Highlights
- Animal Crossing’s successful collaborations with Sanrio and other brands show the potential for a Squishmallow crossover in the future.
- Squishmallows’ popularity and lovable animal characters could be a great fit for Animal Crossing’s world-building and customization features.
- A partnership between Animal Crossing and Squishmallows could expand beyond the game, with potential for new plush toys.
The Animal Crossing series has become one of Nintendo’s most beloved IPs, leading to crossover content with other Nintendo mainstays as well as the hit Japanese brand, Sanrio. But another adorable animal related brand could bring even more players over to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Sanrio has made a name for itself in most part by creating Hello Kitty, who has become one of the most beloved fictional characters of all time. Their focus on cute animal characters became a part of Japanese culture that fans across the globe have come to recognize. So, it felt natural when Nintendo announced that a Sanrio crossover was coming to the Animal Crossing games. Through the use of amiibo cards, players could unlock furniture sets and villagers based on some of Sanrio’s most popular characters. The cross promotion was such a success that more Sanrio items were added to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Unfortunately, crossover content doesn’t come to Animal Crossing very often. But just like Sanrio, Squishmallows offer a group of adorable animals that would be the perfect addition to any Animal Crossing island.
Animal Crossing Villagers Getting Deeper Personalities Would Just Be One Piece of The Puzzle
Animal Crossing villagers need deeper personalities in the next game, and that opens the door for more features that would improve the franchise too.
Animal Crossing and Squishmallows are a Perfect Match
Cutesy animals never fail to gain attention, a fact proven by the Squishmallow craze. These lovable pillow creatures have seen a boom in success that doesn’t seem to be diminishing any time soon, and Animal Crossing would be missing an opportunity by not seeking a collaboration. There are already Squishmallows based on many different properties, including other video games. The company continues to release new Pokemon Squishmallows every so often because of the success the partnership has been. A partnership with another video game about lovable animal companions is the next step they might be looking for.
Likewise, Animal Crossing saw great success with its Sanrio crossover, as well as the content based on Mario, Zelda, and Splatoon that has appeared throughout the series. While Nintendo has been hesitant to partner with non-Japanese companies in the past, the newly released Animal Crossing LEGO sets are a sign that it might be changing their tune. Animal Crossing: New Horizons seems to be finished with new updates, but additional cross promotion is something Nintendo should be looking into for the next entry in the series. If the next game is announced alongside a highly profitable cross promotion, it might even surpass the success of New Horizons.
How an Animal Crossing / Smashmallow Collaboration Could Work
In a game where players put so much effort into decorating their own custom spaces, it’s a no-brainer how Squishmallows could fit into the world of Animal Crossing. The most simple way would be to add them just as they are in the real world. Players could collect cute pillows to decorate their home or island with. The game could also include wallpaper and floor patterns based on the brand, as well as other furniture pieces.
A more creative way to approach the crossover though would be to add Squishmallow characters as villagers. Some of the brand’s characters have multiple costumes or variant patterns, seeing them come to life in the game would be a dream come true for Squishmallow fans. It wouldn’t be long before themed Animal Crossing islands based entirely on the crossover flooded the internet.
A great thing about this type of cross promotion is that it doesn’t have to stay only in the game. With a partnership, Animal Crossing characters could become new Squishmallows of their own. The villiagers would looks incredible as plushes, just like one fan made an Animal Crossing Celeste plush. Characters like Isabelle or Tom Nook would become even cuter and more cuddly as the iconic egg-shaped cushions. If Nintendo wanted to control the influx of cosmetics and characters, it could also add amiibo cards to the tags of physical squishmallows. That way, the purchase of a new toy would also act as DLC for the game. All in all, a partnership between Animal Crossing and Squishmallows just seems meant to be.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the fifth major game in the Animal Crossing series. This slice-of-life simulation game tasks the player with developing an abandoned island into a small town for its resident villagers. The game was released at the start of worldwide lockdowns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which catapulted it into massive success. It’s currently the best selling game of all time in Japan.
- Released
- March 20, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer , Local Multiplayer
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Comic Mischief
- Expansions
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Happy Home Paradise
- How Long To Beat
- 61 Hours
