Nintendo Switch has seen some tremendous exclusives in its span to date, such as Super Mario Odyssey, Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. But all things considered, Animal Crossing: New Horizons may have been the most impactful, enticing new players to the franchise and even to the system itself.
While a lot of players are enjoying the unique, relaxing charms of the Animal Crossing series for the very first time, others have been playing since the GameCube original first launched in the West in 2002. Only these fans will know the true joy of having an OG villager from the very start of the series on their newfangled New Horizons island. Which is the best of that first crop of villagers, though? Goose the jock chicken and his Ranch-themed home might be a little ‘vanilla’ (a common issue with the first villagers), so here are some originals you might prefer.
10 Bob The Cat
If there’s any series stalwart who has a special place in the hearts of fans, it’s Bob the cat. This furry little purple soul has featured in every installment to date, becoming something of a poster child for the franchise along the way.
What is it about him that’s so appealing? Maybe it’s his unique-but-not-garish-or-forced design. Maybe it’s his classic January 1st birthday. Maybe it’s the fact that his home in every game is decorated with the whole Kiddie series (or equivalent), giving it a vibe that appeals to every Animal Crossing fan’s inner completionist. Really, it’s all of these things. Bob is the Pikachu of the series, and you can’t help but love him for it.
9 Octavian The Octopus
Octopus villagers have always had a certain mystique. They’re comparatively rare compared to most species (there have only ever been four of them), which combines with their unique appearance to make them highly coveted. Octavian, who has been familiar to fans since the original Animal Forest (the only Octopus villager until Marina’s addition a little later), stands out most of all for some.
It’s a fact that cranky villagers always offer a nice, grumpy change of pace, and the bright red Octavian suits this stereotype oh so well. His house has a fantastic design too, sporting a space theme that’s visually distinct from almost every other villager’s home. He’s not the life of the party, but he’s an interesting personality to have on any island.
8 Ankha The Cat
Another of those ever-popular cat villagers, Ankha has an entirely exclusive aesthetic that history buffs just can’t help but fall in love with. Ancient Egyptian cultural references may not be what fans would expect to find in Animal Crossing, but they’re certainly here, and Ankha is just steeped in them.
An Islander in the original Animal Crossing, Ankha is a snooty cat whose house just looks… well, it’s phenomenal. This is what finding your interior decorating niche and staying true to it is all about, and you’ve got to appreciate everything about Ankha for that. There’s a reason she remains one of the series’ most sought-after villagers.
7 Goldie The Dog
In contrast to Ankha, Goldie the dog isn’t a villager that’s going to dazzle you with her creative design, or who boasts the flashiest custom home around. Her appeal is completely different and just as valid.
What Goldie offers is a simple, wholesome, loveable villager who defines everything Animal Crossing should be. Just like in real life, the dogs of Animal Crossing are always good boys and girls (K.K. Slider and Isabelle being two iconic examples), and the sweet, homespun friendliness of Goldie, right down to her rather simple wooden-themed custom home, makes her no exception.
6 Aurora The Penguin
Aurora is another normal villager who has much in common with Goldie. A sweet, welcoming disposition, a clear, simple, and super-cute design… she’s Animal Crossing at its most pure, in short. However, she does have one curious trait: when she’s surprised, her eyes turn briefly red, which can be a heck of a shock on such an adorable face if you haven’t seen it before!
There’s one other trait of Aurora’s that makes her stand out, though: her custom home is a stunning little ice palace. With rare items like snowflakes and the Aquarius Urns, the wintery theme of her home makes it another highlight.
5 Fang The Wolf
Wolf villagers are favorites of many fans, leading some to put in the time and effort required to create all-wolf towns. If you’re committed enough to the cause, you’ll probably want to make sure that you’ve got Fang on board.
With his light coloring and preference for snowy clothing, this cranky wolf has a similar wintery vibe to Aurora, which differentiates him from other members of his species. Along with his stylish, simplistic home, it’s plain to see why Fang is one of the most popular wolf villagers around.
4 Coco The Rabbit
Coco is another normal villager who is always in high demand. She doesn’t strike a chord with everybody, though: while many players love her unusual appearance, some prefer the typical cutesy animal designs. One thing we can say for her, though, is that she’s definitely interesting to look at.
Coco is another resident who just has her own aesthetic and rocks it perfectly. Just look at the inside of her home! It fits her so well that she could almost blend into the wallpaper and disappear. At the same time, though, she looks so striking that she could never actually do so.
3 Egbert The Chicken
How does a chicken villager beat another chicken villager at their own game? Let’s find out.
While Goose’s jock personality can become a little samey and tiresome, a lazy villager is his polar opposite. If you have Egbert on your island, you’ll find him personable, charming (some of his dialogue is absolutely hilarious), and constantly hungry. While it was sad to see that he seems to have left his robo-centric home from Animal Crossing: New Leaf (shown here) behind, his place has a rustic charm that suits his happy-go-lucky personality. Of course, everyone has their own chicken preferences, but Egbert arguably has a unique quality or two that Goose lacks.
2 Lucky The Dog
Lucky is another very popular villager among the fanbase, owing in part to his intriguing-yet-morbid design. The joke here is that this poor critter has the name Lucky, despite being covered from head to toe in bandages. His starting catchphrase, “rrr-owch,” suggests this unfortunate dog villager has been in some awful accident.
In the same way as Ankha, though, this ties in with an Ancient Egyptian aesthetic (a mummy), which is also reflected in his home. Besides the sphinx and pyramids his home has previously sported in the series, he has also had two Master Swords (special Nintendo-themed items) in there, while his house in New Horizons has a grim cemetery aesthetic. Fans who like giving their islands a dark, creepy theme will definitely want to snap him up if they can.
1 Ribbot The Frog
A concept that’s central to the Animal Crossing experience is the idea of playing the game in your own way, at your own pace. In this odd little sandbox of a life sim, super cute villagers are just as welcome as more macabre, strange ones. Lucky is a great example of the latter, as is this final pick: Ribbot the frog.
This odd little mechanical guy is one of the most unique OG villagers of all, if not just the most unique period. This jock’s man-made (or animal-made) design has been reflected in the contents of his home throughout the series. From futuristic space themes to harsh metallic furnishing and the odd little workshop he lives in now, Ribbot has always brought something unique to the table. The simple question of his origins is interesting enough.
NEXT: Animal Crossing: Ranking The 10 Weirdest Animal Villagers In New Horizons
