Animal Crossing takes place in real-time, with a day-and-night cycle and seasons that change in synch with the actual time of year. Players can collect bugs, fish, bones, and other natural items, they can improve their houses, design new outfits to wear, and they can even get a job to earn some money.

There is plenty to keep players busy in their little towns, however - more activities than there is time in the day to do them. Instead of assigning a progressive series of missions or following a linear plot, the game simply sets players free in its virtual community, where they can develop their houses, fashion sense, collections, and relationships with other characters however they see fit. There is no overarching narrative to push players in a particular direction. Based on the GameCube version of the title, Animal Crossing Wild World casts players as of the newest resident of a happy little village, populated by friendly talking animals.