Gorillas in Animal Crossing: New Horizons all share the same interest. Rilla, however, breaks the mold and is unique among this group of characters.
Rilla is unique among the Gorilla villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons for being the only one to have a different hobby. Normally, these characters share an interest in Fitness, while Rilla enjoys Nature. This Hello Kitty-fashioned Gorilla has appeared in many games throughout the series and shares a birthday with the iconic feline on November 1. She has light pink skin, white fur, and a red bow in her blonde hair. While having a Nature hobby certainly makes Rilla stand out among the other Gorilla villagers, the way to invite her to the island is also different.
The series has always had a colorful cast of characters, with more being introduced over the lifespan of each game. Rilla was one of six characters included in Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Sanrio crossover last year, and can be invited to the island via her amiibo card. Initially, the card pack was limited, but more have been printed since the release. Along with the other five characters, Rilla is guaranteed to be inside. Like other amiibo villagers, she must be invited to the campsite, by scanning her card at Residents Services each day and exhausting all her dialogue. Eventually, Rilla can be asked to move into her new home on the island. The Happy Home Paradise DLC further expanded upon the use of the amiibo cards.
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By interacting with the amiibo scanner, players can invite and design a vacation home for Rilla on the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Archipelago. Like other villagers, she will ask for specific furniture to be used. Rilla likes apple-related items, likely a reference to Hello Kitty's love for apple pie. She also wants cookie-related items, possibly referring to the feline's fondness for baking, which the villager shares. Love for the mascot can be seen all throughout Rilla's home and, most notably, on the blue shirt that she wears. The villager is a massive fan of Hello Kitty and an excellent representative of Sanrio in the game. Rilla's love for the character is also tied to her Nature hobby.
As stated before, all other Gorilla villagers share a Fitness hobby and spend most of their time lifting dumbbells on the island. Rilla, on the other hand, has a Nature hobby and is interested in various flora and fauna. These types of villagers can often be found examining trees, fossils, and fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They can also carry a watering can and take care of multiple crops at once. Rilla's connection to Nature is significant because of her ties to Hello Kitty. The Sanrio mascot loves to read, write, and explore the world. As a big fan of the character, it wouldn't be surprising if Rilla adopted similar interests as her idol. She also has a peppy personality, with a positive, friendly outlook. This is yet another matching trait she shares with Hello Kitty.
Gorillas in New Horizons all have distinctive designs but fall short in their given hobby. Making every Gorilla obsessed with Fitness seems like a poor design choice. Rilla breaks the mold with her bubbly personality and love for Nature. Having characters with different hobbies creates a fun dynamic on the island. While Sanrio may not interest all players, Rilla can offer something new for fans of Gorilla villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Next: Animal Crossing's Boring Summer Months Can Be Solved With Camping
John Feliciani is a Game Features Writer for Screen Rant. He fell in love with video games from a very young age. John's favorite types of titles tend to involve exploration, colorful design, and rich storytelling. His passion for video games and writing brought him to Screen Rant.