Can I just say that I think the achievement system in Animal Crossing is just about perfect?

Firstly, it doesn't broadly encourage grinding for it bc the achievements aren't a public thing and the tangible reward is just miles, always valuable but not unique or hard to get.

Secondly, a lot of the surprise rewards are simply for gaining skill with the game controls. The achievement for catching five wasps in a row, or getting 8 items out of a rock, are perfect examples. You're already trying to do it, and if you play the game a lot, one day it's easy

But you can't run around grinding to try to get the achievement bc you can't get wasps and rocks all day. You get it naturally or not at all-- but you probably will. One day you just got so reliable at wasps that the game is all "Hey, you're getting really good at this!"

And it highlights that you are still gaining skill beyond the basics, without making the game competitive, or creating a milestone you /think/ about hitting to get your macguffin. And I think that hits exactly the right level of "desirable but not something you miss not having".

(This thread brought to you by my having gotten 8 items out of a rock once, a very long time ago... but still can't do it often)