Common Sense Media Review
By Mark Raby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cute town sim about friendship and spending virtual money.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 52 kid reviews
Kids say this game is wonderful for all ages, combining fun and education in a playful environment. Parents appreciate its positive messages, ability to teach skills like money management, and the safe, charming interactions with animal villagers, although they caution about the need for reading skills and monitor online play for safety.
- educational gameplay
- suitable for all ages
- positive life lessons
- reading required
- safe interactions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW LEAF won't really surprise anyone who has any knowledge of the Animal Crossing franchise. The same core aspects are still here -- build a house from the ground up, earn virtual money, and become the coolest person in your town. As to be expected, though, there are some neat new twists that reinvigorate this franchise. For example, players can opt to become their town's mayor, which gives them unprecedented control of the town, like dictating when stores are allowed to be open and deciding where to build new bridges and fountains. There is also an island players can travel to in order to play mini-games and win prizes.
Is It Any Good?
Animal Crossing: New Leaf does exactly what it should, exactly what anyone would expect it to do. It keeps the winning formula of letting you become a citizen in a cute and adorable town and creates an interesting and well-balanced simulation about living and participating in small town life. This is the same theme that has been around since the original Animal Crossing game, but New Leaf adds just enough new content and new interactions to appeal to the existing and very loyal fan base.
Does it break exceptionally new ground? No. Does it provide a compelling reason for people who have never had interest in Animal Crossing to give this game a closer look? Not really. For those who are already hooked on the franchise, does it add enough flair to justify buying a brand new Animal Crossing title? You bet it does. This fun and gentle simulation game is a great way for kids to explore a world filled with cute characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of setting video game limits. With a game as engrossing as this, you may want to set up rules for how long kids can play and at what times.
How different are the characters in the game from the people you interact with in real life? What do you think a real town would be like if all the residents acted like the characters in the game?
Does this game make you want to go outside and participate in gardening, fishing, etc., in the real world? Why or why not?
Game Details
- Platform : Nintendo 3DS
- Subjects : Social Studies : citizenship , government , the economy , Hobbies : building , collecting , gardening
- Skills : Responsibility & Ethics : fiscal responsibility , honoring the community , making wise decisions , respect for others , Communication : friendship building , Self-Direction : goal-setting , initiative , time management
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Nintendo
- Release date : June 9, 2013
- Genre : Role-Playing
- Topics : Friendship
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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