Animal Crossing: Wild World is a sandbox game in which players assume the role of a new resident in a town populated and run by animals. Players can interact with townsfolk, write letters, send presents, dig for fossils, fish, and perform other activities. The game also runs in realtime and utilizes the Nintendo DS' internal clock and calender to keep track of special events that occur on certain dates.
New additions in Wild World include touch screen support and online play. The touch screen gives players finer control when performing certain activities like designing clothes and creating constellations. The other major addition, online play, lets up to four players interact with each other through local wireless or via Internet through Nintendo WiFi. Players can open up their town gates and invite players on their Friends List to visit their town. Visiting players can chat with each other, play games like Hide-and-Go-Seek, or interact with local residents and shops. Other additions to Wild World include new characters, items, and events.