While I've been stuck at home under my state's stay-at-home order, I have been trying to find things to do to ease the boredom. Much like millions of people world-wide, one thing I have been doing a lot of is playing video games on my Nintendo Switch.

When the stay-at-home order started, I was bouncing back and forth between Pokémon Shield and Untitled Goose Game. Then, on March 20th, Animal Crossing New Horizons was released. I bought the game the day after it was released and have played it almost every day since I got it.

Even though I have never played any of the previous Animal Crossing games, I can't get enough of New Horizons. The point of the game is to build a community on a desert island. I love the gameplay and the art style as well as the fact that the game is in real time and has seasonal events that correspond to actual holidays.

Since I started playing the game, I have made the joke that Animal Crossing New Horizons lets you live out your wildest fantasies such as going outside and hanging out with your friends. As light-hearted as that sentiment is, it is also rather true.

Because of the shelter-in-place order, I have been stuck at home away from my friends. We have been trying to keep in touch via group messages, but we lack that sense of community that we once had when we were all together. Animal Crossing New Horizons has helped rebuild that sense of community.

One way it helps is by fabricating a community of AI villagers in the game that you are encouraged to interact with. Another way it helps is through its online multiplayer. You can visit your friends' islands as well as have your friends visit yours.

I have thoroughly enjoyed virtually hanging out with my friends on Animal Crossing New Horizons. I have made the game a part of my daily routine. In a time when we all have to live with "new normal" I have made hanging out with my friends on New Horizons a part of my new normal in place of hanging out with them in real life.