Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Nintendo 3DS
Release Date	Standard version JP November 8, 2012 US June 9, 2013 PAL June 14, 2013 Welcome amiibo JP November 23, 2016 AU Novemebr 24, 2016 EU November 25, 2016 US December 8, 2016
Rating	ESRB: E

Animal Crossing: New Leaf is a life simulation game that was released for the Nintendo 3DS and is the fourth installment of the Animal Crossing series. In 2016, an updated version of the game known as Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo was made available as a free download for owners of the original game and as a physical retail release in stores.

Gameplay

This game features basic gameplay similar to previous installments of the series, but with the addition of new features. This time, the player acts as the mayor of the town and is aided by an assistant named Isabelle. The player also starts off living in a tent before their house can be built, with more customization options for their character's appearance and house. The player's position as the mayor also comes with two options that can be used to change aspects of the town: Public Works Projects (through which money can be collected to build new parts of town) and Ordinances (where new laws can be passed to change aspects of the village). There are several new gameplay additions, such as the ability to swim in the ocean while wearing a swimsuit, and several new character types and personality types have been added for the village's inhabitants.

Up to four players can connect through local play or online play and visit each others' villages or travel to Tortimer Island to compete in minigames and win medals. Players can also take snapshots that can be shared through social media.

Amiibo functionality was added through an update that could be applied to purchased copies of the game for free or could be purchased as a separate physical game. In this version, known as Welcome amiibo, amiibo figures could be scanned to make new characters appear at a newly-added campsite area. The Welcome amiibo update also incorporated save data integration with Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer and one gameplay feature from that game: its touchscreen controls for furnishing.

Legacy

After the release of New Leaf, the next few games were spin-off games: Happy Home Designer, amiibo Festival and Pocket Camp. Several elements of this game were also represented in the Super Smash Bros. series: Tortimer Island appeared as a stage in several games, and Isabelle became a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Sequels

The next main installment of the series was Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch.