Before, if I’d said I haven’t left the house in almost two weeks, and spent most of that time playing video games, I would’ve gotten a very different reaction than now.

Rushing home, I was reunited with my Nintendo consoles, and it’s safe to say virtually playing outside in Pokémon like I used to, or building my new island in Animal Crossing have saved me from cabin fever. The comfort of playing low-pressure games I grew up with is a welcome perk of being quarantined. Their wholesome nature, coupled with their peppy attitude, feels just like a blanket wrapped around me on a cold day.

This is a screenshot I took on my Switch, of my character and house in Animal Crossing. 

– Juliette Simon