Animal Crossing: Wild World review

Animal Crossing: Wild World is the DS game to keep in the system and open every day. Nintendo's own description stresses that it has no levels, scores or complex controls: you get a house and a mortgage and choose how to pay it off, whether by helping at the local shop, digging up treasure for the town museum or selling T-shirts you design. Time in the game runs in real time, so different activities appear at different hours and special events fall on certain dates such as birthdays. Every village is unique, and Nintendo lists support for 1 to 4 players. The drawbacks are age and price. Online play ended when Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection closed on May 20, 2014, so visits now rely on local wireless, and DKOldies lists a used cartridge at $79.99 before sales, which is a lot for a game that sold widely. It lands seventh mainly on value.

Who it is for

Relaxed players who want a game to visit for a few minutes every day.

Price

Used DS cartridge from $79.99 at DKOldies (regular price, before sales).

Original price: $79.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• In-game time runs in real time, with events tied to the clock and the calendar
• A house and a mortgage you can pay off however you like
• Work at the shop, hunt for treasure for the museum or sell T-shirts you design
• Every player's village is unique
• 1 to 4 players, per Nintendo's listing

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No levels, scores or complex controls to learn
• Strength: Rewards short daily sessions over months
• Strength: PEGI 7 rating
• Weakness: Online play ended with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in 2014
• Weakness: Regular used price of $79.99 is high for a common game
• Weakness: Slow pace will not suit players who want goals

Key facts

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Developer: Nintendo
• EU release: March 31, 2006
• Players: 1 to 4
• Age rating: PEGI 7

Where it ranks

Animal Crossing: Wild World is No. 7 in our Best Nintendo DS Games of All Time verdict.