Of all the classic Nintendo titles,Animal Crossingmay be the most anticipated series that’s yet to confirm a new entry on theNintendo Switch 2. After the massive success ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsin 2020, it’s almost a guarantee that a sequel is in the works, even if Nintendo hasn’t officially announced it. If that sequel comes out in the next few years, thenNintendo will already have the perfect console feature to enhance the classicAnimal Crossingexperience.
The updatedJoy-Cons for the Switch 2 now include mouse controls, a feature that will more than likely only have limited use in games on the console. First seen in the trailer for the Switch 2, the Joy-Cons can be laid on a flat surface and used exactly the same as a wireless computer mouse. A feature like this may seem strange for a console built for on-the-go play, but if used with specific, limited functions in games like the nextAnimal Crossing, it could prove particularly useful.
Joy-Con Mouse Controls Are Perfect For Animal Crossing
Inventory Management, Decorating, And More Could Be Improved
While the mouse controls haven’t seen much action yet in the launch titles included with the console, they’re some of the biggest updates to the system, even as issues from the first console persist.Civilization 7is already one flagship example of supporting the feature, as mouse controls can make playing a strategy game much more comfortable with the right setup. Controls like these are certainly unique for a console, and while they might seem strange at first, mouse controls are actually the perfect addition for a cozy game likeAnimal Crossing.
One of the most annoying parts ofNew Horizonsis decorating small spaces, especially in outdoor areas. While this part of the game could certainly use an update to make the task easier, perhaps even inspired bythe Happy Home Paradise DLC,the Switch 2’s mouse controls would make decorating a breeze. Rather than selecting an item with a thumb stick and slowly dragging it across the screen with a grid pattern, having mouse controls would allow players to select their item and place it exactly where they want with pixel accuracy.
Decorating wouldn’t be the only task made easier by mouse controls in the next game. Inventory management, a frustrating experience in any game where items don’t stack, would be vastly improved.Animal Crossingstorage can quickly get overwhelmingly cluttered, and scrolling through thousands of items gets old fast.Quickly moving items around with a mouse instead of using a clunky thumbstickto shift items over one spot at a time would be an incredibly time-saving change.
Most Switch 2 Games Probably Won’t Use Mouse Controls
A Unique Feature, With Limited Uses
Mouse controls are a unique addition to the Nintendo Switch 2, which is in line with Nintendo’s usual design philosophy for consoles. Strange features that allow developers to play around with the player’s experience can lead to great games, but despite some hits like the Wiimote, many gimmicks are largely left to collect dust. It’s likely thatmost games for the Switch 2 won’t utilize the Joy-Con mouse controls, especially since they’ll requirean available flat surfaceto place the Joy-Cons on.
The Switch 2 is a mobile console, and users won’t have a table to play on while they take the subway or sit in waiting rooms. That’s not to say that it’s an entirely useless feature, since using it in small, inessential doses, like decorating inAnimal Crossing,can enhance a game without hindering core gameplay. Some games are more likely to use the Joy-Con mouse controls than others—afutureWarioWareinstallmentcould easily hook them into its range of wacky mini-games—but other series, likeThe Legend of Zelda, will probably ignore theSwitch 2feature.
