The game is so named because of its residents in my town I've a few vain sheep, a weightlifting sparrow, a self-doubting crocodile, a trendy fox, and that's not even the half of it. This is a special kind of online game, a communal happiness devoid of cynicism, and one only possible within Animal Crossing's disarming style. Even later you can join Club Tortimer and begin visiting the Island alongside players worldwide, waving and showing off costumes across the language barrier. Many features don't come to the fore until you've been playing for a while, such as the Island – a remote vacation spot with rare tropical species and challenges. The seasons are tracked, as are public holidays, and special events commemorate big days with a party. Very few games pace themselves like this, but Animal Crossing goes even further – its unit of composition is weeks rather than days, as your town slowly grows from bare grass and a few scattered houses into a bustling and character-packed world. This principle certainly has its quirks, and closed shops can be frustrating, but is essential to how New Leaf's ecosystem works the bugs, fish, and many other surprises tie into the day and time. If you get a house extension, for example, it will be ready tomorrow – literally. This is not a game you sit down with for a few hours on the weekend it's something you check in on, even for 10 minutes, every day. But not in-game time New Leaf works in real time. New Leaf casts you as the mayor of a town populated by anthropomorphic animals, which over time grows and adapts to your decisions and style. These are perhaps Nintendo's warmest and most human games part town-builder, part life simulator, each an evolving paradise for its players. I t has been a dozen years since the first Animal Crossing, and there's still nothing quite like it.

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