There are nearly 400 villagers in total across the Animal Crossing: New Horizons has only made the villagers more popular in recent years.
Fierce loyalties inevitably mean fierce debates surrounding which villagers deserve to be known as the best characters in the Animal Crossing franchise. From characters like Ankha and Raymond that have exploded in popularity thanks to the success of New Horizons to ones that have always heavily divided opinions like the odd-looking Coco, the best characters often get people talking. Whether the coolest, the cutest, or simply the most interesting, these are the best Animal Crossing villagers in the games.
10 Stitches
First appearing in Animal Crossing: Wild World, Stitches has been around in the games for a while, so it's no surprise that many players have enough fond memories of the bear villager to match any real teddy bear. With his colorful design that's reminiscent of patchwork and his friendly but lazy personality that makes him one of the nicest villagers in New Horizons, it's no coincidence that many associate Stitches with teddy bears as that's exactly what his design is inspired by.
For many, that alone is enough to make him rank as one of the top villagers Animal Crossing has produced, but he's far from the only cute villager in the games. What makes Stitches stand out, particularly after Animal Crossing: New Horizons, is his adorable home that's styled like a child's bedroom and is perfect for a tea party. For some players, however, it may be a little too much cuteness to make him a true classic.
9 Ace
One of the most notable absentees from Animal Crossing: New Horizons when it was first released, Ace's charms were so strong that fans of the character that got to know him from the first Animal Crossing game were finally rewarded with his addition in the New Horizons 2.0 update in 2021. Though his bird design may look a little ridiculous, the way it clashes with his jock personality actually makes him all the more endearing.
Ace's half-closed eyes and his pointed beak were even funnier in his earlier appearances in the series and even his silly ace-sign shirt was replaced by a more stylish kung-fu tee in New Horizons. As well as his comeback story, Ace's appeal as a jock villager is that he's fun to be around, producing some of the funniest expressions in the game. Only his slightly forgettable design holds Ace back from being more popular.
8 Audie
Though the dated graphics of older games meant villagers inevitably ended up looking a little silly, one of the advantages of Animal Crossing: New Horizons' great visuals and new features are that it allowed for truly stylish villagers like Audie to get the recognition they deserve. Then again, with her colorful fox-like design (though she's actually a wolf), Audie has a timeless appearance that would have made her popular no matter what game she was introduced in.
Audie's details make her stand out the most, with her blue eyes, prominent eyelashes, yellow eyeshadow, and her cool shades giving her an immediate sense of style. Yet, with her tropical aesthetic and cheerful personality that makes her easy to befriend, she's a villager that's far nicer than she is cool, which is something most players can appreciate. She might seem a little one-dimensional, but Audie is easily one of the most memorable new villagers to appear in New Horizons.
7 Coco
Whereas most villagers rely on a cute design or their over-the-top personalities to win over fans, Coco managed to become an S-tier Animal Crossing villager despite having a genuinely uncanny appearance and a slightly shy personality. With her mouth and eyes just being oval holes on a coconut-like head, Coco's appearance has more in common with a gyroid than most other villagers.
For fans of Coco, her bizarre appearance is one of her most charming qualities as it hides a sweet, caring personality that makes her worth getting to know. Her appearance might be a little too extreme for a lot of Animal Crossing fans, but Coco is genuinely one-of-a-kind and that makes her automatically one of the best villagers in the games.
6 Judy
It might not be one of the most obvious reasons why New Horizons is the best Animal Crossing game but there's no denying that new and distinctive villagers like Judy helped. Whilst snooty personality villagers aren't everyone's cup of tea, the advantage of this type is that they tend to make up for their snobbishness by having some of the best designs in the game and that's certainly the case with Judy.
With her pastel tones and those starry eyes that immediately set her apart from any other villager in the game, Judy's design is the kind that some players just instantly connect with. Add in her love of singing, her catchphrase of "myohmy," and her adorably colorful house, and it's easy to see why Judy is a favorite villager for anyone that loves cute things. Judy might not be for everyone, but she's perfect for her fans and that's why she earns her place as one of the best villagers.
5 Raymond
Animal Crossing can be a divisive game but there was a brief time when the entire community was united in their love for Raymond. Whilst it might have been hard to judge his qualities objectively when he was the rare villager that everyone wanted to get their hands on, it's fair to say that Raymond earned his popularity through sheer style factor.
Even just being a cat villager with the smug personality trait makes Raymond the perfect villager for some and his effortless style in a crisp waistcoat and smart glasses only heightens the effect. Added details like his mismatched eyes and his permanent frown that contrasts with the sweet way he tends to treat the player give him an appeal that few other villagers can match. Though his home is a slightly boring office space, that's hardly a deal-breaker for a cat this cool.
4 Marina
Normal villagers are often the best in Animal Crossing and Marina is no exception. That's because her caring but easy-going nature is the perfect accompaniment to her bright pink octopus appearance which makes her one of the most instantly recognizable characters in the entire Animal Crossing series.
Though not in the original game, Marina has been more or less an ever-present since then and that's part of why many players have fond memories of the motherly octopus with a love of pink. That love of pink stretches to her house, which is like a doll's house and full of soft pink furnishings. The only drawback is that this makes her a little one-note but Marina is so overwhelmingly friendly that it's unlikely to bother most fans.
3 Cherry
Typical of the endearing sisterly villagers in Animal Crossing, Cherry is the big sister dog villager that's impossible to dislike. Despite being one of the more recent villagers in the game, having been introduced in New Leaf, Cherry hasn't taken long to gain the loyalty of countless players to whom her unique charms have landed her a special place in their hearts.
What makes Cherry one of the very best villagers in the games is that, amongst all of the overly colorful and cutesy villages that seem to dominate, her gothic fashion sense and love for rock 'n' roll music makes her a breath of fresh hair. Even her home, which is an odd mishmash of elements, makes her seem edgy in contrast to the other villagers' tidy houses. Cherry is the perfect mix of weird and lovable and that's exactly why she's a fan favorite.
2 Ankha
Snooty villagers may be responsible for some of the most ive-aggressive lines in Animal Crossing: New Horizons but, if any snooty villager is worth it, then it's the immensely popular Ankha. A cat with an ancient Egyptian theme, it makes sense that Ankha would have a high opinion of herself but she's not the only one as Ankha's been a fan-favorite since the very first Animal Crossing title.
Though some players might not like villagers that stick very closely to a theme, Ankha is the best example of how well it can work, as everything from her fashion sense to her cobra head-adornment and her pyramid-themed home works perfectly to make the most stylish villager in any of the games. When it comes to adding a unique flavor to any town or island, no villager in the game is better than Ankha.
1 Marshal
First appearing in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, neither his relative newness nor his effortlessly smug persona has stopped Marshal from becoming the Animal Crossing villager everyone wants to befriend. With his marshmallow-like appearance, pink cheeks, and slightly angry expression, Marshal is downright adorable even by squirrel standards.
Being the only smug squirrel in the games is unique enough but what makes Marshal really stand out above all other villagers is the way he mixes cute elements with a lively and sometimes even petulant personality. Rather than feeling slightly one-note, Marshal is the perfect combination of sweet and sour to win over any player whose island he happens to arrive on. Along with a stylish home and a smart fashion sense, Marshal is the perfect addition to anyone's Animal Crossing experience.