Animal crossing is an interactive environment. It is borderline not even a game.
It has zero objectives. You just do whatever you want. In fact, if it is simulating life, then I should be able to die. But no. I am freakin’ immortal! Then what is the use of everything anymore. Tom Nook, the supposed landlord, doesn’t give you a deadline, and there is nothing motivating you to do anything anywhere in any possible way. Everything is driven by desire, and if you wanna do a minimalistic run, well, don’t play the game because you have infinite resources. Every single accessory, the toilet, and radio, etc are pure decorations because you are so omnipotent you won’t even need it.
This game have no reason to exist, if I can even call it a game. There is no objective, and you can’t lose. Deadlines of debts should exist to make the game much appealing to the players.