Animal Crossing Meets Disney Pixar In New Cozy Sim You Can Play Free Now
There are so many incredible games like Animal Crossing now that even those not on the Nintendo Switch or its successor can enjoy its cozy life sim loop. It is a great time to be a fan of anthropomorphic villagers, cutesy art styles, wide eyes, and catching bugs, especially if you're prone to digging through the ever-growing library of indies on Steam. Of course, with it still being a somewhat burgeoning collection of Animal Crossing clones, many are just finding their feet or even introducing whole new elements into the mix.
Such is the case with the latest game inspired by Animal Crossing. It looks set to be an adorable game that merges Disney's Pixar's aesthetic with Animal Crossing's villagers and vibes (and even a little bit of Death Stranding for good measure) to create a whole new experience that still adheres to everything that makes AC so cozy and brilliant. It has the potential to be everyone's new favorite cozy game, and the best part is that you can play it completely for free right now.
AC fans are, understandably, eagerly anticipating the release of the next Animal Crossing game. After all, it has been six years since New Horizons launched, and during that time, Nintendo has done very little with the IP. However, it appears that, at least for a little while longer, Nintendo has no major plans for a new mainline game. That hasn't really stopped the appetite for an experience like it from blossoming, which is perhaps why so many games like it have started to crawl out of the woodwork.
One such game is the gorgeous MAFATE, a new cozy mail delivery game that blends elements of Animal Crossing, Pokémon Snap, and Pixar to deliver a wholesome experience fans will likely enjoy. Inspired by the region of the same name, MAFATE sees players hike through gorgeous terrain inhabited by a plethora of fun creatures called Biibiis alongside their sentient camera companion, Luna. Said companion can inhabit those creatures and utilize unique abilities depending on which one she's controlling. You'll need each one to go between the different villages and deliver your mail to their respective villagers.
Once you reach a village, you'll be able to converse with the people living there, all of whom are reminiscent of Animal Crossing's best villagers. It looks like a fun and compelling gameplay hook, one that fans can try out for themselves if they so desire. Over on the game's Steam store page, there is a free demo that offers a slice of everything MAFATE has to offer. It's the perfect way to see if the game is worth wishlisting and grabbing when it eventually launches.
MAFATE is set to be released on Steam and the Nintendo Switch, although a specific release date hasn't been confirmed. At the very least, it is yet another Animal Crossing-esque game on a non-Nintendo platform that fans of the series can enjoy without having to pay for an expensive new handheld. Here is hoping that MAFATE may very well end up being our next favorite game like Animal Crossing, especially thanks to its gorgeous Pixar-esque art style, adorable creatures, and novel gameplay twist.