:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66547496/lizengland.0.jpg)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons might appear to be a cutesy title about having a good time, but really, the game can have whatever feel you want depending on your aesthetic. Some folks are making chic rooms that would score plenty of points with the Happy Home Academy. Others, meanwhile, are making their islands feel like something straight out of a horror movie.
Perhaps this shouldn’t be a surprise. When The Villager was announced for Smash Bros. Ultimate, folks noted that the character’s blank, creepy stare made him perfect for the roster — especially because he carries an axe. And of course, making scary themed rooms has a long lineage, appearing across games like New Leaf and Happy Home Designer. It just so happens that New Horizons gives people updated graphics, new tools, and a better photo mode to show off their devilish creations.
One of the most common trends is pretending that your character is an axe murderer:
HAZEL #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/Xyb8lQZwTo
— RATVOID (@NotBenWright) March 23, 2020
— Olivia⛅️ (@chiliramenlady) March 22, 2020
animal crossing the horror movie pic.twitter.com/OOthDzsK9A
— soap @ ANIMAL CROSSING (@damnulens) March 23, 2020
Another thing folks like to do is make blood spatter patterns, which can be used to line the walls and floors ... or can be used to cover your face and clothes, if you want to make it look like you got away with something.
I don't have a lot but I'm doing what I can to make this space feel like a home. pic.twitter.com/yi3dKGB0v9
— Liz England (@lizardengland) March 21, 2020
ㅎ,,,,,,,... pic.twitter.com/oBSnUS6nCv
— 무인도로 떠난 ✦ (@itis5hift) March 21, 2020
Day 45 on the Island. The animals have all turned savage as food and resources are all gone. I’ve been locked in my house for 3 weeks I can hear Tom Nook clawing at my door. No help is coming. #AnimalCrossing pic.twitter.com/00W8ZEsclM
— Danimal Crossing (@DanielKennedyDK) March 24, 2020
murder mystery island #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/dGouepscwu
— Ani (@anijii) March 21, 2020
My sweet murder bean. Haven't played AC before but I think I've got a feel for it :3 #AnimalCrossing #ACNH pic.twitter.com/MEqZMdYbTg
— Soft Corruptor ️ (@Soft_Corruptor) March 24, 2020
here u go edgy twitter i made some blood splatter face paint #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch #マイデザイン pic.twitter.com/0fKaZWcKaX
— bimbo!jett (@organeIIe) March 21, 2020
Granted, patterns can more generally be used to make spooky clothes and prints, as the players below have.
just being maddi out here #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/nkhwKoBGP2
— ▄▇▝▊maddi ▔▛▅▖▅▅▉▓▒▒░ (@DataErase) March 24, 2020
Converted some of my art into QR for those interested. pic.twitter.com/xpSI6ZPFGi
— (@jrgdrawing) March 23, 2020
makin' cryptid shirts pic.twitter.com/3sdiaKkaO9
— ️Trevor ️ (@slimyswampghost) March 24, 2020
Other darkly creative types are making ominous symbols around their islands, or setting up patterns that set up a disturbing scene:
Some chose the path of @DOOM, while some chose to walk through the @animalcrossing... but those of TRUE vision choose to subvert such limitations. pic.twitter.com/J3Chzjvnys
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) March 23, 2020
stop by if you need a save point.#silenthill #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/kRroxgs2ai
— Dead Carcosa (@DeadCarcosa) March 23, 2020
??? pic.twitter.com/CcpHHl5490
— Nic Freeman @Workin' (@NicRNack) March 23, 2020
For some island residents, it’s all about adding disturbing ambiance to the town:
having a normal one#AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/Sf2iMpwzL9
— shing yin khor (@sawdustbear) March 23, 2020
might fuck around and make some blood sacrafices to the great bird king later #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/IuuWpD0hBq
— akairi (@akairisenpai) March 22, 2020
Many villagers are taking the time to set up elaborate themed rooms that tell a grotesque, gory, or sinister story.
So, I acquired a large sum of skeletons in ACNH, and I tried making my estate spookier by getting a ton of candles, and then one thing led to another and I just went full-on Castlevania. pic.twitter.com/2cdTTmehFN
— Yaso (@YasonoJ) March 23, 2020
A story in three parts pic.twitter.com/Jk6Tn6nODw
— Chingy “cocteau twink” Nea (@TheGayChingy) March 23, 2020
welcome
— Mina-Linz (@linzb0t) March 23, 2020
#AnimalCrossing #ACNH pic.twitter.com/Loft2zgfmG
Important images. #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/h0HJMnnCVq
— Samuel K: Regular Elf (@samu3lk) March 22, 2020
me in tom nooks basement desperately trying to send a message pic.twitter.com/0wVRwbqZFx
— Chase (@ChaseFGC) March 20, 2020
#AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/IddezdVuPQ
— Kait Tremblay (@kait_zilla) March 23, 2020
Being cute in a murder house @sstarbee #AnimalCrossing #ACNH pic.twitter.com/8T3uxB5QUJ
— Shinobi|Maaike (@ShinobiHaruka) March 21, 2020
//Let the blood rituals commence,,,, #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/FciRdI2UYh
— CalaMarina (@CalaMarina_) March 23, 2020
little shop of horror #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/OYikh8PA3y
— Soapie (@baobutt) March 24, 2020
There’s even cute horror in this game!
bunknife #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/f8QqOlHtM8
— sol @acnh hhhh (@komomorebi) March 24, 2020
やむちゃT
— せんじ (@Sen_cos00) March 23, 2020
#どうぶつの森 #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/N9Qa8LxJMT
Some things that folks aren’t sharing definitely isn’t real, but it doesn’t matter — it’s still fun to pretend that a happy-go-lucky game is hiding something much darker beneath the surface. Even if it’s just for social media.
Umm has anyone else gotten this villager in Animal Crossing? He's kinda creeping me out :/ pic.twitter.com/KRWXYTNUhk
— Kendra (@kendrawcandraw) March 23, 2020
No officer I don't know who murder my husband #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/N1QUYPx0x2
— Yuuchi Ng (only have RE:Mind in mind) (@Yuuchi_ng) March 24, 2020
Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19827105/Animal_Crossing_New_Horizons.jpg)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- $60
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is “a much-needed escape from everything,” according to our review.
