Can You Get a Girlfriend in Animal Crossing? The Truth About Romance in New Horizons
The simple and direct answer is: No, you cannot get a girlfriend in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (or any other mainline Animal Crossing game). While the game is full of charming villagers and opportunities for friendship, romantic relationships with non-player characters (NPCs) are not a feature. Animal Crossing: New Horizons focuses on community building, creativity, and the joy of simple island life, rather than romantic pursuits. The closest you can get to a special bond with a villager is achieving a “best friend” status, which unlocks unique interactions and gifts, but it doesn’t extend to romance.
Understanding the Game’s Focus
Animal Crossing, at its core, is a life simulation game that emphasizes friendship, personal growth, and the joy of collecting. The interactions with villagers are designed to be wholesome and engaging, fostering a sense of belonging and community. The developers have consistently steered clear of romantic elements within the villager interactions, keeping the tone family-friendly and focused on platonic relationships.
The game allows players to connect with other real players online, providing an avenue for human interaction beyond the confines of the pre-programmed villagers. However, even these interactions are not built-in for the purpose of dating. If a player finds a romantic partner within the Animal Crossing community, it is organic and based on player interactions outside of the game’s core mechanics.
The Misconception About Villager Relationships
Many players may observe that villagers often interact with each other, engaging in activities like singing together or exchanging gifts. This often sparks a discussion about potential romantic undertones. While these interactions are fun to watch and can seem like they could lead to romantic connections, they are simply part of the programming to create a lively, believable environment. Villagers form friendships, not romances.
Some may point to fan theories or wishful thinking based on in-game dialogue and actions. However, these speculations ultimately fall short of becoming a reality because, again, the game does not feature an actual relationship mechanic. There are no in-game mechanics that allow you to form romantic relationships with villagers.
The Exception: Marriage in Other Animal Crossing Games
It’s important to note that some past titles in the Animal Crossing series have featured marriage-like options. Specifically, Animal Crossing: New Leaf 2, a fan-made mod, introduced the ability to marry villagers, with a variety of candidates and even the option for same-sex marriages. This shows that fans are interested in this aspect, but it’s essential to remember that this is not a part of Nintendo’s official game.
New Horizons, as of now, does not include any option for players to marry either villagers or other player characters in-game. Official Animal Crossing titles, like New Horizons, prioritize platonic relationships over romantic ones.
Why This Focus is Deliberate
The absence of romance in Animal Crossing is a deliberate design choice by Nintendo. The focus is intentionally placed on:
- Relaxing Gameplay: The game encourages relaxation, creativity, and peaceful interaction, rather than the potential stress and drama of romantic relationships.
- Family-Friendly Content: Keeping romance out of the game ensures its suitability for a wide range of age groups, including children.
- Community and Friendship: The game’s core mechanic of community building with villagers and human players, both online and locally, is the central theme. The focus is on building platonic bonds, not romantic ones.
Frequently Asked Questions About Relationships in Animal Crossing
### 1. Can villagers fall in love with each other in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
No, villagers can’t fall in love with each other. They form friendships and interact in various ways, but these relationships are platonic and not romantic.
### 2. Can you have a romantic relationship with a villager?
No, you cannot have a romantic relationship with any villager in the game. The relationships are strictly platonic.
### 3. Is there dating in Animal Crossing?
No, there is no dating mechanic in Animal Crossing. The game’s focus is on building friendships and community.
### 4. Can you get married in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
No, there is no feature for getting married in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Marriage is only a fan-made feature from previous mods of the game.
### 5. Is Animal Crossing good for couples?
Yes, many couples enjoy playing Animal Crossing together. The game provides a shared experience and allows couples to interact and build their island paradise together. Though, not for the purpose of virtual dating within the game itself.
### 6. Do Animal Crossing villagers kiss?
While some players have reported observing villagers doing what appears to be kissing, these are just animations that are part of their general interactions and are not indicative of romantic relationships. It’s more akin to a friendly peck on the cheek or something similar.
### 7. Can you marry a villager?
No, you cannot marry a villager in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
### 8. Can you get a job in Animal Crossing?
Yes, there are activities that resemble work within the game. However, these tasks (such as fishing or bug catching) don’t constitute a “job” in the traditional sense, and there’s no work for money beyond selling the things you collect and craft. You can fulfill tasks for residents for rewards, but you are not formally employed.
### 9. Can you romance in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
No, romance is not a feature of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The social mechanics revolve around friendships and community building.
### 10. Can my wife and I play Animal Crossing together?
Yes, couples can play together on the same island and enjoy a shared gaming experience using multiple consoles and games. The games encourage this by allowing multiple players to share one island.
### 11. Can you time travel in Animal Crossing?
Yes, you can change the time and date on your Nintendo Switch console to time travel within the game. This can affect gameplay by allowing you to skip ahead to certain events and the next day, but comes with some caveats.
### 12. Who is the cutest villager in Animal Crossing?
This is a subjective question, as everyone has their favorites! Some of the most popular choices include Molly, Judy, Lolly, and Kiki.
### 13. Can you meet your mom in Animal Crossing?
No, your mother is only referenced through letters she sends you. She is never seen in the game, and the story of your character’s home is never fully detailed.
### 14. Can villagers fall in love with you?
No, villagers cannot form romantic relationships with the player. The relationships are designed to be friendships and platonic in nature.
### 15. How many hearts do you need to marry a villager?
This question refers to the game Stardew Valley, not Animal Crossing. In Animal Crossing, there are no relationship hearts or any mechanism for marrying villagers.
Conclusion
While the absence of romance might disappoint some players, Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a unique and fulfilling experience rooted in community, creativity, and friendship. It’s a game designed to be relaxing and engaging, focusing on building genuine connections with both other players and the charming animal villagers, rather than exploring romantic relationships. So while you can’t get a girlfriend in the game, you can certainly make some best friends and enjoy the wholesome experience of island life.