The Animal Crossing series’ colorful cast of animal characters has made its way to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and although there’s much to love about many of them, a few stand out as the most liked and sought-after. Some of Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ best villagers are franchise mainstays, while others are brand new to the series.
There are nearly 400 villagers players can recruit for their islands in New Horizons. Having so many different designs inevitably leads to some fairly ugly Animal Crossing characters, as well as some that just have rotten personalities. But among the so-so and the straight-up unwanted, a few Animal Crossing villagers have become favorites of the community, even leading to villagers being traded for Nook Miles Tickets and Bells in a kind of Animal Crossing villager “black market.”
Some of New Horizons’ best villagers show up in this black market, and others are even sold for real money on third-party sites. While it may seem cold to be trading villagers for in-game or real-world cash, to many players, these anthropomorphic animals’ unique looks and endearing personalities make them worth the cost.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Most Beloved Villagers
The following Animal Crossing: New Horizons villagers have the earned adoration of many players. Even Animal Crossing’s most hated villagers are beloved by some in the community, so several other animals could have easily earned a spot on this list, but these five are particularly special.
Beau
Introduced in Animal Crossing: New Leaf on the 3DS, Beau is about as chill as they come. His name means “handsome” in French, and he lives up to it: His simple, antelope-like design is colorful enough to be interesting without being garish, and his half-shut eyes give him a sleepy look that makes him very approachable. Beau has a lazy personality type, meaning he’s easy to get along with. His signature catchphrase, “saltlick,” has a quirkiness that makes him feel genuine and unique, leading to an all-around great villager.
Marshal
The smug-type Marshal’s catchphrase – “sulky” – isn’t nearly as endearing, but he makes up for it in other areas. His is one of Animal Crossing’s most expensive amiibo cards, likely due mostly to his lovable appearance. His marshmallow-like head, cute squirrel mouth, and rosy cheeks make him one of the most adorable villagers out there, especially when contrasted with his confident-looking eyes.
Raymond
A newcomer in New Horizons, Raymond was an immediate hit. It seems everybody does indeed love Raymond, partially because of his unique dual eye colors and blonde hair tuft. But most of the appeal likely comes from the mere fact that he’s a stylish business cat. His glasses and starting outfit (a dress shirt with tie and vest) show he’s got important things to attend to, and his home is office-themed, complete with work desks, a water cooler, and more. Like Marshal, he’s a smug-type villager, and his whole aesthetic certainly suggests he has important things to do, which is overall quite charming.
Audie
Wolf-type villagers are some of Animal Crossing’s rarest, but Audie is extra unique. Also new to New Horizons, Audie’s red-orange fur and yellow hair and eye shadow give her the vibe of a refreshing strawberry lemonade, strengthened by her apparent love of hanging out on the beach. She has a peppy-type personality, so her overreactions might bug some players, but they also mean she’s quick to befriend others. What makes Audie most interesting, though, is the likely origin of her name: Audie appears to be named after the 88-year-old woman who put more than 3,500 hours into Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Known by many as the “Animal Crossing grandma,” the woman’s in-game name was Audie, leading players to speculate the villager was named for her.
Merengue
Food-based villagers are hit-or-miss, but Merengue gets it right. As her catchphrase, “shortcake,” suggests, she appears to be modeled after a strawberry shortcake, with frosting on the top of her head and a literal strawberry for a horn. Her light pink body, rosy cheeks, and stylized eyes add to the cuteness this concept already provides, making Merengue one of Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ most widely-liked characters.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons released on March 20, 2020, for the Nintendo Switch.
