Rover

"Always trust a smiling cat."

- Rover

Rover is a special character in the. His job varies in each game, but his primary job is to set up the playable character. He is a blue and white cat with red irises and blue pupils in his eyes. Despite his name, which is usually connected with dogs, he is a cat. His name, however, actually comes from "roving," meaning "to travel without a set destination," which reflects his role in the games.

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Rover makes his official debut in and, serving to set up the game for the first time. In his first appearance, Rover meets the player on the Train, when he approaches the player asking if he has the correct date and time, before asking if he can sit adjacent to them, promising that he isn't crazy. Regardless of whether the player rejects him or not, He will sit in the row across from the player and drums up conversation by asking questions to determine the gender and appearance, as well as asking where the player is going, and setting up a house for them to stay in by talking with his friend, Tom Nook. Soon after this, the train arrives at the player's town.

The Player can also meet Rover again when traveling to another Town, though he will not ask questions to the player.

Rover returns in to set up Tag Mode/Contact Mode, which allows anonymous Bottle Mail to be sent to the town and land on the beach. Rover also occasionally appears drinking coffee at The Roost.

In, Rover returns to his previous role from Animal Crossing, by setting up the player for the first time they play. He meets the player on the bus driven by Kapp'n and asks questions to determine the gender and town name of the player. Rover also appears whenever the game is booted up, asking if the time and date is correct and who is going to be playing the game out of four saved players, as well as other options.

Rover also turns on WiiConnect24, as well as other options, such as audio options, by calling him with the phone in the player's attic. He sometimes appears in the Roost, talking about his travels.

In, Rover yet again sets up the player similarly to previous games. He meets the player on the train before it pulls into town, similar to the original. Yet, when the player starts the game thereafter, Isabelle greets them, not Rover.

Rover appears during the May Day event that runs from May 1 to May 7, which was added in the Version 1.2.0 update on April 23, 2020. He was invited by Tom Nook to celebrate the May Day. He can be found at the goal of the May Day Tour. If the player can reach him, he will congratulate them and give them a prize - Rover's Briefcase.

In, Rover hosts the Garden Safari event, when the player can plant seasonal flowers and catch rare butterflies near them. For the captured butterflies, players will get rewards, including Rover-style furniture. Players can also share butterflies with other players.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
Rover appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.

Rover reappears in, only available if one scans his amiibo figure/card. In this game, it is hinted that he has a crush on Katrina, regardless if the player has unlocked her or not. Most of his furniture is train based, owing to his like of trains and travelling.

Trivia

 * After meeting Rover in, the player can continue to contact him with his/her phone, located in the attic.
 * When creating a new character in, Rover will say that he "hasn't done this much traveling by train since 2002 or so", a reference to the North American release date of the original , which is the only other game outside of Japan in which Rover is met on a train. This only appears in the English version of the game.
 * If the player continues talking with Rover after completing the May Day Tour in, he may say that he isn't really used to travel by plane, being more fascinated by trains - another reference to his original role in the original and.