Island Life 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Welcome to the wonderful world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons! This charming, open-ended game on the Nintendo Switch has captivated millions with its relaxing gameplay, adorable villagers, and endless customization options. Whether you’re a complete newcomer or just looking to brush up on your island skills, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to thrive in your new virtual paradise.
## Getting Started: Your Island Adventure Begins
**1. Purchasing and Setting Up:**
* **Buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons:** The first step is, of course, acquiring the game. You can purchase a physical copy or download it digitally from the Nintendo eShop.
* **Nintendo Switch Setup:** Ensure your Nintendo Switch is properly set up. This involves connecting it to your TV (if desired), creating a user profile, and connecting to the internet.
* **Launch the Game:** Insert the game cartridge or launch the downloaded game from your Nintendo Switch home screen.
**2. Choosing Your Island:**
* **Island Layout Selection:** Timmy and Tommy Nook will present you with a selection of island layouts. Each layout has a different arrangement of rivers, ponds, beaches, and your Resident Services plaza. Consider the following when choosing:
* **River Mouths:** The location of your river mouths determines where boats can enter your island later in the game.
* **Resident Services Location:** This building is permanent and cannot be moved, so choose an island where its location suits your overall aesthetic vision.
* **Landmass Distribution:** Think about how you want to organize your island. Do you prefer lots of open space, or a more compact and interconnected layout?
* **Hemisphere Choice:** You’ll be asked to select a hemisphere (Northern or Southern). This determines the seasons in your game, affecting the availability of bugs, fish, and seasonal events. Choose the hemisphere that corresponds to your real-world location for a more realistic experience, or choose the opposite for a different seasonal experience.
**3. Initial Setup and Character Creation:**
* **Character Appearance:** Customize your character’s appearance, including skin tone, hair style, eye shape, and starting outfit. Don’t worry too much about this initial choice, as you’ll be able to change your appearance later in the game.
* **Island Name:** Choose a memorable and appropriate name for your island. This name will be visible to other players if you visit their islands or they visit yours.
**4. The First Day on Your Island:**
* **Meeting Tom Nook:** After arriving on your island, you’ll meet Tom Nook, the raccoon dog who runs the island getaway package. He’ll explain your initial goals and responsibilities.
* **Setting Up Your Tent:** Tom Nook will provide you with a tent. Choose a location on the island to set it up. Consider proximity to the Resident Services plaza and potential future expansion.
* **Gathering Resources:** Your first tasks involve gathering resources such as tree branches, fruit, and weeds. These resources are essential for crafting tools and other items.
* **Talking to Villagers:** You’ll have two starting villagers on your island. Introduce yourself and begin building relationships with them. Talking to villagers is crucial for progressing in the game and unlocking new features.
* **Crafting Tools:** Use the crafting table inside the Resident Services tent to craft basic tools like a flimsy net, flimsy fishing rod, and flimsy axe. These tools will help you catch bugs, fish, and chop wood.
* **Catching Bugs and Fish:** Use your net and fishing rod to catch bugs and fish. These can be sold to Timmy and Tommy Nook for Bells (the game’s currency) or donated to the museum later on.
* **Paying Off Your Getaway Package:** Tom Nook will explain that you need to pay off the cost of your getaway package. You can do this by earning Nook Miles, a special currency earned by completing various tasks.
## Understanding the Basics: Your Island Toolkit
**1. The NookPhone:**
The NookPhone is your essential in-game device, providing access to various apps and features. Key apps include:
* **Critterpedia:** This app tracks all the bugs and fish you’ve caught, showing their availability by season, time of day, and location.
* **DIY Recipes:** This app stores all the crafting recipes you’ve learned. You can access it to see what materials you need to craft specific items.
* **Nook Miles:** This app tracks your Nook Miles progress and allows you to redeem them for rewards.
* **Map:** This app shows a map of your island, including the location of buildings, villagers, and other important landmarks.
* **Camera:** This app allows you to take photos of your island and villagers.
* **Passport:** This app allows you to create a profile that other players can view when they visit your island. You can customize your name, island name, and a short message.
* **Best Friends List:** Allows management of your best friends.
* **Chat Log:** See the chat in multiplayer mode.
**2. Nook Miles and Nook Miles Tickets:**
* **Earning Nook Miles:** Nook Miles are earned by completing various tasks, such as catching bugs, fishing, talking to villagers, and crafting items. Check your Nook Miles app for a list of available tasks.
* **Redeeming Nook Miles:** Nook Miles can be redeemed for various rewards at the Nook Stop terminal in the Resident Services building, including:
* **Essential Tools:** Upgraded tools, such as a stronger fishing rod or axe.
* **Furniture and Decorations:** Unique furniture items and decorations to customize your island.
* **Clothing and Accessories:** New clothing items and accessories to personalize your character.
* **Nook Miles Tickets:** These tickets allow you to travel to mystery islands.
* **Mystery Island Tours:** Nook Miles Tickets can be used to travel to randomly generated mystery islands. These islands offer opportunities to gather resources, catch bugs and fish, and meet new villagers. They are essential for expanding your island and finding rare items.
**3. Crafting and DIY Recipes:**
* **Gathering Materials:** Crafting is a core mechanic in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You’ll need to gather various materials, such as wood, stone, clay, iron nuggets, and tree branches, to craft tools, furniture, and other items.
* **Learning DIY Recipes:** DIY recipes can be obtained in various ways, including:
* **Talking to Villagers:** Villagers will often share DIY recipes with you.
* **Shooting Down Balloons:** Balloons floating across the sky often contain DIY recipes.
* **Finding Bottles on the Beach:** Washed-up bottles on the beach may contain DIY recipes.
* **Purchasing from Nook’s Cranny:** Nook’s Cranny sells a rotating selection of DIY recipes.
* **Crafting at Workbenches:** Use workbenches located throughout the island to craft items. You’ll need to have the required materials and the corresponding DIY recipe.
**4. Bells and the Economy:**
* **Earning Bells:** Bells are the primary currency in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You can earn Bells by:
* **Selling Items:** Sell bugs, fish, fruit, and other items to Timmy and Tommy Nook at Nook’s Cranny.
* **Completing Tasks for Villagers:** Villagers may ask you to complete tasks for them, such as delivering items or catching specific bugs or fish. They’ll often reward you with Bells.
* **Finding Money Rocks:** Hit rocks with a shovel to find Bells. Only one rock per day will contain Bells.
* **Selling Fossils:** Have Blathers at the museum assess any unidentified fossils you find, and then sell them at Nook’s Cranny.
* **Playing the stalk market:** Every Sunday, Daisy Mae visits the island and sells turnips. Their price fluctuates throughout the week and you can sell them at nook’s cranny for profit.
* **Spending Bells:** Bells are used to purchase items, upgrade your house, and pay off debts to Tom Nook.
**5. The Museum:**
* **Donating Creatures and Fossils:** Blathers, the owl curator, will eventually set up a museum on your island. Donate any bugs, fish, fossils, and art (once available) to the museum to help expand its collection.
* **Museum Benefits:** Donating to the museum provides several benefits, including:
* **Completing Your Collection:** The satisfaction of filling out the museum’s exhibits.
* **Learning About Creatures and Fossils:** Blathers provides interesting facts about each donation.
* **Unlocking New Exhibits:** As you donate more items, the museum will expand and unlock new exhibits.
## Expanding Your Island: Progress and Development
**1. Upgrading Your Home:**
* **Paying Off Your Initial Debt:** After setting up your tent, Tom Nook will offer you the opportunity to upgrade to a house. You’ll need to pay off your initial debt to him using Bells.
* **House Upgrades:** Once you have a house, you can upgrade it multiple times to add more rooms and storage space. Each upgrade requires a larger loan from Tom Nook.
* **Customizing Your Home:** Customize the interior and exterior of your home with furniture, wallpaper, flooring, and other decorations. This is a great way to express your creativity and personalize your island.
**2. Building Nook’s Cranny:**
* **Meeting the Requirements:** After a few days, Timmy and Tommy Nook will ask for your help in building Nook’s Cranny, their own shop. You’ll need to gather specific materials, such as wood, iron nuggets, and clay.
* **Nook’s Cranny Benefits:** Nook’s Cranny offers a wider selection of items for sale than the Resident Services tent, including furniture, tools, and seeds. It also provides a convenient place to sell your unwanted items.
**3. Inviting More Villagers:**
* **Building New Homes:** As your island develops, you’ll be able to build new homes for additional villagers. Tom Nook will guide you through the process.
* **Finding Villagers:** There are several ways to find new villagers to invite to your island:
* **Mystery Island Tours:** When visiting mystery islands, you may encounter villagers who are looking for a new home. Talk to them and invite them to move to your island.
* **The Campsite:** A campsite will eventually appear on your island. Visitors to the campsite may be potential villagers.
* **Amiibo Cards:** You can use amiibo cards to invite specific villagers to your campsite.
* **Villager Interactions:** Building relationships with your villagers is an important aspect of the game. Talk to them daily, give them gifts, and complete tasks for them to increase your friendship level.
**4. Building the Museum:**
* **Meeting Blathers:** After donating a certain number of creatures to Tom Nook, Blathers will arrive on your island and ask to set up a museum.
* **Museum Development:** Help Blathers build the museum by donating bugs, fish, fossils, and art. As you donate more items, the museum will expand and unlock new exhibits.
**5. Upgrading Resident Services:**
* **Meeting the Requirements:** After a certain period of time and after you have attracted enough villagers to your island, Resident Services will be upgraded from a tent to a proper building.
* **Resident Services Benefits:** The upgraded Resident Services building offers several benefits, including:
* **Isabelle:** Isabelle will move in and assist Tom Nook with managing the island. She provides daily announcements and can help you with resident complaints.
* **Increased Services:** The upgraded Resident Services building offers a wider range of services, such as island evaluations and the ability to change your island’s flag and town tune.
**6. terraforming:**
* **Unlocking the Island Designer App:** After K.K. Slider visits your island and performs a concert, Tom Nook will give you the Island Designer app for your NookPhone.
* **Terraforming Abilities:** The Island Designer app allows you to reshape your island by adding or removing cliffs, creating or filling in bodies of water, and adding paths.
* **Permits:** You’ll need to purchase permits from the Nook Stop to unlock different terraforming abilities. These permits cost Nook Miles.
## Advanced Tips and Tricks: Mastering Your Island
**1. Managing Your Inventory:**
* **Expanding Your Inventory:** Upgrade your inventory space at the Nook Stop to carry more items.
* **Using Storage:** Store items in your home’s storage to free up inventory space. You can access your storage from inside your home.
* **Organizing Your Inventory:** Organize your inventory to make it easier to find the items you need. Use the sorting options to group items by type or alphabetical order.
**2. Maximizing Resource Gathering:**
* **Hitting Rocks Effectively:** Use a shovel to hit rocks to obtain resources. Dig holes behind you to prevent yourself from being knocked back, allowing you to hit the rock more times.
* **Chopping Trees:** Use an axe to chop trees for wood. Be careful not to chop down trees entirely unless you need the space, as trees provide valuable resources.
* **Shaking Trees:** Shake trees to obtain branches and sometimes Bells or furniture. Be careful, as wasps can occasionally fall from trees. Be ready with your net to catch them!
**3. Catching Rare Bugs and Fish:**
* **Knowing Spawn Times and Locations:** Rare bugs and fish have specific spawn times and locations. Consult the Critterpedia app to learn when and where to find them.
* **Using Bait:** Use bait to attract fish to specific locations. Bait can be crafted using manila clams found on the beach.
* **Creating a Bug-Attracting Environment:** Plant flowers and leave rotten turnips to attract rare bugs.
**4. Designing Your Island:**
* **Planning Your Layout:** Plan your island layout before you start terraforming to ensure a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing design.
* **Using Paths:** Use paths to create walkways and define different areas of your island.
* **Decorating with Furniture and Plants:** Use furniture and plants to decorate your island and create a unique atmosphere.
**5. Interacting with Other Players:**
* **Visiting Other Islands:** Visit other players’ islands to explore new designs, gather resources, and trade items.
* **Sharing Your Island:** Invite other players to visit your island and show off your creations.
* **Using the Online Features:** Take advantage of the game’s online features, such as trading items and sending letters to other players.
**6. Utilizing Island Ordinances**
* **Enacting Ordinances:** Once Resident Services is upgraded, you can enact island ordinances, which are rules that alter island life.
* **Types of Ordinances:** Some examples include:
* **Beautiful Island Ordinance:** Makes villagers more likely to water flowers and keeps the island tidy.
* **Early Bird Ordinance:** Villagers wake up and shop hours begin earlier.
* **Night Owl Ordinance:** Villagers stay up later and shop hours extend into the night.
* **Bell Boom Ordinance:** Increases the price of items sold and bought at Nook’s Cranny, but also increases the cost of island infrastructure projects.
**7. The Stalk Market (Turnips):**
* **Buying Turnips:** Every Sunday morning, Daisy Mae visits your island to sell turnips.
* **Fluctuating Prices:** The price of turnips fluctuates twice daily (morning and afternoon) at Nook’s Cranny from Monday to Saturday.
* **Selling for Profit:** The goal is to buy low and sell high. Monitor the prices and sell your turnips when the price is higher than what you paid.
* **Avoiding Losses:** Turnips rot after one week, so be sure to sell them before the following Sunday.
* **Online Communities:** Many online communities are dedicated to sharing turnip prices. This can be a valuable resource for finding the best prices.
**8. Seasonal Events:**
* **Holiday Celebrations:** Animal Crossing: New Horizons features numerous seasonal events and holidays, such as Bunny Day (Easter), Halloween, Toy Day (Christmas), and more.
* **Unique Items and Activities:** These events often include unique items, activities, and villagers to interact with.
* **Staying Updated:** Stay informed about upcoming events by checking the in-game announcements and the official Animal Crossing website.
## Conclusion: Your Island, Your Adventure
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a game about creativity, relaxation, and community. There’s no right or wrong way to play. Explore, experiment, and enjoy the journey of creating your own unique island paradise. With its endless customization options and charming characters, Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a truly immersive and rewarding gaming experience. Happy islanding!