The following data was collected from 18952 animal crossing youtube videos from relevant channels with at least 10k subscribers
⭕ The Trend
Animal Crossing New Horizons is a life simulation game released in March 2020 for the Nintendo Switch, being the second best selling game of all time in Japan.
The player starts as a customizable character on a deserted island where you can explore, gather resources and build.
+ 450% youtube searches in March 2020
31.8M copies sold in 2020
1.2M+ r/animalcrossing users one year after release
⭕ Insights
Being released at the start of the stay-home orders, many people flocked into the game looking for a past time while they were isolated.
It’s cute aesthetic and relaxing gameplay made it a good fit for not only children but also for their parents as it contributed to ease the tension at the uncertain times.
The social aspects such as the possibility of visiting and interacting with a friend’s island were attractive for those who were feeling alone.
There was also the possibility for increased interactiveness between creator and viewers, especially in live content.
Long form content (15min +) makes up for the majority of the videos, consisting mostly of playthroughs and uploaded livestreams.
Shorter videos are typically about game updates, tutorials or memes/clips compilations.
Guides for obtaining certain items are very common, since the collectibles are a big part of the game.
Even before the pandemic, the game already had a big base audience from previous Animal Crossing titles and general Nintendo fans.
The customization aspect allowed not only creators to leverage their individualities, but also brands to promote their products like IKEA and KFC.
⭕ Key Creators
Austin John Plays - 1.71M
Gaming channel focused mostly on Nintendo games such as Pokemon, The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing. It’s Animal Crossing New Horizons videos feature tips and tricks, playthroughs and interesting situations in the game.
TagBackTV - 923K
Gaming channel that frequently livestreams Animal Crossing New Horizons and also had a series featuring island tours.
TRIKO - 300K
Compilation channel with no commentary that features funny Among Us and Animal Crossing short clips.
Mayor Mori - 197K
Animal Crossing channel that frequently uploads news and updates about the game in short (around 5 min) informational videos.
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