Whether it's a partner or a friend, there are times when you want to meet someone and have no idea where to begin. You lack the nerve to start a conversation, and there's no good place to meet anyway.
Yet there is a couple who really did meet through Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons and went on to get engaged. Today I'll sort out how people meet and grow close in this game.
* This video is from Nintendo's official channel. If you liked it, give it a thumbs up.
◆ The Couple Who Met in Animal Crossing
What happened during the 2020 pandemic, in order
Early pandemic, 2020 · Steven Brown of Utah starts the game at home
Bells pile up · he posts in a Facebook Animal Crossing group offering to give some away
Someone replies · Shayla Johnson of Indiana; the two play together and grow close
That August · they meet in person for the first time, and Johnson accepts Brown's proposal on the spot
In early 2020, during the pandemic, Steven Brown of Utah started Animal Crossing to pass the time at home. When his in-game money, bells, piled up, he posted in a Facebook Animal Crossing group that he would give some away.
The person who answered was Shayla Johnson of Indiana. When Brown handed her the bells, Johnson asked whether he'd like to see her island.
The two played together and kept talking for hours every day outside the game, and they grew close.
That August, Brown traveled to Indiana and they met in person for the first time. Brown brought a ring, and Johnson said yes right away.
At the time of the reports, they were preparing to live together and planning their wedding while still playing Animal Crossing together.
It started with giving away bells. They didn't meet while looking for a partner; they grew close by visiting each other's islands.
◆ Three Ways to Open Your Island with a Dodo Code
A 5-character code, and you choose who may come in
People you've registered as Switch friends
People you've registered as Best Friends
Anyone who knows the code, even if they aren't a Switch friend
The way to meet people in this game is simple. Open your island's gate and share a Dodo Code. Talk to Orville and you get a 5-character Dodo Code, which expires when that multiplayer session ends.
There are three ranges. Only people you've registered as Switch friends, only Best Friends, or anyone who knows the code.
With the "anyone" option, even people who aren't Switch friends can come to your island if they know the code.
That structure is why two strangers like Brown and Johnson could visit each other's islands.
Online play requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership.
◆ Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: What to Know
Release date, price and how many can gather on one island
January 15, 2026
$64.99, or $4.99 as an upgrade pack for existing owners
Up from 8 to 12, but only if all 12 own the Switch 2 Edition
It's a good time to start Animal Crossing again. The Switch 2 Edition came out on January 15, 2026. The US price is $64.99, and existing owners can buy an upgrade pack for $4.99.
The number of players who can gather on one island online also rose from 8 to 12. However, you only get 12 if all 12 players own the Switch 2 Edition, and a single older console keeps it at 8.
With more players able to gather, it's easier for a few friends and someone new to wander the island together.
◆ Where People Gather
Places outside the island where connections start
➤ Facebook Animal Crossing groups
Where Brown and Johnson met
➤ Nookazon
A fan-made item trading site that started in April 2020, with a Discord server of several hundred thousand people
There are other places where people gather besides the island. There are the Facebook groups where Brown and Johnson met, and Nookazon, where people trade items.
Nookazon is a fan-made site that started in April 2020, and its Discord server is known as a community of several hundred thousand people.
In places like these, you can trade items and grow friendly by visiting each other's islands. Brown and Johnson's story also began with giving away bells.
◆ Best Friends and Island Safety Checklist
When you let someone you've just met onto your island
☐ Be careful with Best Friends · they can use shovels and axes
☐ Don't post your code in public communities · people who steal items or wreck your island may come in
☐ Stop at "friend" at first · start by visiting their island instead
Still, you should be careful about letting just anyone onto your island. People you've registered as Best Friends can use shovels and axes, so they can cut down your trees or dig up your ground.
If you post a Dodo Code in a public community, people who steal items or mess up your island may come in. So register a newcomer only as a friend, and make them a Best Friend after you've talked for a while.
At first, keep the range to friends and start by going to look around their island.
◆ Numbers on Gaming Together and Relationships
Logitech G (Australia), BYU (online RPGs), Nintendo's announcement
Relationship satisfaction for people who game with a partner weekly vs. rarely (Logitech G)
Of couples where both play, who said gaming has a positive effect on their marriage (BYU 2012, 349 couples)
Share of Animal Crossing players (Nintendo, around the 2020 launch)
Does playing games with someone improve a relationship? In a survey of more than 1,500 Australians aged 18 to 45, announced by Logitech G in February 2026, the relationship satisfaction of people who game with a partner weekly was +47.3, against +24.0 for those who rarely do.
It's a marketing survey by a gaming gear company, so keep that in mind. Still, playing a game with someone you get along with is a lot of fun.
A 2012 BYU study surveyed 349 couples who play online RPGs like World of Warcraft. Among couples where both play, 76% said gaming has a positive effect on their marriage.
Competition is not the heart of Animal Crossing. There are competitive events such as fishing and bug-catching tournaments, but decorating, collecting and exploring come first, so it's easy to play together without pressure.
Nintendo's announcement said players skew toward their 20s and 30s and more than 40% are women (around the 2020 launch).
It's better to see this as a place to become close with people than a place you log in to find a partner. Brown and Johnson didn't go looking for love either; they went to give away bells, and it became a connection.
Also, these stories come from the special time of the 2020 pandemic. When it was hard to leave the house, online meetings may have grown deeper.
Start by lightly showing someone around your island, and talk more as you grow close. Not rushing suits the mood of this game.
Well then, shall we begin today's adventure?
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