Animal Crossing: New Horizons Review & Beginner Info.

Audie, Bianca, Cyrus, Reese, Fauna, Erik, Judy, Sylvia, Marina, and Flora

One of the YouTubers I watch had a video featuring the game called Animal Crossing New Horizons. When I saw it was a cute social simulation game I decided to do some research since it looked like a game I would love. I really enjoy games in which you interact with cute characters and build your island exactly how you want it. I was shocked to find out that they even allow you to terraform your island making waterfalls, streams, ponds, and altering cliffs, etc. This game was created by Nintendo in Japan so it has many Japanese decorations and characters. Since I'm obsessed with Japan it's perfect for me. It can be played via a handheld Switch or via the Nintendo console on your TV. I chose the Switch since my husband plays on a PlayStation console. That way we can play different games in the same room. *

At the beginning of the game, you will choose your character's appearance and which of the four islands you would like. You may want to research these islands in advance because you won't be able to change your mind later unless you restart the game. You will be starting with a tent which you will later upgrade to a house. Your clothing choices will be slim, so I recommend making friends with other gamers and visiting their store to buy cute clothing. You'll also be able to upgrade to new hairstyles at Resident Services later in the game. You'll need a mirror to change your hair and face and a dresser to change your outfits. Simply stand in front of them and click A. Many items are animated, so stand in front of them and click A to see if they are. Click the minus sign to end and save the game when you are taking a break. Click Y to pick up items. Click X to see what item you have picked up. Upgrade your storage at Resident Services at Nook Stop using Nook Miles. Place items in your house to store them or decorate with. Even fashion can be hung on the walls as decoration.

Each morning you are greeted by Isabelle and she tells you the island news of the day. Each day there are many things to do:

• Check your mailbox for letters and presents from villagers and friends.
• Check the bulletin board for island announcements (birthdays and activities).
• Check Nook's Cranny for the new items that have arrived for purchase.
• Check Able Sisters store for new fashion. Purchase clothing for your villagers. Talk to Sable. She will eventually give you fabric.
• Visit Resident Services to check in with Nook Stop for daily miles. Check Special Goods for the daily items for sale. Deposit any money over $100K. Purchase daily songs and up to 5 items. Villager's posters can be purchased after taking photos of them at Harvey's Island. Items purchased here will be delivered to your mailbox the next day. Redeem Nook Miles for airplane tickets to travel to mystery islands or purchase decorative items. Talk to Tom Nook about transforming your island. Talk to Isabelle for your island rating (1-5 stars) and advice for a higher rating. Check the recycle box for goodies. 
• Talk to all your villagers and give them a gift. The maximum number of villagers allowed is 10.
• Harvest fruit (every 3 days) and sell to Nook's Cranny or make DIY items and then keep, gift, trade, or sell. If you stager your harvesting it won't be so overwhelming.
• Decorate your island with new purchases and flowers. Terraform once given that option. Build bridges and stairs via Tom Nook. Pick up weeds.
• Water the flowers you want to reproduce and breed. The next day move those that reproduced to your desired location. No need to water on days it rains. Friends can water them also to increase the odds of reproducing and hybrids.
• Catch bugs and fish. Sell to Nook's Crossing or wait until CJ and Flick visit for a higher price.
• Shake 17 trees for 2 furniture items and catch 4 wasps (stand at front of the tree, once wasps come out turn towards the fallen nest and catch with the net).
• Find the money tree light. Light shining up from the ground, dig a hole there, place $10K in the hole and then dig up the tree and replant where you want it. In 3 days harvest $30K.
• Visit mystery islands for new fish and bugs, shake trees for furniture, grab DIY & shells on the beach. When you have an open lot visit to invite new villagers to live on your island. Any new fish or bugs donate to the museum.
• Use your slingshot to retrieve gifts hanging by balloons. You'll find them at times ending in 5 and 9. Example 1:05, 1:09, 1:15, 1:19, etc. They move west to east during the day and east to west at night.
• Collect seashells and DIY on the beach. 1 DIY on the beach prior to noon and 1 in the evening.
• Visit villagers in their house for DIY 3 times a day. (1 prior to noon, 1 before 6 pm, and another after 6 pm)
• Saturday claim your free song from K.K. once he starts visiting your island.
• Sunday before noon buy turnips if you wish to participate in the turnip stock market. Check Nook for prices daily once prior to noon and once after. 
• Save money to purchase upgrades for your home from Tom Nook. Four rooms on the 1st floor, 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs. You can add other people to your island and they will have their own house. Only do this with trusted people since they have no restrictions.
• Make friends with other gamers and visit their island. Have them visit yours for inspiration, shopping, fishing, and trading. Trading DIYs is recommended. Also, catalog items you don't have. Pick up the item and then put it back down, this places it in your catalog and then you can purchase it from Nook Shopping to be delivered the next day.
• Visit the museum. It's very calming.
• At night be sure to look up for shooting stars. You may also hear them. Click A each time you see one. Check the beach the next day for DIY star pieces.

This is a very popular game and due to the stay at home orders, it's hard to find in stock. If you are having difficulting purchasing a Switch, I recommend shopping at Target online. Go to the product's page and request an email stock update. Then keep an eye on your email and as soon as you get that email, click on the link and purchase it as quickly as you can. Stay logged in to Target prior to the email's arrival. It will sell out within minutes, so you need to be quick. You could also stalk Best Buy and Walmart online, constantly refreshing the product's page. Walmart only allows pick up, no delivery. QVC also sells it with accessories and games. I've heard Costco occasionally has the console in stock in stores. It's difficult to find a physical copy of the game in stock so you may have to go with a digital download instead. You can share it with another switch. There are several tutorials on YouTube that explain the process. The game costs $59.99, Switch costs $199.99, and the Console costs $299.99. *

What makes this game so much fun is that Nintendo offers monthly updates. Each month there is a new activity. For the month of June, they are having a wedding theme shown in the photo above. We visit Harvey's Island each day to set up an anniversary party or wedding and then we receive wedding decor as a reward.

The best advice I can give you is to turn off your wi-fi as soon as one of your lots opens. If one of your friends has a villager in boxes (moving out) that villager will move to your island without your approval. Then you won't be able to search for a villager you want on the mystery islands which is so much fun. Wi-Fi can be turned off (airplane mode) most of the time unless you are doing a software update, receiving gifts from friends, or visiting friends. 2nd piece of advice is to place buildings and houses very carefully. Look at your map and decide where you want everything to go in advance. Do you want all the villager houses in one area or scattered about? Where do you want your house, the shops, and the museum? Remember Resident Services can not be moved. Also, it can block what's behind it once it transforms. Decide how wide you want your paths. Dig a hole to make sure you have enough room prior to placing buildings. One to three holes depending on how wide you want the path. I recommend two holes wide for most paths and three for more important areas such as in front of the shops, bridges, and stairs. The paths can only be placed later in the game when you advance so preplanning is a must. Don't make any of your friends a "best friend" unless you trust them because they can alter your island. Visitors can pick your flowers, shake your trees, and pick up items that have been dropped. I recommend harvesting prior to opening your gate for visitors. Don't "drop" anything you don't want them to pick up and take. They can not pick up items that have been placed, redecorate, dig up flowers, or chop trees. When doing trades drop the item when they drop theirs also. There are several Facebook groups where you can set up trades, visits, etc. There is also a website called Nookazon where you can trade, sell, and buy items. Be careful because some people have ridiculous prices. Know the value of items before you start selling and buying them. There is also the ability to time travel in the game, but some consider this cheating. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube explaining that. Warning your turnips will spoil if you time travel. Turnips only last one week.

What's your favorite game? Have you given this game a try? If you have any questions about the game, feel free to comment below. You can also become my friend and visit my island if you would like. Comment below and enter my friend code. My friend code is 8118-0847-4302. Stay tuned for more Animal Crossing content.

Update December 2020 - this game has sold 25 million copies! They are constantly updating the game with seasonal content that continues the fun and excitement. I enjoy playing it daily. QVC is offering a Weekend Bonus Value which is the Nintendo Switch with Animal Crossing, Protective Case & Accessories for 5 payments of $107.99. This is the hard to find Animal Crossing version! Target finally has it back in stock for $299.99. The Animal Crossing New Horizons game is sold separately. 

Have a PEACEful Day!

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