Using Animal Crossing for the Grieving Process

Many have flocked to Animal Crossing New Horizons on the Nintendo Switch to escape to a personal island paradise they’ve created, during the current COVID-19 pandemic. For players across the globe, myself included, this virtual paradise serves as a mental escape or virtual happy place that can also be used for self-care. It is also a place where many have begun to honor and remember loved ones. Animal Crossing players are using the open-ended design of the game to create beautiful gardens, altars, or memorial areas for loved ones, pets, or celebrities who have passed. This game offers a lot of healing experiences for those grieving.

A memorial garden with a marker for birth an death dates.

Grief Routines:

In mourning – whether it’s a loved one, a relationship, pet, celebrity, etc. – it’s important to find a routine we incorporate into our grieving process. It may be visiting a place that reminds us of the one we’re missing, making a specific dish, or listening to a certain song. The pandemic limited routine options for many, so Animal Crossing provides a virtual world where players are given the opportunity to create their own honoring routine. One player shared that they will water their flowers daily because they had a grandmother who loved to garden. Another player spoke of building one new DIY a day, to remember an uncle who was a carpenter. Another person even stated they went into the bug room to watch the butterflies roam because their child who had passed loved butterflies. Learning to live with grief means learning to find a daily routine filled with small actions which provide security, stability, and strength. The game encourages players to return daily – even for just a little bit – which aids in maintaining stability.

In-town memorial for a loved one that includes their favorite flowers and love for sewing.

Community Connection

The sharing of grief is healing. The grieving process often comes with traditions; rituals that allow us to express the pain of loss. At the beginning of the pandemic, many were unable to attend funerals or wakes of loved ones, or were unable to say goodbye. In the virtual world of Animal Crossing, various users were able to share their in-game tributes to those who passed. The ability to visit other people’s islands in the game allowed them to increase ther support network, even when socially distancing in their offline life. Even Reddit, an online forum, blossomed with contributors sharing personal memorial areas they created within the game, fostering a community for those mourning.

Ofrenda created in the game for Dia de los Muertos

In-Game Options

Animal Crossing: New Horizons provides players with a variety of in-game options to develop their own memorial sites and experiences. The DIY “Western-style” stone is a basic grave that can be customized in several ways. Stone tablets can be purchased with in-game currency and appear more ancient-looking. The DIY “Zen-gravestone” is a Japanese-style grave marker with incense that can be used for cultural connection.

The game even has items that can be pieced together to create an alter. An ofrenda, which is Spanish for "offering,” is an altar built at home where offerings are placed in front of a picture of someone who has passed. The offering invites their souls to return to the land of the living on the sacred day of Día de Los Muertos. Those of East Asian descent may engage in regular ancestor veneration, a practice of love and respect for those who are deceased, and even honoring ancestors who have been deified in ancestral shrines.

There are also various sites that allow you to create a QR code of an image so you can display a picture of your loved one on your island. Other memorial options include creating a memorial garden of favorite flowers, recreating childhood homes, or building a dog park.

Memorial area for a recently passed pup.

Ancestral shrine where the user is able to leave offerings for their ancestors.

Have you found a healing way to utilize Animal Crossing? If so please share in the comments below.

---

---