Animal Crossing: New Horizons is here and so are the memes

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The day has arrived, fellow islanders. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is here to whisk us all away to a deserted island and away from our problems. 

We've been collectively amped for the next Animal Crossing game since it was announced, but after the last few weeks, this game feels like a much-needed balm for the soul. It's soothing, it's sweet, it's full of perfectly mundane activities - and it's pure internet fodder, giving us personalities like Tom Nook (aka "landlord scum" to most of Twitter) and activities like tree-shaking to keep us perpetually entertained.

We rounded up the funniest Animal Crossing: New Horizons tweets to act as supplemental learning during your time on the deserted island. We could all use a laugh, right?

Everything's fine

Everything's cool, guys.

Thanos and the froggy chair

As worshippers of the froggy chair, we were all worried when a leak showed no froggy chair in the game files. Whether it will show up in DLC is currently unknown. Was it worth it, Nintendo?

Tom Nook, scumbag

This is some top-tier stuff. A clip from Dr. Phil of the titular host reading alleged quotes from a horribly misbehaved guest becomes Tom Nook's calling card. Help, it's too good. 

John Travolta on the deserted island

Ah, the pitch-perfect John Travolta looking around perplexed meme. Since Animal Crossing time is mapped to your time zone, it's hilarious to imagine showing up super late to the island and finding an empty town after waiting for this game for years. 

Why are you running from Tom Nook?

It's low-fi, it's an absurd TV show clip, it's Tom Nook being vaguely threatening. It's Twitter gold. 

Oh, you wanted this bug?

You can catch bugs in the new Animal Crossing, but not if one of the villagers has just squished it with their ass. The long look these two exchange absolutely sends me.

Vince McMahon is excited

Vince McMahon may be more excited than you about AC:NH...

The cost of thirst

There's an official Animal Crossing: New Horizons water bottle, and it's beautiful. It's also listed on Amazon for over $16,000. A lovely Spongebob meme of Patrick's measly funds is an apt reminder that sometimes, merch is too damn high.

Is that a lighthouse in your pocket?

You can put a lighthouse on your island, guys, but it inexplicably can be held in your pocket. Where can I find a pair of pants like that?

Gimme the loot

Before it was announced that GameStop was releasing Doom Eternal a day early to combat large crowds, people were reasonably concerned that they may not be able to get their Animal Crossing copies in time. That may still be an issue for some, especially those who pre-ordered them, but the idea that you could wallop a door into submission and get your AC:NH is soothing in these trying times. 

Check out our Animal Crossing: New Horizons tips for more info to keep in mind as you start your island life.

Alyssa Mercante

Alyssa Mercante is an editor and features writer at GamesRadar based out of Brooklyn, NY. Prior to entering the industry, she got her Masters's degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature at Newcastle University with a dissertation focusing on contemporary indie games. She spends most of her time playing competitive shooters and in-depth RPGs and was recently on a PAX Panel about the best bars in video games. In her spare time Alyssa rescues cats, practices her Italian, and plays soccer.

Latest in Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing's "obscure references" were all "localized out completely" before its debut in the West, as Nintendo felt it needed to "change everything"
Anime Life Sim
After unsuccessfully attempting to launch a Monster Hunter clone, this controversial dev is now supposedly releasing an Animal Crossing-like game on PS5
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp trailer screenshto showing a chibi-style female character with bobbed brown hair, a yellow flower atop her head, and a chef-like top, smiling with her arms out
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp's new paid version has finally arrived and is microtransaction-free, but fans already miss the old app
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp trailer screenshto showing a chibi-style female character with bobbed brown hair, a yellow flower atop her head, and a chef-like top, smiling with her arms out
As the free-to-play Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp prepares to go offline, Nintendo reveals more on the paid replacement - including its $20 price tag
Galactic Getaway
This multiplayer life sim is like Animal Crossing in outer space with Mario Party minigames, and it's just what I needed this Steam Next Fest
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp trailer screenshto showing a chibi-style female character with bobbed brown hair, a yellow flower atop her head, and a chef-like top, smiling with her arms out
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp players blast "greedy" Nintendo as new items roll out despite the game's imminent shutdown
Latest in News
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing Yasuke kneeling and praying while wearing a traditional purple robe
Ubisoft reaches deal with Tencent to create $4.3 billion mini-Ubisoft subsidiary to "spearhead development" on new Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six games
Skyrim
Ex-Bethesda dev says his new studio isn't making a "little Skyrim," but does channel a key part of the iconic RPG: "Stuff got built because somebody cared about building it"
Wyatt Russell, Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen and David Harbour in Thunderbolts
The new Thunderbolts teaser namedrops the Avengers twice, less than a day after the cast was confirmed for Doomsday
Marvel Cosmic Invasion promo art showing various heroes teaming up against Annihilus
The spirit of those incredible '90s arcade comic book brawlers lives on in Marvel Cosmic Invasion, a new retro beat-em-up game from the creators of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows shoots past 3 million players and 40 million hours played with the "second-highest day 1 sales revenue in Assassin's Creed franchise history"
Masc presenting person napping on gaming chair next to Boulies MagVida desk with laptop and controller next to tea cup, lamp, and flip calendar
Chair makers Bouiles just launched a new standing desk that only takes five minutes to put together