Animal Crossing is an enhanced rerelease of Dōbutsu no Mori + , designed specifically for Western audiences. As such, it replaces all Japanese cultural references and celebrations with ones that would be more familiar to the American, European, and Australian audiences it was released for. This includes such holidays as a Harvest Festival in November, April Fool's Day, and Mother's Day and Father's Day. New items and events were also added.
The gameplay of Animal Crossing revolves around building and customizing your own virtual village. You will interact with the town's inhabitants, including animals, villagers, and other characters, by talking to them, visiting their homes, and participating in various activities such as fishing, bug catching, and decorating your house. As you progress through the game, you'll unlock new items and furniture for your home, improve your relationships with the townspeople, and even start a family of your own.