2020 showed that for its players, Animal Crossing is more than a game. It is a place where players can live and shape their own universe. This became all the more valuable during a time of lockdowns and travel restrictions. An island can be a place of comfort to create a world that expresses its player's personality. It can be a social, artistic and cultural space shared with others across the world. For some it is a space in which processing feelings of stress, anxiety and grief can take place. Players making spaces to travel, connect and share experiences opened up new possibilities. For many players, events were accessible for the first time via virtual spaces. Would this remain the case post-pandemic?