9 /10 17

Animal Crossing: New Horizons stands as the most successful entry in Nintendo’s beloved simulation franchise, blending creative freedom with genuine social connectivity. Released during a global moment when people craved escapism, the game sold 48.62 million copies and earned universal critical acclaim. Unlike traditional goal-driven games, New Horizons thrives on player agency, offering no fixed objectives or time pressure. Whether you’re decorating your home, fishing for rare species, or just existing peacefully on your island, the game accommodates every playstyle. This review explores why New Horizons became a cultural phenomenon and how it maintains engagement across years of gameplay.

How to Play Animal Crossing: New Horizons

You arrive on an empty island and gradually develop it through gathering, crafting, and decorating. Daily activities form the core loop: collect resources, interact with animal residents, complete tasks at your own pace. The game progresses in real time, matching actual seasons and time of day, creating natural gameplay rhythms tied to your daily routine.

1. Controls – Simple Joy-Con controls make it accessible to all ages. Movement uses the analog stick, collecting uses A button, menus open with X. Learning curve is minimal since tutorials appear naturally during gameplay.
2. Progression – Advancement isn’t linear. You unlock new areas, tools, and features by paying off house loans, completing tasks, or simply waiting for new merchandise to arrive. No failure states exist; you progress at your own speed.
3. Resource Management – Gather wood from trees, clay from rocks, fish from water, and insects from grass. Manage inventory space, store resources, craft tools and furniture. The loop becomes meditative after initial setup.
4. Tips – Hit rocks with an axe to gather resources. Plant trees in deliberate patterns for island design. Time-travel by adjusting system clock if you want to skip waiting. Visit friends’ islands for design inspiration and trading.

Who Should Play Animal Crossing: New Horizons

This game welcomes players of all skill levels and ages. Its stress-free environment and customization options create appeal across diverse demographics. However, players seeking action, combat, or narrative-driven experiences may feel unfulfilled by its deliberately slow pacing.

• Relaxation-Seekers – If gaming serves as your stress relief, New Horizons delivers unmatched therapeutic value. No pressure, no timers, no failure states. Pure creative expression.
• Decorators and Designers – Interior design enthusiasts find unlimited customization options. Shape terrain, place furniture, design patterns, coordinate color schemes. The game rewards aesthetic vision.
• Social Gamers – Up to 8 players visit your island simultaneously via online or 4 via local wireless. Trading items, visiting friends’ islands, and collaborative island projects build community.
• Skip If – Players wanting fast-paced gameplay, combat systems, competitive multiplayer, or story-driven progression should look elsewhere. New Horizons explicitly rejects these conventions.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Platform Performance

Animal Crossing: New Horizons runs exclusively on Nintendo hardware. The base Nintendo Switch version maintains stable performance across all models. The upcoming Switch 2 Edition enhances resolution and load times, though gameplay remains unchanged. Performance consistency across platforms reflects deliberate design choices prioritizing accessibility over technical showcasing.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons System Requirements

No PC version exists. Nintendo Switch system is the sole requirement. Switch Lite and standard Switch both run the game identically. Switch 2 Edition launches January 15, 2026, as an enhanced remaster. Storage requirements remain minimal across all versions.

Similar Games to Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Several games share New Horizons’ creative or relaxation-focused design philosophy, though none replicate its exact formula. These alternatives explore similar themes through different mechanics, offering variety for players seeking comparable experiences.

• Stardew Valley – Farm simulation with town-building elements, relationship mechanics, and resource management. Darker aesthetic, more narrative structure, broader platform availability.
• Spiritfarer – Relaxing management game with emotional storytelling. Build and manage a boat, help spirits find peace. Artistic presentation, shorter playtime, deeper narrative focus.
• A Short Hike – Exploration-focused adventure with character interactions, item collection, and scenic discovery. Brief playtime (2-3 hours), minimal combat, wholesome tone.
• Cozy Grove – Island life simulation with character relationships, decorating, and supernatural mystery elements. Mobile-friendly, shorter sessions, daily login structure.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons vs Competitors

New Horizons dominates its niche as the highest-selling life simulation game on console. Competing titles either target PC audiences, emphasize narrative content, or focus on specific mechanics like farming. No direct competitor matches New Horizons’ combination of sales success, critical acclaim, and player engagement across five years of support.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Story and World

The narrative premise is elegantly simple: you escape to a deserted island managed by a business-minded raccoon named Tom Nook. Rather than a predetermined plot, your island journey unfolds organically as you build relationships with animal residents. Each creature has distinct personality types—from smug to peppy to lazy—and develops genuine affection toward you through daily interactions. Seasonal events tie gameplay to real-world calendar moments (holidays, festivals), creating temporal immersion. The tone remains consistently wholesome; even antagonistic residents harbor no genuine malice. Your island becomes a personal reflection of your aesthetic taste and values, transforming a blank canvas into a meaningful digital space that feels authentically yours after weeks of inhabitation.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Multiplayer and Online

Multiplayer functionality distinguishes New Horizons from single-player life sims. Visit friends’ islands, trade items, and collaborate on decorating projects. Online features enable asynchronous interaction, allowing players to visit islands while owners sleep, creating global community participation without requiring simultaneous play sessions.

• Local Wireless (4 players) – Gather with nearby Switch owners using local wireless. Split screen on one console allows couch co-op with multiple Joy-Con controllers controlling secondary characters.
• Online Multiplayer (8 players) – Visit distant players’ islands via Nintendo Switch Online membership. Requires internet connection. Asynchronous visiting enables global tourism even when friends aren’t active.
• Visiting Mechanic – Explore others’ islands freely, collect items if owners allow, trade or gift items, leave messages on message boards. Creates organic community expression.
• Cross-Play – All platforms (Switch, Switch Lite, Switch 2) play together seamlessly. No exclusivity divides the community.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons DLC and Expansions

The game received significant post-launch support through free updates (2020-2021) and paid expansion content. The Happy Home Paradise DLC launched November 2021, introducing a new gameplay mode distinct from island life. Free updates introduced seasonal items, new creatures, and quality-of-life improvements. January 2026 brings the 3.0 content update, the first major expansion since 2021, adding hotel-building mechanics and crossover items from Splatoon, LEGO, and Zelda franchises.

• Happy Home Paradise DLC – $24.99 (or included with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack at $49.99/year). Design vacation homes for animal characters, complete with interior and exterior customization. Plays like a decorator-focused spin-off featuring gameplay similar to Happy Home Designer from earlier in the series.
• 3.0 Content Update – Free update launching January 15, 2026. Introduces Kapp’n family hotel business, new crafting quality-of-life improvements (batch crafting from storage), crossover items from major Nintendo franchises, expanded multiplayer (12 players on Switch 2), and legacy multiplayer on original Switch.
• Seasonal Items – Free monthly updates (2020-2021) added seasonal furniture, clothing, and events. Pattern continues through special in-game events tied to real-world holidays.
• Future Content – Nintendo confirmed ongoing support. 3.0 update signals renewed commitment after years of quietness regarding new content, suggesting sustained development trajectory through 2026 and beyond.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Community and Support

Five years post-launch, Animal Crossing: New Horizons maintains one of gaming’s most active communities. Players exchange design inspiration, trade rare items, and document island projects across numerous platforms. Official Nintendo forums coordinate less than grassroots communities, where creativity flourishes organically through player-generated content.

• Subreddits – r/AnimalCrossing (900K+ members) and r/BuddyCrossing (specialized community-building subreddit) serve as primary discussion hubs. Island showcase threads generate thousands of comments celebrating player creativity.
• Discord Servers – Numerous Discord communities facilitate real-time trading, multiplayer coordination, and design collaboration. Ranging from small focused groups to massive community servers hosting thousands.
• Design Tools – Fans created external pattern editors, island planners, and item databases extending functionality beyond in-game tools. Demonstrates passionate community extending the game’s utility.
• Content Creators – YouTube creators produce island tours, decoration guides, and trading tutorials. Twitch streamers maintain viewership years post-launch, showcasing sustained engagement potential.