Blodgett, BridgetHarper, ToddCaruso, Casey2024-02-152024-02-152023-12UB_2023_Caruso_Chttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/31637M.S. -- The University of Baltimore, 2023Thesis submitted to the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences of The University of Baltimore in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Interaction Design and Information.Why do users experience gender euphoria while playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons? The graphics in (ACNH) are stylized and limited. Yet, the capacity for imprinting a player’s identity onto their character is boundless. Abstraction, in this case, works as an anchor for identity. The present study attempts to gather data from players who have experienced this phenomenon in order to add to the literature in discourse with Gender Euphoria, Queer game Studies, and Avatar Studies.40 leavesapplication/pdfen-USAttribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesThis item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is made available by The University of Baltimore for non-commercial research and educational purposes.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/Gender EuphoriaAnimal Crossing New Horizons (ACNH)Games User ResearchTransgender StudiesQueer studiesNonbinaryAvatar StudiesQueer Game StudiesCOVID‐19 impactsgender dysphoriaGender identityText