A love story can take a lot of shapes. Gaming, like any fandom, is a unique way to combine your interest with a hobby into an interest in another person. Online, it’s easy to meet people with similar interests on message boards or websites. A lesser told story is the tale of a love story kicking off on a video game. One of 2020’s hottest games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, had what it takes to connect two people in a meaningful way. Let’s talk about a romantic tale of an Animal Crossing marriage story and a bright tale about the game’s heartfelt gameplay.
An Animal Crossing Marriage Story
Image Credit: Nintendo
Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate picked up a story about two gamers falling in love. Like many of us, Steven Brown and Shayla Johnson spent 2020 playing New Horizons. Their Animal Crossing marriage story started with another popular activity: players helping each other out to obtain items. On a Facebook group, Brown offered to drop off bells to a player who might need them. With work slowed since the pandemic, Brown mentions the game as a bright spot in his life during 2020. His life, as it turns out, was about to get a lot brighter.
He dropped off bells to Johnson, who then asked him if he wanted a tour of her island. Through the game’s chat feature, the two started getting to know each other. Next, they began playing with one another regularly. The conversation moved from island life to platforms outside of the game. If you wanted to write a gamer love story, then you really couldn’t beat their tale. Brown later flew to Indiana to meet Johnson, and after an enjoyable visit, Brown popped the question. The two now plan to live in Utah together with Brown’s two kids.
I spoke in my 2020 Game of the Year article about Animal Crossing being a bright spot in people’s lives during 2020. If you want an example, then this is about as good as it gets. The game’s slow pace and easy-to-follow gameplay make for a great way to escape the outside world. The community around the game is wildly positive and helpful. Like Brown and Johnson, it’s a match made in heaven.
Featured Image Credit: Nintendo