Animal Crossing manga makes the wait for New Horizons almost bearable

News
By published

Nintendo's official Animal Crossing New Horizons manga is a delight, even if you can't read Japanese

(Image credit: Nintendo)

In anticipation of the release of Animal Crossing New Horizons, Nintendo has released a series of 4-koma manga depicting life as a villager in Tom Nook's world. 

There are currently three comic strips available via the official Japanese homepage for Animal Crossing New Horizons. The latest sees Tom Nook bragging about his new NookPhone that doesn't require charging (translation via Resetera). 

I couldn't find translations for the other two comics, but no. 1 looks like Tom Nook and a smaller Tom Nook rescuing a starved and frightened villager. No. 2 is particularly tough to decipher without English translation, but you can see some credit cards and Tom Nook relaxing in a hot spring with a couple of little Tom Nooks.

Nintendo has yet to release a translated version of the manga for western audiences, and I suspect it's unlikely they will. For now though, it's enough of a treat just to have something Animal Crossing New Horizons-related from Nintendo, as the wait until March 20 has frankly been agonizing.

For GamesRadar's Big in 2020 series, we previewed some of the things we're most excited about in Animal Crossing New Horizons, like the new crafting system, greatly expanded home and island customization options, and of course pole vaulting over streams. We also just got a look at the new catalog of fashion choices available in New Horizons, which finally includes sleeves for those bitter winter mornings.

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.