Iconic Animal Crossing: New Horizons Villagers Who Captured Fans' Hearts (2024)

The Animal Crossing series has been around since 2001, making it one of the most popular social simulation games out there. That said, those who play Animal Crossing: New Horizons tend to prefer certain villagers to others. To find the perfect new addition to the town, many players happily make a swift exit from the island and embark on a Nook Miles Island tour to seek other villagers.

Some Animal Crossing villagers have gained notoriety for their looks, theme, rarity, personality, and sometimes even a combination of all four factors. Thanks to their popularity, many of these favorable villagers are expensive and fetch a surprisingly high price if players wish to sell them to friends, or on online forums and groups.

Updated on July 29, 2024, by Antonio Samson: Animal Crossing: New Horizons has over 400 villagers that can move to the players' island. However, even though each villager has their own fans, some are more popular than others. This article was updated to include more villagers and to meet CBR's editorial and formatting standards.

30 Bunnie Is An Energetic Rabbit With A Cheerful Personality

A Burst of Positivity with Her Peppy Attitude

Bunnie is one of the most energetic and enthusiastic villagers in Animal Crossing. Her peppy personality brings a constant burst of enthusiasm and positivity to the island. Her bright orange fur and perky ears complement her cheerful, upbeat demeanor, making her a standout character.

Bunnie's love for play is evident in her daily activities. She can often be seen running around the island, engaging in various games like hide and seek, or participating in outdoor activities such as fishing or bug catching. Her home reflects her vibrant personality, featuring playful decorations and a lively atmosphere that mirrors her energy.

29 Kiki Is A Sweet Black Cat With A Love For Reading

A Book-Loving Companion with Elegant Charm

Kiki is a charming black cat villager known for her gentle and friendly nature. Her normal personality type makes her kind-hearted and easy to get along with, making her a favorite among players who appreciate a down-to-earth and caring villager.

Kiki's distinctive design, featuring sleek black fur and green eyes, adds to her elegant and timeless appeal. Her hobby, education, means she deeply loves reading and learning.

Kiki can frequently be seen with a book in her paws, particularly enjoying classic literature or engaging in quiet study sessions. Her home is a cozy, book-themed sanctuary filled with shelves, reading nooks, and a serene atmosphere that perfectly reflects her intellectual pursuits. Her calm demeanor and passion for knowledge make her a perfect companion for players who enjoy a more reflective and nurturing presence on their island.

28 Erik Is A Laid-Back Reindeer With A Love For Nature

Relaxed and Rustic with a Connection to the Outdoors

Erik is a laid-back reindeer villager whose relaxed attitude and rustic charm have made him a beloved character. As a lazy villager, Erik is all about taking it easy and enjoying life's simple pleasures. His design, with antlers and a cozy sweater, reflects his easygoing nature and affinity for the outdoors.

Erik's hobby, nature, means he spends a lot of time exploring the island's natural beauty and enjoying the serenity of his surroundings. He can often be found lounging under a tree, reading a book, or simply soaking up the tranquility of his environment. His home is decorated with natural elements, creating a rustic, cabin-like feel that complements his personality.

27 Rosie Is A Bubbly Cat Who Loves Making Friends

Bright and Playful with an Infectious Enthusiasm

Rosie is a delightful cat villager with a peppy personality. She is known for her infectious energy and friendly demeanor. Her bright blue fur and large, expressive eyes make her one of the series' most recognizable and beloved characters.

Rosie's hobby is playing, and she embraces it wholeheartedly. Her home is as lively as she is, with vibrant colors and playful decorations that reflect her upbeat personality.

Rosie's conversations are filled with humor and warmth, often making other villagers smile and laugh. Her enthusiasm for socializing and making friends makes her a favorite among players who enjoy having lively and engaging characters on their island. Rosie's presence ensures that the island remains fun and filled with cheerful interactions.

26 Skye Is A Dreamy Wolf With A Love For Music

Serene with a Soothing Presence

Skye is a dreamy wolf villager who has captivated players with her serene and gentle presence. With her normal personality type, Skye is approachable and kind, making it easy for players to connect with her. Her sky-blue fur and cloud-themed design create a soothing and ethereal look that sets her apart from other villagers.

Skye's love for music is a significant part of her character. She can often be heard singing softly around the island, particularly enjoying soothing tunes or listening to her favorite classical pieces. Her home is decorated with musical elements and dreamy colors, creating a tranquil and enchanting atmosphere that perfectly complements her personality.

25 Audie Is An Amazing Peppy Wolf

Stylish with a Fitness Focus

Audie is a wolf villager with a peppy personality type. A character who was only added in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players can now also interact with Audie in Pocket Camp. The fandom particularly loves Audie because she's the only wolf with a peppy personality.

Audie's hobby is fitness, which means players will find her around the island lifting weights and exercising. Her dialogues are hilarious, she's got a great sense of style, and her design is top-notch. Unfortunately, it may take players some time to be able to find her and invite her to their islands.

24 Dobie Is An Adorable Grandpa Villager

Cranky Yet Kind with a Passion for Books

Animal Crossing players love cranky wolves because they are like adorable moody dogs, but Dobie is definitely the best one in the franchise. Dobie is an elderly wolf villager who is always annoyed at something, but he's also kind and friendly once he warms up to the player.

What's more, Dobie's personality revolves around his writing career. He's always commenting about his writer's block, and players can find him around the island reading a book and enjoying nature. His house is also filled with books. Dobie is like having a cute grandpa on the island.

23 Petri Is An Outstanding Mouse Scientist

Smart with a Unique Scientific Flair

Animal Crossing players can understand why Petri is so popular by only looking at her. She has a truly unique design that revolves around the fact that she's a scientist. Not only does Petri wear a lab coat and glasses, but she also has one blue ear and a red one, emulating positive and negative terminals in batteries.

What's more, Petri's name comes from the German scientist Julius Richard Petri, who invented the Petri dish. Petri's hobby is education, so they will often be reading or analyzing natural elements with their magnifying glass. Petri is a great mouse villager with a snooty personality, and it's a treat to have them on the island.

22 Goldie Is A Charming Golden Retriever

Friendly and Nostalgic with Classic Appeal

A villager that has existed from the very beginning of the Animal Crossing franchise, Goldie isn't only beloved for her adorable appearance, but also out of nostalgia. Likely, many New Horizons players interacted with Goldie back in 2002 on their Nintendo GameCube.

Although Goldie doesn't have a design as interesting as some of the most recent New Horizon villagers, she's a cute Golden Retriever — hence the name Goldie — who is always friendly and charming. What's more, Goldie appears in every Animal Crossing game, making her one of the few characters players might have encountered in any installment.

21 Cherry Is The Goodest Dog With A Punk Aesthetic

A Tough-Looking Pup with a Heart of Gold

The Big Sister personality is one of the most popular in Animal Crossing: New Horizons because villagers with this personality are caring and energetic, making them really easy to befriend. Cherry happens to be the only dog with this personality, so it makes her a truly valuable villager on any island.

On top of her great personality, people simply fell in love with Cherry's aesthetic. As her name suggests, she's a cherry-colored dog with punk vibes. In New Horizons, her home is black and white with skull-patterned flooring, so it doesn't get any cooler than that. Cherry looks tough on the outside but has a heart of gold.

20 Coco Is A Unique Coconut Gyroid Bunny

Calm and Unique with a Distinctive Look

Coco is a coconut gyroid bunny and one of the more unique-looking villagers in the game and has also become one of the most popular. Her expression never changes, yet there is a lot to love about her. Coco has a very calm and peaceful personality and always stays in the present. Nothing can phase or upset her, making it incredibly easy to become friends with Coco.

Although some villagers look like they have spent an arm and a leg to have their homes perfectly reflect their aesthetic, Coco's home is relatively rougher around the edges. It seems like she brought the outdoors into her house, replete with stone tables and a hay bed.

19 Judy Is A Cute New Snooty Bear

Elegant and Endearing with a Fairytale Charm

The snooty bear cub Judy is a new villager in New Horizons. Fans think her name may reference Judy Garland, a testament to her natural elegance and theatrics. Judy's anime eyes are just too cute, not to mention her fur features and pink and blue ombré design, so all players want her on their island.

The pink fairytale dress Judy wears upon moving to the players' islands is the cherry on top for this popular Animal Crossing villager. Snooty villagers love to gossip and can appear rude upon first meeting, but Judy's icy exterior will soon thaw. Adorably, this little bear will get on with any cranky villagers residing on players' islands.

18 Beau Is An Adorable Choice For Winter-Themed Islands

Charming and Cozy with a Wintry Appeal

Beau is a lazy deer villager who only thinks of eating. The sweater he originally wears and his cabin home make him an ideal villager for someone with a fall or winter-themed island. Plus, he has adorable large eyes and a truly charming personality that makes the players fall in love with him instantly.

Beau’s tired eyes also solidify him as the cutest lazy villager, since his appearance fits his personality. He's constantly reading books while sitting in nature. Beau is a friend to everyone who wants to live their best relaxing life together with one of the best and most popular Animal Crossing: New Horizons villagers.

17 Egbert Has Been Gaining Surprising Popularity Lately

A Lazy Chicken with a Cozy Vibe

A lazy chicken villager who's appeared in every Animal Crossing game, Egbert has been gaining popularity more recently, as a growing part of the community finds him cute and charming. Egbert's hobby is playing, and he'll often be found running around with his arms out.

Egbert's default clothing was the same in every Animal Crossing game until New Horizons, when his trademark Swell Tee was swapped out for a red Folk shirt. When it comes to home interior, Egbert's house feels like a cozy log cabin in the woods, which makes him perfect for a fall-themed island.

16 Mitzi Is A Simple, Charming Cat

Friendly and Bookish with a Timeless Appeal

Mitzi is a cat villager who's partially so popular because she's been in every single Animal Crossing game, including the most recent entry, New Horizons. With a normal personality type, it's not a surprise that Mitzi has a friendly and easygoing attitude, getting along with most villagers.

In New Horizons specifically, Mitzi's hobby is education, so she can sometimes be seen wearing glasses or reading books while outside. The interior of Mitzi's house leans into this theme, too, being filled with books and having a studious, organized feeling. Nothing better than an adorable bookish cat for a chill island.

15 Ankha Is A Unique Egyptian Cat

Regal and Mysterious with an Ancient Aesthetic

Ankha is an Egyptian-themed cat. With an ornate appearance and memorable personality, it is not surprising why so many players want her to be a part of their island. She has been in every Animal Crossing game except Wild World, Animal Forest, and Pocket Camp. Ankha's name is based on the hieroglyphic character "ankh," which translates to "life."

There are tons of theories about Ankha. One of the more popular ones is that her regal aesthetic pays homage to the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Furthermore, Ankha also resembles the ancient Abyssinian cat breed. Ankha's regal appearance and overall aesthetic make her one of Animal Crossing: New Horizon's most popular villagers.

14 Lolly Is A Sweet Cat Who Loves To Sing

Simple and Melodious with a Classic Charm

Lolly has a normal-type personality and is a classic cat villager who's been in all Animal Crossing games except for Wild World, leading to her longtime popularity. Lolly's a basic silver cat with white paws, a white mouth, dark gray face and ears, and body stripes, and her simple design is part of her charm.

Lolly's another villager who can sing anywhere without a stereo, thanks to her singing hobby, which makes for a friendly and hilarious villager on the island. What's more, her house makes use of the Wooden set, giving Lolly's home a simple charm that matches her personality and appearance.

13 Lucky Is A Mummy Dog Who's More Cute Than Creepy

Endearing and Fun-Loving

Lucky is a mummy-dog villager who has the perfect amount of cuteness and creepiness. His one yellow eye shines through his bandages, emphasizing his eerie appearance. Yet, he is one of the happier and more popular villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Lucky is a lazy villager who loves to eat and have fun. The juxtaposition of his fun-loving nature and unsettling appearance makes him a fan favorite. Plus, his house has the perfect aesthetic for players looking for a more elevated, gothic look for their islands, especially on Halloween.

12 Zucker Is Uniquely Themed Around Takoyaki

Relaxed with a Fun Appearance

Zucker is a popular octopus villager first introduced in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. As a lazy-type villager, Zucker prefers to hang around the island, thinking about food and how to maximize his relaxation.

Zucker is beloved not only for his fascination with food but also for his adorable, food-like appearance. Zucker’s character model is based on a Japanese dish called takoyaki which is made with octopus. Though it is a little morbid, Zucker’s sauce hair and toothpick stick make him all the more lovable. Plus, his character house is perfect for islanders looking for a more natural look for their island motif.

11 Maple Is A Classic Bear Who's Been In Every Game

Timeless with a Cottagecore Aesthetic

Maple is one of the many bear-like villagers that people love in the casual Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This villager has been in all the Animal Crossing games, making her an all-time fan-favorite. Her aesthetic makes Maple very popular. Maple's look, personality, and even name make her the perfect choice for a cottagecore island, for example.

Maple is a normal-type personality villager who can be seen around the island reading (wearing her thick-framed glasses, which look incredibly adorable on her), and using a magnifying glass to observe objects. Most Animal Crossing players can't help but fall in love with this sweet and soft villager.