Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is Shutting Down; Here Are Some Alternatives!

I played Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp religiously since the game was released back in 2017, but the more Nintendo turned their backs on their fans, the less interest I had. It's easy to hate the company and miss the game, as many gamers know by heart, but — thankfully — I have found other titles that did more than just fill the hole in my day when I abandoned ACPC, and I'll help you do the same. For all of you who just got the news that the game will be shutting down, here are some cool titles you can try out instead! I promise there's a world of games out there that can keep you busy.

Disney Dreamlight Valley

Out of all the games I've tried ever since I left Animal Crossing, Disney Dreamlight Valley has been the only title that really managed to capture that same obsessive feeling. Now, if you check what the community says, a lot of them will mention how Gameloft is greedy, but truth be told, I disagree. While there are microtransactions, they've put the budget to good use — the game is nigh unrecognisable in comparison to its early days, and they've really put effort into making it better and better.

Disney Dreamlight Valley may not be as "chibi" or cartoony as Animal Crossing, and it might be a bummer to those who aren't big fans of Disney, but the game offers a lot more than the latter. Decorations, missions, battle passes, co-op, daily activities, weekly challenges... It would really just be a waste to add this to the bottom of the list, as I fully believe that this should be your first go-to. Not only is it the only live service title on the list, but it's also the closest to the experience.

Why is it a good option?

Personally, I've already played it for nearly 700 hours, and my mom for 2,172, so there's a lot to unpack here (alternatively, you could check out some of my articles on the game, too). As I said, Disney Dreamlight Valley doesn't make the best first impression, what with having microtransactions on a paid game. But I'm a big believer that this is a good practice as long as you're using the budget responsibly and not trying to scam the player base. In this case, not only have I seen a genuine improvement in the quality of the items and gameplay, but what you pay is what you get: there are no crappy lootbox systems here, unlike Pocket Camp's cookies. And if you end up not wanting to pay extra money, at the very least, you'll get the base game, its story, characters, and gameplay. Not a bad deal! You can trust I'd tuck tail and run if I felt wronged, just as I did with Nintendo.

Stardew Valley

If you've heard of cosy games or farm simulators, you've absolutely come across Stardew Valley's name. This solo-dev game blew up a few years back and continues to receive updates and love from the creator as well as attention from the fans. While it doesn't look or feel as Animal Crossing does, as it has no day-to-day gameplay and the art is pixelated, it's undoubtedly one of the most beloved games you can find. With a whopping 635,939 reviews on Steam and a score of 98% Overwhelmingly Positive, I feel very safe offering it as a replacement for Animal Crossing. Perhaps it's not the same, but it will give you something to look forward to — a new experience to keep your mind busy!

Why is it a good option?

Stardew Valley has kept players going for hours upon hours. Getting to know the different characters, marrying the bachelors and bachelorettes, and decorating the vast farmland are just some of the few fun things you get to do! While the story and tone are a bit harsher than Animal Crossing — including some themes of alcoholism and corporate greed — there's also a lot of magic and relaxation. Did I mention it has received tons of free updates throughout the years?

Cozy Grove

I'm not going to lie — I wasn't the biggest fan of Cozy Grove. I enjoyed the game a lot at first, but the more I played it, the less I "vibed" with it. It's not because it's a bad title at all; I just don't click well on some of its features. But if you enjoy troubled characters, don't mind themes of death, and like the idea of having to puzzle out how things need to be placed, then I highly recommend it!

Why is it a good option?

Similar to Animal Crossing, Cozy Grove has a day-by-day system; every time you log in, you'll get new items in the shop, new requests from the bears, and the ability to progress further on the island. There's also a nice mix of hidden object gameplay that I genuinely very much enjoyed! And if you enjoyed the snarkiness from the previous Animal Crossing entries, then you'll like the bears you can meet here.

Fae Farm

I really enjoyed my time with Fae Farm; although it's not perfect (the dialogue was a bit lifeless, for example), the gameplay is cute and engaging! It leans heavier towards adventure than life sim, but there's enough cosy gameplay to give you some satisfaction when decorating.

Why is it a good option?

Fae Farm has a demo (at least at the time of writing), so you can try your hand without any commitment; if you like it, the game's got a co-op mode for up to four players, tons of content to explore, and the developer's still giving it love!

There are hundreds of cosy games out there; not all of them are great — or even good sometimes — but you’ll find your place!