Animal Crossing: New Horizons Revives the Popularity of Friend Codes

Back in March 2020, life as we knew it was far from ordinary. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a myriad of other challenges in the U.S., left many searching for an escape. Enter Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which launched five years ago on this very day and became an unexpected refuge for gamers everywhere.

Nintendo’s charming life simulator bore an unprecedented significance. Games have long been a sanctuary from life’s pressures—especially those cozy ones like Stardew Valley—but the need for relaxation reached critical levels in 2020. New Horizons was a beacon of happiness, drawing in masses eager for a breather. Its impressive multiplayer capabilities proved so irresistible that not even the frustrating Switch friend code system could prevent people from welcoming friends and newcomers to their islands.

By December 31, 2024, just ahead of the Switch 2’s official reveal, New Horizons firmly held the title of the Switch’s second-best-selling game, surpassed only by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It sold 15 million more copies than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, solidifying Animal Crossing as one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises. Despite the archaic friend code system and the Dodo Code option feeling like something out of the telegram era, there was a fleeting moment when swapping these codes felt refreshingly novel.

The widespread embrace of New Horizons made exchanging friend codes akin to securing a passport to companionship during an isolated time. It felt incredibly personal to welcome visitors into your virtual abode, hoping they’d appreciate your design flair—and maybe overlook the occasional roach scuttling by. Visiting other islands opened up a world of exploration: taking in the unique landscapes, gathering native fruits, shopping for exclusive items, and chasing after those all-important turnip deals.

Amidst the economic turmoil, players found a peculiar joy in the game’s turnip market—a capitalism simulation that drew many into the world of buying low and selling high, sometimes scoring big profits or enduring losses that made them swear off “stalks” forever. Each island’s fluctuating turnip prices turned it into a sought-after destination, and at the height of the craze, offering a Dodo Code could have earned you a tidy sum. Maybe some savvy players actually went that route!

While Animal Crossing: New Horizons could have continued to delight fans indefinitely, Nintendo chose to tie up new, major updates in late 2021 with version 2.0 and the introduction of Happy Home Paradise, the game’s sole paid DLC. This decision provided gamers with a fitting amount of additional content while allowing the game that captivated both players and Nintendo itself to conclude triumphantly. And since then, the era of exchanging friend codes has remained a nostalgic memory for many.