Animal Crossing and the joys of delayed gratification

Why a game that makes you wait is the digital distraction we need right now

Animal Crossing.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock)

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a peaceful game set in an island town of the player's own creation, where activities include decorating your house, chatting with your animal neighbors, planting flowers, and going fishing. It's like the comforting video-game equivalent of knitting a sweater, arriving just as real life amid the coronavirus pandemic was growing increasingly bleak.

But Animal Crossing is a delight not just because of the relaxation its low-key goals offer. What makes it the perfect digital distraction for these times is its ability to give players something new to look forward to. The waiting is actually the best part.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.