Summary
The originalAnimal Crossinglaunched exclusively for the N64 in Japan in 2001 before an updated version of the title was released internationally for the GameCube. The charming series follows your character after they move into a new town and do their best to befriend the locals and improve the area’s reputation by cleaning up weeds and investing in new opportunities.
One of the most beloved aspects of the Animal Crossing series is the unique villagers who slowly fill up your town and make you fall in love with them with their unique personalities and styles. There have been almost 500 different villagers since the first Animal Crossing game, but some of them don’t get talked about as much as others, despite being just as cute or funny as fan-favorites like Marshall or Raymond.
10Sylvana
There are a ton of popular squirrel villagers, but Sylvana doesn’t seem to be mentioned as frequently as others like Peanut or Poppy. She has a normal personality, which means she might not stand out as much in conversations, but the book-loving rodent is a great addition to any island or village she ends up moving to.
Sylvana has a spotty history with the series, originally appearing in the Japan-exclusive expansion for the GameCube game before disappearing until the Welcome Amiibo update for New Leaf brought her back as a villager. She’s only technically been available as a character outside of Japan for a much shorter time than other squirrels, which might be why she’s not talked about as much.
9Bill
Bill is a duck with a jock personality who has been in the series since the very beginning. Ducks are generally not the most popular species in Animal Crossing, and most of them are usually left in the pond while people attempt to get fan-favorites like Ketchup or Molly to move into their town.
Aside from having a fairly basic appearance, Bill’sjock personality can also turn him awayfrom people at first. But like Roald and Dom, Bill’s enthusiasm for everything involving sports and sweating is incredibly endearing for someone of his size. His spirit can be the soul of your home if you allow him to move in, and it won’t take long for Bill to muscle his way into your heart.
8Melba
Koala villagers have been around since the very beginning, but Melba wasn’t introduced as a character until Wild World for the DS. She has been a staple of the series since then, but she suffers from being part of a species that only has eleven villagers in total, making them much harder to stumble across compared to cats or rabbits.
Despitehaving a normal personality, Melba will quickly feel more like a sister or best friend with her calming aura and presence. Her curiosity always leads her to something new to discover, and she has an infectious energy that’s guaranteed to bring joy to your daily routines.
7Bones
There are so many adorable dog villagers, it’s only natural for some to be more beloved than others. As much as people love Cherry or Goldie, it feels like Bones is oddly forgotten when people talk about their favorite canines. It probably doesn’t help that there are also popular dog NPCs, like Isabelle and K.K. Slider.
Bones has been available as a villager since the very first game and has a lazy personality. His distinct feature is the giant brown spot over his right eye that stands out due to his white fur. He might not be as active or exciting as some of the other dog villagers, but he’s the perfect pal for chilling out on a bench or sitting under a tree to do nothing.
6Flurry
Flurry is one of the six original hamster villagers that were introduced in Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the 3DS. There were only two female hamsters to begin with (there are a total of three after New Horizons), and most people flocked towards Apple for her unique appearance and vibrant energy, leaving Flurry to be mostly forgotten about.
Like other villagers on this list, Flurry has a normal personality, which could be another reason why she doesn’t stand out as much as Soleil and Hamphrey. Her cool design is a welcome sight compared to other hamsters, and her nonchalant energy will bring a certain zen to your town that will help you stay calm and collected during tense tournaments or events.
5Marlo
Marlo was introduced to the series as a new character in a free update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and whether it’s due to fewer people playing the game when he came out, it’s a shame that he hasn’t become the center of more conversations. This tiny hamster is inspired by Marlon Brando’s performance in The Godfather, which is all you should need to know to want to invite him onto your island immediately.
There are plenty of villagers who resemble vegetables or desserts, but Marlo is one of the few who resembles another fictional character. Fortunately, he only looks like a crime boss, and you won’t have to worry about any of your other villagers disappearing overnight after looking at him the wrong way or doing anything wrong on the day of his daughter’s birthday.
4Mira
Mira was added as a character in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, which came out during a time when superheroes dominated the big screen. She seems like the kind of rabbit who went to the opening night of every Marvel and DC movie, including the bad ones, and brings that heroic spirit with her wherever she goes.
Maybe it’s because superhero fatigue kicked in for most people around the time New Horizons launched, but Mira seems to fly under the radar for most people. As theonly rabbit with a big sister personality, Mira is someone you may always rely on for a good time and positive reinforcement, even if she refuses to take her mask off in front of you.
3Cranston
Ostriches have been in the series since the very beginning, but they’ve been slowly added to each entry, unlike other species like bear cubs or horses. Cranston was added to the flock in New Leaf for the 3DS and suffers from not standing out as much as other newcomers like Flora, Blanche, and Phoebe.
Cranston is the only ostrich with a lazy personality, but once you get to know him a bit, it will be hard to imagine your community without him. Despite his flashy colors, this bird just wants to relax, enjoy nature, and not stir the pot too much. Cranston can be an unlikely best friend if you just give him a chance to spread his wings.
2Agnes
Animal Crossing: New Leaf introduced over 100 new villagers to the series between the base game and the Welcome Amiibo update that it’s only natural for some of them to get lost in the mix. Agnes was introduced at the launch of New Leaf as the only pig with a big sister personality, but that wasn’t enough to help her stand out against fan-favorites like Gala and Rasher.
Agnes has a playful nature and can often ben found running around outside or enjoying time with friends around town. As fun as she can be, she’s also great when it comes to advice, and often uses “you reap what you sow” as her personal philosophy. As fun as Animal Crossing can be, it’ll also surprise you with characters like Agnes, who offer great tips for success in the real world.
1Sly
Alligators are known for being sneaky, and Sly embodies that trait with a camouflage skin pattern that’s supposed to help him blend in. Well, his plan might be more effective than planned, as it feels like nobody remembers or even talks about Sly that often, especially compared to other villagers of the same species, like Gayle, Boots, and Drago.
To be fair, alligators are one of the species with the least number of villagers, with only nine of them being available to recruit as neighbors since the first game. Still, Sly seems like the personification of what it means to be an alligator, so maybe he should try and avoid wearing a camouflage shirt in the next game to help him stand out a little more.
