My experience with Animal Crossing started on the DS with Wild World, as I’m sure it did with many others. The game drew me in with its colorful villagers, daily routine, and slice-of-life feel. Years later I got back into the series with New Leaf on the 3DS, putting hundreds of hours into it. The progression system felt just right, and the level of customization for my villager was a real treat. However, when I finally got a hold of New Horizons on my switch, I couldn’t help but feel let down. Rather than a town that felt like it moved on when I didn’t play, I felt like I was in total control. Villagers would have to beg me to let them move out, rather than just leaving on their own. Everything felt a bit too… Doll-house in its design?

All that to say I started a town on the original gamecube Animal Crossing with the Deluxe mod released in 2025 by Cuyler and what a treat it is for a player like me! The town feels alive in so many ways my island felt lacking in. Villagers have more personality than ever, they don’t just worship my villager but express themselves as real neighbors. Some I get along with, some I try to avoid in hopes they leave me alone.

There aren’t a million incentives from Nook Miles driving me to play, I just think of what I’d like to do that day and do it. What the game lacks in progression it makes up for in a sense of community, and not competing to hold my attention for 4+ hours a day. The game is more than happy with me checking in 30 minutes a day, talking to my neighbors, catching some fish, decorating my house, and ending for the day.

If you’re burned out of New Horizons, or just want to try out a more old-school laid back life simulator, I highly recommend checking out this game & mod! I got it working super easily on my steam deck, and the portability helps the game a ton. Some features Deluxe adds include allowing fossils to be identified at the museum, a free-moving camera, many many exclusive E+ features that haven’t been in an AC game outside of Japan, and general fixes to bugs in the original game.

Deluxe Mod Overview Trailer