Ever sinceMinecraftlaunched on consoles, Mojang has been churning various DLC packs filled with skins, textures, and worlds for players to explore. While many of them have cost money, there have been a couple that have overhauled the experience for free. One such pack came in the form of the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, which brought Nintendo’s biggest IP to theMinecraftworld. And now that the studio has tapped into Nintendo’s catalog, there is one franchise just waiting to be adapted in the blocky world.
Although it may not be as big as theSuper Mariofranchise,theAnimal Crossingserieshas become a behemoth over the years. Players have been able to explore this colorful world across a variety of titles, including aMario Party-like experience, a home designer, and a mobile game. With the release ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, the franchise took on a whole new level of popularity. Yet, Nintendo has not really embraced its crossover potential, but aMinecraftmash-up pack could change all of that.
Minecraft and Animal Crossing Could Be the Greatest Crossover Yet
Minecraft Has Already Explored Nintendo’s Biggest IP
With the release ofMinecrafton the Wii U, Mojang fully tapped into this new market by also including theSuper MarioMash-Up Pack for free. While a big highlight of this pack was the Mario-themed skins, this was far more than just another skin pack. Alongside those came new textures, music, and an entire pre-made world themed afterSuper Mario Bros. Through that, players not only got the classicMinecraftexperience, but they were also able to have free-range of some ofthe most iconic locales fromMario’s expansive history.
Since its release on the Wii U, the Mario Mash-Up Pack has become a staple of every single Nintendo version ofMinecraft. Additionally,Minecraft’s own Stevehas gotten to join in on the Nintendo fun throughSuper Smash Bros. UltimateDLC. Even though it may seem like the two companies have embraced the crossover potential, there have not been any more Nintendo-themed mash-up packs since. But that could all change if the studio were able to takeAnimal Crossingfor a spin.
Animal Crossing is Brimming With Crossover Potential
As of now, theAnimal Crossingseries has not really had many notable crossover appearances, outside ofNintendo crossover titles likeSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. The franchise has had its fair share of titles and references appear within, but it has not really branched out much. However, the series feels rife with crossover potential, andMinecraftcould be the home of its biggest.
Already,MinecraftandAnimal Crossingshare some similarities, with both putting a heavy emphasis on building within a mostly barren world. Additionally,Animal Crossing: New Horizonsfully tapped into crafting, which is aMinecraftstaple. Of course, the two games are in completely different genres, but through a mash-up pack, they could become even closer.
ThisAnimal Crossingmash-up pack could giveMinecrafta brand-new facelift, with all sorts of textures themed after the colorful franchise. Along with that, there is virtually unlimited potential for player skins, astheAnimal Crossingfranchise features countless unique villagersthroughout its many titles. And if that was not enough, K. K. Slider’s tunes would be the perfect companion piece to anyMinecraftadventure while a themed world would be fantastic to explore.
It currently does not seem like Mojang has any Nintendo-themed Mash-Up Packs in the works, but hopefully that will change. With a new Nintendo console looming on the horizon, it feels like the perfect time to tap into more of Nintendo’s expansive library, starting with the iconicAnimal Crossingseries. The potential for something great is there, so now the studio just has to be given free range to explore it.
Minecraft
WHERE TO PLAY
Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours. But if the thought of exploring a vast new world all on your own feels overwhelming, then fear not!Minecraft has no set goal and can be played however you’d like! This is why it’s sometimes called a “sandbox game” – there are lots of things for you to do, and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, then you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you’re feeling brave, you can explore the world and face daring challenges. Blocks can be broken, crafted, placed to reshape the landscape, or used to build fantastical creations.Creatures can be battled or befriended, depending on how you play. The world of Minecraft allows for epic adventures, quiet meditations, and everything in between. You can even share your creations with other players, or play in community worlds!
