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Introduction
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a beloved life simulation game developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. Since its release in March 2020, it has become one of the most popular and charming games in the Animal Crossing series. The game allows players to create and manage their own tropical island paradise, engage with anthropomorphic animal villagers, and take part in a variety of relaxing and enjoyable activities. The peaceful and laid-back atmosphere, combined with limitless customization options, has made it an enduring favorite among players of all ages. This guide will take you through the essentials of how to play and master Animal Crossing: New Horizons, from setting up your island to engaging with the community, collecting items, and achieving in-game goals. Whether you’re a newcomer to the series or a seasoned player looking for new tips and tricks, this guide will help you maximize your experience and make your island truly unique.
Setting Up Your Island: First Steps
Choosing Your Island and Layout
When you begin Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the first step is to choose your island and its layout. You'll be presented with several different island shapes, each with its own unique characteristics, such as beaches, rivers, and cliffs. While the choice of island shape does not drastically affect gameplay, it can impact your island's aesthetic and layout.- Island Shape: Take your time in selecting the layout that fits your personal style. Some players prefer large open spaces, while others like islands with a more segmented or hilly structure.
- Resident Services: This building is your main hub for the island, where you can shop, visit the bulletin board, and access various services. It will also serve as the location for many key events and features as the game progresses.
Starting with Tom Nook and the Basics
Once you've chosen your island, you’ll meet Tom Nook, the raccoon who’s an iconic character in the series. He will give you the basic tools you need, such as a tent, and guide you through the first days of island life. The early stages focus on setting up your tent, gathering resources, and starting to build the foundations of your new home. Here are some tips for getting started:- Gather Resources: Collect wood, fruit, and other resources to craft tools like axes and shovels. These will help you gather more materials and interact with the island environment.
- Crafting: Learn how to craft basic items using the materials you collect. Crafting is central to progressing in the game and will allow you to build furniture, tools, and even buildings.
Building Your Island: Expanding and Customizing
Decorating Your Island
One of the most exciting aspects of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the ability to decorate and customize your island. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock more options to shape your island to reflect your style.- Landscaping: Use the in-game tools to terraform your island. You can raise and lower the terrain, create rivers, cliffs, and pathways. This gives you total creative control over your environment.
- Furniture and Decorations: Collect furniture from various sources, including shops, villagers, and DIY recipes. Arrange your furniture outdoors and indoors to create cozy, personalized spaces.
Attracting Villagers
In Animal Crossing, you’ll meet a range of animal villagers who can move to your island. These villagers have distinct personalities, and your interactions with them will define your island’s community.
- Inviting New Villagers: To attract new villagers, you need to use Nook Miles to purchase tickets for Mystery Island Tours. These islands offer opportunities to meet new potential villagers.
- Villager Requests: As you interact with villagers, they may request that you complete tasks, such as giving them gifts or customizing items. Fulfilling these requests will improve your relationship with them.
Daily Tasks and Activities
Completing Daily Tasks
Each day in Animal Crossing offers a fresh start, with new tasks to complete. Completing these daily tasks is crucial for progressing in the game, earning rewards, and improving your island.- Checking the Shop: Be sure to visit Nook’s Cranny and the Able Sisters shop every day to buy new items and clothing. These shops are always stocked with different items, so check back regularly.
- Fossil Hunting: Collect fossils by digging around your island. You can donate them to the museum or sell them for a profit. Some fossils are rare and can fetch a high price.
- Fishing and Bug Catching: The island is home to various fish and insects that change with the seasons. Catching and donating these creatures to Blathers, the museum curator, is both rewarding and beneficial for completing your island’s collection.
Nook Miles and Achievements
Throughout the game, you’ll earn Nook Miles, which can be spent on various items and features. You can accumulate these by completing a wide range of activities, such as catching specific fish, meeting new villagers, or completing special achievements.- Using Nook Miles: Use your Nook Miles to purchase items like DIY recipes, special items, or even tickets for Mystery Island Tours.
- Achievements: Unlocking achievements and milestones will also earn you Nook Miles, making it a good idea to strive for specific goals, such as creating your dream home or reaching a certain island rating.
Crafting and Customization
DIY Crafting System
One of the standout features of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the DIY crafting system. As you explore the island, you will come across recipes that allow you to craft a variety of items, such as furniture, tools, and decorative objects. These recipes can be found in bottles washed ashore, given by villagers, or obtained from various in-game sources.- Recipe Types: Recipes fall into different categories, such as furniture, tools, and seasonal items. Learning how to combine materials to create new objects will expand your island’s possibilities.
- Customization: Many of the items you craft can be customized with different colors and patterns. This gives you the freedom to create one-of-a-kind designs and personalize your space.
Upgrading and Expanding Your Home
Tom Nook will offer you opportunities to upgrade your home throughout the game. The first upgrade is essential for turning your tent into a house, but there are additional improvements you can make as you progress.- House Customization: With each upgrade, you can expand your house, change the interior, and even alter the exterior. You’ll also unlock new furniture and storage options to organize your items.
- Paying Off Loans: You will need to pay off loans to upgrade your house, which can be done through earning Bells, the in-game currency, by selling items or completing tasks.
The Museum: Collecting and Donating
Collecting Artifacts
The museum, run by Blathers, is an essential feature of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. As you collect fossils, fish, insects, and artwork, you can donate them to the museum to expand its exhibits.- Fossils: Fossils are found by digging up the ground on your island. Once you have enough fossils, you can donate them to Blathers to fill the museum’s fossil collection.
- Artwork: The art collection can be filled by purchasing artworks from Redd, a fox who occasionally visits your island. Be sure to carefully inspect the art before purchasing to avoid fake pieces.
The Benefits of the Museum
Donating to the museum has many benefits. Not only does it help you complete your collections, but it also provides you with a sense of accomplishment and a visually stunning place to explore. The museum also serves as a peaceful retreat where you can take a break from your daily tasks.Engaging with Friends and Visitors
Online Multiplayer and Visiting Islands
Animal Crossing: New Horizons allows you to visit the islands of other players, either through local or online multiplayer. This feature provides a great opportunity to explore different island designs, trade items, and share your creations.- Visiting Friends’ Islands: If you have friends who play the game, you can visit their islands via Dodo Airlines. This is a great way to see how others have customized their islands and trade items or resources.
- Hosting Visitors: You can also invite friends to visit your island, allowing them to explore and interact with your world. This adds a fun social aspect to the game and can help you gain new ideas for your island.
Special Events and Celebrations
Animal Crossing is known for its seasonal events and celebrations. These special events are an excellent way to experience unique content and collect limited-time items.- Festivals: Celebrate holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, and New Year with themed activities, decorations, and rewards.
- Seasonal Changes: Each month, new events, fish, and bugs appear. The changing seasons help keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.
Advanced Tips and Strategies
Maximizing Bells and Resources
While Animal Crossing is a relaxing game, there are ways to maximize your resources and progress more efficiently.- Bells: You can earn Bells by selling high-demand items like fish, bugs, and fruit. Be sure to look for rare creatures to sell for a profit.
- Rare Materials: Some materials, like gold and iron nuggets, can be more difficult to come by. Collect these rare resources by using tools like the shovel or slingshot, or by shaking trees and hitting rocks.
