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Introduction
Animal Crossing: New Horizons, released in March 2020, quickly became one of the most beloved games in the Animal Crossing series and an international sensation. It offers players a relaxing, open-ended gameplay experience on a desert island that they can customize and shape to their desires. Whether you’re new to the series or a returning player, mastering Animal Crossing: New Horizons takes time, patience, and creativity. In this guide, we’ll cover everything from the basics of starting your island to advanced tips for optimizing your island’s design, interactions with villagers, and more. Let’s dive into the world of Animal Crossing!
1. Starting Your Island Adventure
Your adventure begins with the choice of your desert island, which you will eventually transform into a paradise. At the start of the game, you’ll be introduced to Tom Nook, who helps you settle in. Choosing the right location, customizing your island, and learning the basics will set the foundation for a great experience.Choosing the Best Island
One of the first decisions you’ll make in the game is selecting your island. You'll have a few options for the island layout, including the placement of rivers and beaches. While you can’t change the overall layout once you’ve chosen your island, you can always terraform it later to create your dream layout. It’s essential to choose a spot that feels like a great starting point, even though you can alter the terrain as you progress.Building Your First Shelter
Your first task will be to gather resources and build your tent. At the beginning, you’ll focus on gathering materials such as wood, weeds, and stones. Crafting and gathering will be crucial in the early stages, and Tom Nook will guide you through it. Once you build your shelter, you’ll begin to meet your first villagers and start transforming your island.2. Getting to Know the Core Gameplay Mechanics
As you begin your journey, it’s important to understand Animal Crossing’s core mechanics. The game runs on real-time, and time passes in sync with the actual world, including the changes in seasons, events, and day/night cycles. Your primary objectives will be to expand your island, build relationships with villagers, and gradually customize your surroundings.Resource Gathering and Crafting
In the early stages, you’ll collect resources such as wood, iron nuggets, and other materials to craft furniture and tools. You can craft tools like shovels, axes, fishing rods, and more to help you gather additional resources, catch fish, or even dig up fossils.Crafting Recipes
Recipes are unlocked by progressing through the game, and you can collect them from various sources such as balloons, villagers, or even message bottles found on the beach. Learning the recipes is key to making progress, as you’ll craft many items that are essential for your island’s development.3. Building and Expanding Your Island
Building and expanding your island is one of the primary objectives in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. From the construction of your house to the development of shops, amenities, and public spaces, your goal is to create an island that reflects your personality.
Upgrading Your House
After constructing your initial tent, your next task is to upgrade it into a house. Tom Nook will give you the option to pay off your loan in exchange for expansions to your home, which will allow you to store more items and expand your living space. These upgrades will be a key part of your progress in the game.Building Public Works Projects
As your island grows, you’ll be able to build public works projects, such as bridges, inclines, and other infrastructure that will improve access and aesthetic appeal. These projects can make your island more beautiful and practical. Some projects require a certain amount of time to complete, so planning your island layout becomes essential.4. Customizing Your Island
One of the most exciting aspects of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the ability to fully customize your island. From designing your home’s interior to altering the landscape and placing decorations, the level of creativity is practically limitless.Designing Your Dream Home
Once you’ve upgraded your house, you’ll have access to more space and customization options. You can rearrange furniture, paint walls, and decorate your home to your heart’s content. Customizing your interior can be a fun and relaxing aspect of the game as you collect new furniture and DIY recipes.Terraforming Your Island
After you progress far enough in the game, you will unlock terraforming, which allows you to change the very landscape of your island. You can raise and lower land, create rivers, and add waterfalls. Terraforming is a powerful tool that can transform your island into a stunning, one-of-a-kind creation.Pathways and Gardens
Creating beautiful paths and gardens is one of the best ways to customize your island. You can place custom designs on the ground to create walking paths, flower beds, and even themed areas. Use flowers, trees, and custom patterns to create a lush and vibrant island.5. Interacting with Villagers
The heart and soul of Animal Crossing are the villagers. These unique and quirky characters inhabit your island, and building relationships with them is a key part of the game. You’ll spend a lot of time interacting with them, completing tasks, and helping them with various activities.Building Friendships
To develop relationships with your villagers, you’ll need to interact with them regularly. Talk to them every day, help them with their requests, and give them gifts to increase your friendship level. As your bond grows, villagers may even offer you special items or recipes as a token of appreciation.
