AIBU to worry my 7yo is too obsessed with Animal Crossing?

[Raspberryshortcake]

My 7 year old loves playing animal crossing on his Nintendo switch.
He’s has suspected AUDHD (on waiting list) so he gets hyper focused on things. This is the current interest. We went for a woodland walk today (without the switch!) and he was pretending he was in animal crossing the whole time - crafting fishing rods, axe etc. which is sweet really , as it was a little imaginary play. But I was a bit concerned he was becoming too obsessed.

Playing the game seems to regulate him. There’s lots of discovering fossils, animals and fish and donating them to the museum in the game.

One good thing about the game is that it involves a lot of reading, he’s already a good reader, but he’s been asking what certain words mean etc.

Just wanted an outsiders perspective on this.

My son does this too, we just accept he needs a proxy to interact with world sometimes and he's still doing a woodland walk even if he's doing it in the theme of animal crossing. My son at 3 was obsessed with the bear hunt story and every wall was a bear hunt, at 4 obsessed with costumes so was a different character every day, more recently it's been Mario, Minecraft, animal crossing then Zelda.

Honestly I did that when I was younger - totally obsessed with it and used to play it in real life. I’m a totally fine adult now with a great job and life! Also AUDHD 😂

It’s a totally harmless game, I’m 55 and play it daily! I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about

My 6 year old play Minecraft in real life, we dig for materials, craft things, build dens etc - in the forest, at the beach, over at the park. I think it’s great imaginary play.

Sounds very normal, and to be honest.. it is one of the best games for him to be obsessed with...

There are much worse things he could be obsessed with. I would leave him to it :)

My 7yo (ADHD but probably also autistic) is obsessed with bus/tram/train simulation driving games and spends hours describing to me how the timetables/brakes/doors work and explaining all the different models to me while I can feel my brain glazing over and I try to plaster an interested and impressed smile on my face (because it is honestly impressive, it's just also deathly boring). The other day he randomly inspected a postmark and declared that this piece of post was delivered by some specific kind of train. I believe him!

I am all for leaning into their special interests. As long as the screen time isn't crowding out time for other kinds of activities I think it's great.

My dd who is AuDHD spent hours and hours on it a couple of years ago. I can sing you most of the songs from it and I even know some of the festivals.

it’s pretty harmless.

she is now hyper focusing on crows.

she is 24

Grandson loves this. He describes it as a stress free and relaxing activity. His mum has started joining him in activities and they have chats about other things when discussing tactics. Seems pleasant and harmless, unlike the more ‘violent’ and threat filled games.

Sounds good.
Nothing wrong with Animal Crossing.
If you want to expand to slightly different interests you can get Animal Crossing books, crafty things and Lego sets.

Yes it’s a very dangerous game, he may get disappointed when he shakes trees to find no furniture or gold falls out of it.

Mine both do this, one is definitely neurotypical (probably the one who does it most!). I don’t think it’s a particular issue, as long as they don’t get too much screen time?

It’s a great game, helped teach my daughter to read actually