstone, but I finally managed it. Then things got a little spooky...

Another one of my favorite rooms in my house: the conservatory. I keep my DIY crafting table in here so I constantly have a reason to go into this room and appreciate all the greenery.

The basement is TOTALLY NORMAL HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST OTHERWISE

I always loved playing dress-up as a kid (and still do), so all the clothing options in the game are really fun.

The lighting in this game is gorgeous and lends itself to some beautiful scenes.

But one of my favorite aspects of the game are the villagers and the relationships I build with them. Hazel, the squirrel with the unibrow, is the sweetest and easily my favorite. Here's some advice she gave me when I told her my emotional weather was dark and cloudy:

But all the other villagers are great, too!

Mac, right after I said out loud that the shirt I gave him looked perfect on him.

Kiki giving me a gift and reminding me that I do deserve nice things--and so do you.

That time Zucker and I matched outfits! Little things like this make the rain worthwhile.

Hazel gives us a concert.

Marina is so excited about her birthday!

Candi, what are you doing up there? How did you even get up there?

Marina, you're an octopus. Your arms are your legs. The question is meaningless.

The gang drinking tea on a summer night.

Reminiscing with Hazel, one of my original residents, about how far we've come.

And I'm not done with the game yet. With new additions to come and new things to discover, I look forward to many more months to come shaping my island and hanging out with my animal friends (and my IRL friends who play!).

All pictures were captured in Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Nintendo Switch. The words in the gravedigger image were added with Canva.