Videogame characters we really care about

The townsfolk | Animal Crossing: Wild World

Non-fans might balk at playing what appears to be a chore-simulator, but Animal Crossing is actually all about building friendships. And while the regular inhabitants (Tom Nook, Blathers, and so on) might be interesting, its the townsfolk who choose to live in your town that you really care for.

Of course, Animal Crossing wouldn't work this way unless the conversations you have with the animals that rock up to live nearby weren't regularly funny, quirky, weird or tied to each villager. Some you'll strike up a friendship with immediately, and they'll ask you questions or invite you round for tea. Some take a bit of work.

Get to know each villager and you'll know their likes and dislikes, general attitude and even schedule - our fave are the ones that go running at 6am every morning.

But you really know how much you care for an Animal Crossing villager when you return to the game to find one of them has moved out of your town. Though it might make you feel a bit silly, you just know that the town just isn't going to be the same without them. Sigh.

Get to know each villager and you'll know their likes and dislikes, general attitude and even schedule - our fave are the ones that go running at 6am every morning.

But you really know how much you care for an Animal Crossing villager when you return to the game to find one of them has moved out of your town. Though it might make you feel a bit silly, you just know that the town just isn't going to be the same without them. Sigh.

Ben Richardson is a former Staff Writer for Official PlayStation 2 magazine and a former Content Editor of GamesRadar+. In the years since Ben left GR, he has worked as a columnist, communications officer, charity coach, and podcast host – but we still look back to his news stories from time to time, they are a window into a different era of video games.