Players can soon build their very own islands from scratch with a series of Animal Crossing-inspired LEGO sets. A range of minifigures representing some of the series’ most popular characters – Isabelle, Tom Nook, and Marshal included – as well as some common elements of island set dressing, like fruit trees and flying presents, have already been confirmed. Other common sights of the Animal Crossing franchise will also be adapted into LEGO form, like Isabelle’s house, Nook’s Cranny, and Kapp’n’s boat.
The LEGO Animal Crossing reveal comes on the heels of a successful series of Mario-based LEGO sets, which have remained popular since their introduction in 2020. This is also the first major announcement for the Animal Crossing series since the release of the fifth major game in the series, New Horizons, that same year. New Horizons has received regular seasonal updates on a regular basis, but the announcement of tie-in LEGO sets is the biggest refresh the franchise has seen since.
When Do LEGO Animal Crossing Sets Come Out?
LEGO Animal Crossing sets are due to be released on March 1, 2024. However, it’s unknown whether an entire suite of Animal Crossing-themed LEGO sets and minifigs will be available on the same day, or if their releases will be staggered over several weeks, months, or years. That’s how the first run of LEGO Mario sets were released, and it seems possible that Animal Crossing will follow a similar strategy. Either way, it’s safe to expect LEGO Animal Crossing sets to hit shelves on March 1, 2024, with pre-orders likely available via the LEGO website in late February.
LEGO Animal Crossing’s Release Ties In With New Horizons’ Anniversary
When considering LEGO Animal Crossing‘s release timeline, there’s one important date that can’t be overlooked: March 20, 2024 will mark the fourth anniversary of Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ release. The most recent title in the franchise, New Horizons was its best seller yet, bringing a new generation of island customization to the Switch family of consoles. It’s quite possible that LEGO and Nintendo chose to put out the Animal Crossing sets close to that important birthday, to celebrate how far the game and its players have come in the years since release.
But whether they coincide with New Horizons‘ anniversary or just any old day, LEGO Animal Crossing sets are confirmed to be coming soon. Waiting’s never easy, but it’s a little less difficult with an exact date in mind. LEGO Animal Crossing sets and minifigs are expected to start flying off the shelves on March 1, 2024.
