It seems to be a primarily leftist phenomenon. I do not see many people in the centre or right discussing it.

I have some thoughts philosophically, but I believe it boils down to the leftist feminine desire for dominance.

It is well-known that leftists have a penchant for feminine or female-like activity. This is why so many trans women are leftists, why they care about “feelings” and “emotion” (postmodernism) over masculine things like “facts”, “logic”, or “rationality”.

Not all, but most.

Thinking evolutionarily, it does not make sense that we have these two populations. One that leads, creates, and innovates and one that “emotes” (supporting others) along the way. This is the masculine and feminine. Yin and Yang. Leftists are obviously the latter.

Now, returning to “Animal Crossing” and philosophy…

What we have seen recently is a rise in the authoritarian left. An emotional left that simultaneously wants to follow and to lead. The one that wants to follow is the one that submits to the authoritarian raccoon “Tom.”

Tom is not a raccoon that gains power legitimately over the player. Instead, he forces the player into a contract against their own free will/choice. He is not a true capitalist. This is the act of an authoritarian pretending to be a capitalist. A wolf in sheep’s clothing.

It is telling that leftists derive pleasure from this act of being dominated by a masculine figure (the male Tom) pretending to be a capitalist. Read into that what you will. I think the message is fairly obvious.

PS: I do not know if “Tom” is in the recent “Animal Crossing” as I have not played it (or any of them.) The left that wants to become an authoritarian, meanwhile, is the one that finds something to dominate that cannot argue back with its utopian vision (the land, the crops, etc.)

Obviously, the leftist vision for utopia does not work in real life (see Venezuela), so they must act their desires in a video game. The postmodern unreal world of the “video” (in “video game”) makes their twisted desires become pseudo-real.

In this way, Animal Crossing is effectively an insidious form of propaganda that plays simultaneously into leftist feminine desire to be led, while also irrational authoritarian desires to lead/dominate. It tells them “your vision for reality can work” when it simply cannot.

As another postscript, I will say this is not commenting on the enjoyment of the game. It may be very well made, it might be incredibly fun, etc. I have no desire to play it myself, but people seem to be enjoying it. This is about its philosophical underpinnings.

There is a difference between a game that encourages you to dominate land in order to please an authoritarian and one like Mass Effect, or even a silly one like Mario, where you fight authoritarians to increase freedom across the galaxy/kingdom.