The Animal Crossing series consistently delivers an upbeat tone and gameplay that is as much about building a community as it is the ties of friendship. While the life simulator is worlds away from the cryptic lore that often fascinates gamers in Soulslike games and other titles, there are still questions that are still unanswered in Animal Crossing, although most are much more whimsical in nature than in other games. New Horizons continues to provide events and new content at a steady rate, but fans may have to wait indefinitely for certain mysteries of the franchise to have their secrets revealed.
Some of the apparent mysteries of Animal Crossing: New Horizons actually have answers that were provided in other games in the series. Animal Crossing: Wild World provided the origin of why Blathers hates bugs, and Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer addresses how Tom Nook uses all of the profits he gains from the players.
As a series that is primarily focused on engaging gameplay and endearing characters, the lore behind these aspects may be more of an afterthought. Still, for players who exercise critical thinking even in the idyllic communities of Animal Crossing, some perplexing questions remain.
It is always wise for players to keep a slingshot ready in their inventory in ACNH, and to be alert for the telltale sound of wind or a moving shadow indicating an airborne present tied to a balloon. Shooting down these floating gifts can result in all manner of odd acquisitions, from the game’s currency of Bells to a fully functioning bidet, somehow compressed into a small box. In the same manner, while shaking trees, players might find more than the expected sticks and wasp nets, as a “leaf” might fall that represents the visual cue for a wide variety of furniture and clothing items.
These strange phenomena beg the question: Who is packaging these items in boxes and sending them out on balloon rides, and how are these objects getting into the trees. In Animal Crossing Gift-giving is an important mechanic in the series and helps develop relationships with the animals on a player’s island. It is unclear why gift-wrapped packages are being sent out on balloons en masse, or why hiding sundry goods in the treetops has come into fashion, and thus far no answers seem forthcoming for this particular mystery.
Holiday events rank high among the real-time related events that New Horizons offers to keep players engaged. The Easter-themed event Bunny Day is a standout from the rest, simply because its associated mascot character, Zipper T. Bunny, rubs many players the wrong way. Zipper has an evident zipper on his back, an indication that his appearance is a suit worn by another character, not his actual body. When the player attempts to view Zipper’s back in New Horizons, he will tell them to stop, as it, “Kinda spoils the magic, y’know?” For many players, Zipper evokes the vibe of the animatronic nightmares from Five Nights At Freddy’s, more than the plush charm of other Animal Crossing characters.
While Zipper has consistently denied his body being a costume in various Animal Crossing games, his insistence falls flat. Animal Crossing: New Leaf included dialogue associated with the Zipper amiibo that “Camping gives Zipper a chance to finally get out of that stuffy old costume… we’re being told in no uncertain terms that it is NOT a costume.” Players have developed many fan theories as to who is inside the Zipper costume, but most have been debunked, as nearly every prominent vendor NPC and villager who is a likely suspect can be found in a different location at the same time Zipper is hosting Bunny Day. If the zipper on his back is not indicative of a costume, then there is an equally compelling mystery there, but in either case, Zipper remains tight-lipped about this feature.
When C.J. the beaver or Flick the chameleon visit a player’s island in New Horizons, they will provide an option to commission sculptures of fish or bugs. Dialogue from C.J. confirms that Flick is the artist responsible for both types of sculptures, as he is C.J.’s business partner. This provides a clear answer for the origin of these elaborate effigies, but a bigger question remains, thanks to the presence of Jolly Redd and his shady art sales. Redd the fox will periodically dock at the island and sell a variety of fine art items, the majority of which are forgeries, as Blathers will mournfully reveal to the player. Some of the art is confirmed as legitimate, raising the question: How is Redd getting access to so many artistic masterpieces, and who is responsible for making all of the forgeries?
Like other wings of the museum, the art gallery adds education to the game, with tidbits of information on real-world art. Guides are available to help players spot the differences between real and fake art in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The fakes tend to be identical recreations with one key difference: In most cases, and while the museum will not display the forgeries, players might choose to showcase them in their house or around the island. There is no obvious answer to how Redd has gained access to so many priceless treasures, or to who is creating the ersatz art.
Forgery seems beyond the scope of Redd’s talents, as he struggles to discuss any of the art coherently, beyond generalities that it is “very detailed.” Every villager in New Horizons is a DIY aficionado, but forged art implies a different sort of skillset. The telltale signs of the copies being false might indicate some guilt on the part of the forger, leaving obvious clues for an expert to spot to tell the fakes from the real deal. It is possible Flick is also the craftsman behind the forged art, perhaps explaining how he gets the Bells to support his insect obsession, as he generously overpays the player for bugs when he visits. The official source of New Horizons' influx of forged art remains a mystery, at present.
The world of Animal Crossing follows its own unique logic, so players may have their own observations that lead to lingering questions. Some may question why one island happens to contain such a wealth of fossils, and why they seem to be constantly replenishing. With the Resident Services building open 24 hours a day, when does Tom Nook sleep, and where do Timmy and Tommy go after their shops close? Lazy villagers like Stu the bull and Papi the horse may question the entire economic structure of Tom Nook’s business model, and ponder whether they are inside of a complex simulation. A player could choose to take it all in stride or pick away at the logic of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but for most, the questions add to the charm of the game, and excitement for new updates that might peel back some of the quirky mysteries that remain.
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