Dr. Ramzan posits that the opportunities Animal Crossing affords players contribute to its wide appeal. For children, being able to engage in adultlike chores, like building and decorating a house, gives them power often out of reach. For adults, especially millennials who have lived through the Great Recession and current coronavirus-induced economic stress, it offers the white picket fence often associated with the American dream that’s increasingly elusive. Debt, which can accumulate quickly in Animal Crossing, can also be paid off easily. Goals feel attainable and within reach.
Though the aesthetics of the game might lead some to believe it’s geared toward children, it’s found a dedicated audience with millennials, some of whom grew up with the franchise, and with younger audiences experiencing it for the first time. It’s all the more intensified for those struggling with isolation and addiction.
Joseph Gorordo, 35, is a vice president of outreach for Recovery Unplugged, a chain of music-based alcohol and drug treatment centers. He and his clients have been using Animal Crossing as a way to connect while practicing social distancing.
“On Sunday night, I got onto my island, I opened it up, within an hour I had four friends, two colleagues, and two clients in recovery who were all hanging out on this island and having a mini support meeting,” said Mr. Gorordo, a former heroin addict.
He understands intimately many of the anxieties being felt by millennials, especially those who turn to drugs and alcohol. Animal Crossing offers a haven and can give players a feeling of empowerment and community, particularly at a moment when many are being told to stay at home.
“So much of recovery from addiction or mental health issues is connection,” Mr. Gorordo said. “With so much of us trapped in our houses right now, meeting up virtually has us support each other in this game in a way we haven’t, being self-isolated and in quarantine.”