Animal Crossing Players Are Saying Goodbye to New Leaf Before Jetting Off For New Horizons

A new Animal Crossing game is out for the Nintendo Switch today, which means a lot of players are charting a course for their own personal deserted island. But before they leave, many are taking some time to say goodbye to the town they're leaving behind.

Across forums like Reddit and Twitter, Animal Crossing players are sharing memories of their time in the 3DS game, Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Released in North America in 2013, it's been the only mainline Animal Crossing entry for years, so it's easy to see why players would feel attached to their towns.

In some cases, players are even opening up their 3DS handhelds today to find letters still waiting for them. As they're about to jet off for a tropical getaway, they can be a little bittersweet.

Still, some are leaving a final goodbye for their villagers. After years of renovations, gift giving, K.K. Slider concerts, and celebrated birthdays, it's nice to say one last fond farewell.

Okay, maybe that last one wasn't so heartfelt. Either way, the farewells won't last forever. Many villagers are returning for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, so forlorn former mayors will be able to get back at least some of their old pals. And now you'll have an entire island to rule over alongside them!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons seems like a standout for the series so far. Our own Senior Editor Caty McCarthy says it's only topped by New Leaf in our review, and the prospect of an island getaway certainly seems nice right about now. "With real-world headlines more harrowing than ever, there's never been a better time to go on vacation within Animal Crossing: New Horizons," McCarthy writes.

If you're jumping into Animal Crossing: New Horizons today, be sure to check out our begginner's guide to building up your cozy island empire. In the meantime, while you're waiting for your house to build, maybe take some time to leave a little note for all the New Leaf friends, while they wait for their flight.