Animal Crossing

Before the world of Animal Crossing became a pandemic lifeline for millions, the “social sim” communication game Dо̄butsu no Mori, or “Animal Forest,” debuted in 2001 on Nintendo 64 in Japan, then once again in 2002 on GameCube to critical and commercial success all over the world.

An open-ended casual game ahead of its time, Animal Crossing set the stage for the series's many incarnations to come with its focus on building community and friendship, its in-game currency of Bells, and its vil...