Humans Are Going Extinct: Unhinged Animal Crossing Fan Theory Is Just Crazy Enough To Be Believable

The Animal Crossing franchise places players in an adorable and cozy world, but one fan theory asks if there's more to the world than meets the eye. The Animal Crossing games take place on an island where players take control of the only human among the villagers, who represent many different anthropomorphic animals. The franchise isn't known for its deep lore, and the difference between the player and their villagers is never explained or even addressed.

As such, some fans have taken it upon themselves to explain what's happening in the world of Animal Crossing, and some of the theories are pretty hard to believe. A new theory is now making the rounds that seem outlandish at first but makes more and more sense the more fans think about it. If this theory is to be believed, then the players represent the last hope of an endangered species.

Fan Animal Crossing Theory Suggests Humans Are Going Extinct

The Islands Are Just Well-Crafted Zoo Enclosures

The theory, shared on X by rethink the world from a different perspective. "In the Animal Crossing World," states the theory, "humans are going extinct." The idea continues that since humans are endangered, the animal-like characters of Animal Crossing have actually locked the player up in a zoo meant to enrich their lives and sustain their species.

Moana with an Animal Crossing background

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This Animal Crossing: New Horizons fan used every item available on their island to recreate Moana's "How Far I'll Go" to delightful effect.

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While it seems nonsensical at first, the theory does help many elements of the games make more sense. Being part of an "elaborate zoo enclosure" would explain why the villagers are always hiding money and items in the trees and rocks and coming up with small pointless tasks for the players to complete. It also explains why the villagers always seem so unbelievably happy to see the player, even when they've been rearranging things on the island or generally being a menace. According to this line of thinking, the villagers are simply keeping the players occupied and engaged with enrichment, as zookeepers would for captive animals.

All The Fan Theories Are Wonderfully Wholesome

The idea that the villagers are just doing their best for humanity is already a charming thought (despite the certain doom it means for humans), but some fans chime into the comments with even more fan theories. The explanations that players come up with to explain the world of Animal Crossing are all wonderfully wholesome.

One theory states that the animals are a child's stuffed toys that they're playing within the background, while their mom leaves notes from the animals' perspectives to encourage their child's imagination. Another says that the player is actually the sought-after dream villager for Tom Nook, and he's thrilled to finally have you on his island. There is, of course, a fair share of less wholesome ideas for what's going on here, but it's fun to pretend that beloved Animal Crossing villagers are the caretakers of the players, one way or another.

Source: Big_Recover_9631/Reddit, silverjirachi/X