Ranking real people based on cuteness? That’s a big no no. Ranking the virtual animals friends that visit and stay on your island? A-Okay in our book. Animal Crossing: New Horizons may be a sedate, meditative experience, but the battle for popularity among villagers is fierce indeed. To that end, we've put together a comprehensive and entirely objective list of the cutest villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. That is, assuming your objective is to learn our personal favorites and biases. We’re pretty sure that’s what the word objective means, anyway. Be warned, the following entries may cause you to weep with happiness.
The cutest villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Because we love all the animal brethren — okay, maybe not the mice — equally, we’ve decided to fill our list with the cutest villager for each animal type, so get ready for adorable alligators, charming cows, glamorous gorillas and more. Okay, we hear you, enough chitter chatter, it’s time to look at some adorable animal friends!
The cutest Alligator villager: Boots
Boots may be a Jock villager, but that doesn’t stop him from being one of the cheeriest, most kindhearted villagers around. His catchphrase of munchie is utterly adorable, and while he does arrive in a Jester’s outfit, we recommend gifting a waistcoat his way to see just how cute this sporty alligator can be.
Runner up: Gayle
The cutest Anteater villager: Anabelle
Like all the other Peppy villagers, Anabelle is a star just waiting for her chance to shine. We don’t know how she plans to make it big from a remote island with only a few inhabitants, but we’re certainly glad she’s here with us. Despite being listed as an Anteater, Anabelle is most certainly a Pangolin, which is only an added bonus in our books.
Runner up: Olaf
The cutest Bear villager: Beardo
When it comes to cute villagers, it’s usually the young and preppy sorts that steal the throne. However, one look at Beargo’s phenomenal moustache and detective outfit means we had to put him on the list. And with a phrase like Whiskers? Sorry all you pop star bears, but this smug old fella couldn’t be beaten.
Runner up: Pinky
The cutest Bird villager: Piper
The birds of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, while cool, aren’t the cutest feathers of the flock. That said, it’s hard not to be won over by the cheery attitude of Piper. We’re big fans of her flowery shirt and bright, striped legs, and aren’t adverse to being called chickadee every now and again, either.
Runner up: Robin
The cutest Bull villager: Stu
Even lazy villagers have their charm, as the sleepy-eyed Stu shows. With a catch phrase like “moo-dude” you know this villager is a winner, even if his house is worryingly full of bugs. Plus, we really dig his street decor, showing off scooters, a phonebox and more inside his house.
Runner up: T-Bone
The cutest Cat villager: Tangy
Tangy isn’t just dressed up like an orange, Tangy’s skin literally makes her look like an orange. There are a lot of good cats in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but let’s be real now, you can’t beat that.
Runner up: Raymond
The cutest Chicken villager: Egbert
The chickens of Animal Crossing: New Horizons can be pretty intimidating. Standing head and shoulders above most other creature types, they look large enough to bully you into giving up your recipes. However, there’s something quite gentle about Egbert, which probably comes from the fact that he looks a bit confused all the time. Egbert just needs a nice hug.
Runner up: Plucky
The cutest Cow villager: Patty
This one was a real toss-up between adorable cows Patty and Norma, but Patty just edged out the cuteness victory thanks to her citrus tree top. A peppy villager, Patty will always be happy to see you, even if she does go on about Maglev Mike a bit too much for our liking.
Runner up: Norma
The cutest Cub villager: June
The cub category has some fierce competition when it comes to cuteness overloads, but we think June’s cut little hair flower helps her stand out from the rest. As a normal villager type, she’ll befriend almost anyone, and if she arrives on your island later, she’ll also set up a lovely beach and shell-themed house.
Runner up: Maple
The cutest Deer villager: Beau
Beau is one of the most popular villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and it’s easy to see why. Dressed in an adorable reindeer jumper, he’s hard not to love when standing in his nature-themed house.
Runner up: Erik
The cutest Dog villager: Goldie
Goldie has appeared in every Animal Crossing game so far, and it’s easy to see why. A lovably chilled out pup, her caramel coloring is a soothing sight any day of the week, and you just know she’ll always be your best friend.
Runner up: Cherry
The cutest Duck villager: Molly
If we had our way, a picture of Molly would be placed under the dictionary definition of cute. Despite having the appearance of a baby chick, her house in New Horizons is actually very sophisticated, featuring a stacked bookshelf and a violin. Stay classy, Molly.
Runner up: Bill
The cutest Eagle villager: Sterling
Eagles aren’t usually very cute, but there’s something quite entertainingly sweet about Jock-type villager Sterling, who seems to think he’s a gallant knight. We just hope that he knows all that metal won’t be very helpful if he ever wants to take himself to the skies.
Runner up: Pierce
The cutest Elephant villager: Tia
Picking the cutest Elephant villager was far from easy, but Tia should be near the top of anyone’s list. Not only is she a friendly, normal villager, she also has the appearance of a fancy teapot. We love a good mug of loose-leaf, which means Tia was always bound to be a good friend of ours.
Runner up: Ellie
The cutest Frog villager: Henry
Henry is definitely the cutest frog villager and definitely wasn’t chosen because of an overlapping name with a certain associate editor.
Runner up: Lily
The cutest Goat villager: Chevre
Another all-star villager who’s high in demand, Chevre is a sweet normal villager and the only goat to have appeared in every single Animal Crossing game. Her name is literally just goat in French, which, coupled with her “la baa” catchphrase is so on the nose that we can’t help but love it.
Runner up: Sherb
If you haven't broken down from an adorable overdose yet, then continue to page 2 for the test of our cutest villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons list!
The cutest Gorilla villager: Boone
Gorillas get a bad rap in the AC community, but look at Boone’s smiling face and tell me you don’t think he’d give great hugs! Whether it’s for that stripy shirt, his colorful face, or his “baboom” catchphrase, we love Boone, and so should you.
Runner up: Rocket
The cutest Hamster villager: Soliel
Snooty villager lovers, you’ve finally got someone to support! Soliel is a stylish little hamster who sets up an impressively swish house in New Horizons. Part cute, part cool, you’ll soon get over her snobbish attitude and earn a solid friend. Next we need her to teach how to do those cool eyelashes.
Runner up: Flurry
The cutest Hippo villager: Bubbles
Peppy wannabe popstar Bubbles is an unflinchingly cheerful addition to any island escape. She’ll bring a smile to any island stroll if you happen to run into her, though it’s entirely up to you whether her “hipster” catchphrase is a compliment or an insult.
Runner up: Bertha
The cutest Horse villager: Colton
Colton has one of the fanciest houses you’ll find in New Horizons, which only make his goofy personality and choice of clothing all the more endearing. We reckon he’d be a lovely laugh to hang around with, and couldn’t keep him off this list.
Runner up: Savannah
The cutest Kangaroo villager: Carrie
While most of Animal Crossing’s villagers are out finding themselves on a new journey, Carrie is just setting up a good life for her kids. A stellar mum and a kind soul too, Carrie is a cute, mood-lifting face to see each day on your island.
Runner up: Marcie
The cutest Koala villager: Melba
You shouldn’t really cuddle koalas in real life, but it’s a struggle not to reach through our TV screens to give Melba snuggle each time we visit her relaxing home. It also helps that her catchphrase of toasty is a great one.
Runner up: Alice
The cutest Lion villager: Lionel
Just look at the tash on this majestic and seasoned lion. Sometimes you need a bit of class in your live, and Lionel is a true gentleman. He’s also a cuddly lion, so wins in both style and cuteness.
Runner up: Rory
The cutest Monkey villager: Nana
We’ve included surprisingly little pink on this list so far, but Nana rocks it in style. It also seems likely that her name is a reference to Nintendo’s equally adorable Ice Climber Nana, especially given her catchphrase of “po po”.
Runner up: Simon
The cutest Mouse villager: Rod
We’re really not fans of Animal Crossing’s mice, but even our cold, vermin-averse hearts can’t help but like Rod with his beanie hat. As well as being cute himself, Rod also rocks a wicked ship-themed house complete with a pool table and swimming pool. Nice one, Rod.
Runner up: Bree
The cutest Octopus villager: Zucker
Zucker is designed to look like a takoyaki ball, which makes him a deliciously adorable character we can’t decide if we want to cuddle or eat. A tiny figure, he knows how to host a big party, with his house featuring cotton candy, and other tasty treats.
Runner up: Marina
The cutest Ostrich villager: Julia
Julia may be a snooty villager who loves to gossip, but with bright colors and gigantic, twinkling anime eyes, she’s high on the pecking order of cuteness, especially within her category. Another one to subvert her animal grouping, Julia very much resembles a peacock, rather than an Ostrich.
Runner up: Gladys
The cutest Penguin villager: Roald
Oh Roald. Sweet, sweet, Roald. The things we’d do to protect those giant eyes and that chubby jock body from harm.
Runner up: Aurora
The cutest Pig villager: Gala
Animal Crossing: New Horizons has a surprising number of cute snufflers to pick between, but Gala is our favorite. Clearly having heard the term Piggy Bank once and taken it literally, this cute pink piggie decorates her entire house like high-class bank, complete with gold bullion behind bars.
Runner up: Agnes
The cutest Rabbit villager: Coco
Some say Coco’s jet black eyes and mouth are terrifying, but those people have no heart. Coco is a sweet, shy, and often down on herself villager who just needs some kindness and love from her neighbors. Just try not to scream when she appears from behind a tree in the dead of night.
Runner up: Gaston
The cutest Rhino villager: Merengue
Merengue is a Rhino who looks like a strawberry-topped shortcake and wants to be a pastry chef. Need we really say more?
Runner up: Hornsby
The cutest Sheep villager: Wendy
Most of Animal Crossing’s sheep have been haunting our nightmares, but we have a soft spot for Wendy thanks to her comical, zoned out expression. She just looks very satisfied, and we can only aspire to the same levels of comfort.
Runner up: Eunice
The cutest Squirrel villager: Marshal
There was never really much hope of outplacement Marshal, the internet’s favorite smug squirrel. With such a tiny stature, his permanently frowning face only make him more adorable and impossible to take seriously.
Runner up: Poppy
The cutest Tiger villager: Bangle
The first female tiger of the series, and Bangle has yet to be overthrown when it comes to cuteness. In New Horizons she’s styling it out in a lovely pineapple dress, bringing a smile to all her neighbors.
Runner up: Bianca
The cutest Wolf villager: Skye
Skye isn’t just cute, she’s also clearly got a good working relationship with the one and only K.K. Slider, appearing as she does on the front of Cafe K.K. With light blue fur and fluffy white patches, Skye is sure to soothe even the most stressful of island days.
Runner up: Audie
Phew! That was an awful lot of cute animals! What do you think of our cutest villagers list for Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Declare us frauds, fakes and charlatans by suggesting your own favorites in the comments below!