Queer Worldmaking in Animal Crossing: Disruptive and Joyful Critical Media Literacies

Abstract

While the educational possibilities for the Nintendo Switch video game Animal Crossing: New Horizon seem near-endless, we have been particularly struck with the game’s worldmaking potential, and the ways that such opportunities push against pervasive anti-queer and anti-trans educational legislation, while offering queer- and trans- affirming communities and creativity for players. Through analysis of online gaming communities, online gaming community, and authors’ gameplay, this paper explores the research question: How does acnh afford players opportunities to engage in queer- and trans-affirming worldmaking through critical media literacies? Our findings include considerations of the in-game gender elasticity afforded players and player-created online lgbtq+ communities.