Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer

 3DS
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 60 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 60
  3. Negative: 1 out of 60
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  1. Hobby Consolas
    Sep 28, 2015
    89
    The more you play it, the more you're surprised. Be aware: if you expect the typical Animal Crossing, you may be disappointed. Give it a shot, though.
  2. Nintendojo
    Sep 29, 2015
    83
    It’s not the life-sim of years past, but Happy Home Designer’s successful re-imagining of what makes Animal Crossing tick is a lovely departure that I sincerely hope Nintendo explores again in the future.
  3. Games Master UK
    Nov 3, 2015
    80
    It's naturally limited in scope, but this breezy, likeable spin-off proves a surprisingly captivating diversion. [Nov 2015, p.72]
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  5. Atomix
    Oct 9, 2015
    80
    Maybe Happy Home Designer is not better than New Leaf or other 3DS games but it fulfills its objectives offering us deep tools to create and decorate houses in a game limited only by our imagination. We didn’t like the lack of strong objectives and challenges that maybe could be positive steps for this game.
  6. Digitally Downloaded
    Oct 6, 2015
    80
    Happy Home Designer isn't going to dethrone Animal Crossing: New Leaf as the number one game in your 3DS' play log – not by a long shot. In taking away the scant few of the franchise’s stressors, however, it becomes a profoundly therapeutic life simulator that respects and rewards every millilitre of creative juice you pour into it. It’s a stop-gap on the road to Wii U/NX but a detour that won't soon be surpassed.
  7. CGMagazine
    Oct 5, 2015
    80
    It’s a fun little distraction that doesn’t require too much attention to enjoy.
  8. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Sep 30, 2015
    80
    With a beautiful presentation and tight controls, Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer is a game worth considering. [Issue #17 – September/October 2015, p.74]
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  9. GamesBeat
    Sep 28, 2015
    80
    This title has some of the most modest aspirations of any of the Animal Crossing titles, but it delivers on them spectacularly.
  10. 3DJuegos
    Sep 23, 2015
    80
    Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer has a lot of ítems, furniture and options to design a great variety of houses. Maybe we miss more social options, but the game is still funny and charming.
  11. Vandal
    Sep 22, 2015
    80
    Anima. Crossing: HD delivers an interesting concept, different from the main series, but still charming, deep and fun.
  12. FNintendo
    Sep 22, 2015
    80
    Animal Crossing's in-game social component seems to be growing at a never-ending rate. Happy Home Designer keeps treading that path and its main activities focus on one of the players' favourite aspects of the series, home decoration. With an enormous wealth of resources and its simple, intuitive controls, this is a perfect introduction to the series and a potential major influence to its next chapter.
  13. GamesRadar+
    Sep 22, 2015
    80
    Utterly charming with a fantastic set of design tools, but it'll make you crave the freedom of more traditional Animal Crossing games.
  14. IGN
    Sep 22, 2015
    80
    Happy Home Designer gets pretty much everything right when it comes to decorating, encouraging creativity, and exploring different styles.
  15. LevelUp
    Oct 2, 2015
    75
    Adorable, but lacking in depth, Happy Home Designer is funny and charming, but ultimately fails to provide motivation and challenge for the player.
  16. Post Arcade (National Post)
    Sep 30, 2015
    75
    Just seems kind of small and limited to me. I think people might expect a little more from an Animal Crossing game.
  17. XGN
    Sep 22, 2015
    75
    Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer is a blast for everyone who that loved to decorate their home in earlier Animal Crossing games. The options are limitless, however this comes with a few limits in other aspects. As a whole, the game is a blast to play.
  18. God is a Geek
    Sep 22, 2015
    75
    A more structured and restricting experience than New Leaf, Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer offers similarly addictive mechanics but much less freedom and control.
  19. IGN Spain
    Sep 21, 2015
    75
    More appropriate for short sessions, part of the magic of Animal Crossing have been lost in the way. A huge amount and options to customize the houses, but is not a game to lose hours with it, at least at once time.
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  1. The A.V. Club
    Dec 8, 2015
    Given Animal Crossing’s sickeningly cutesy look and feel, it’s tempting to play tricks on it, to fool its adorably simple-minded denizens into living in squalor and liking it. But the game is just too sincere to prank, the way that toys can’t feel embarrassed of how they’re played with.

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best 3DS Game of 2015
9
#9 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2015
13
#13 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 136 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 136
  2. Mixed: 49 out of 136
  3. Negative: 22 out of 136
  1. mushroom128
    Sep 27, 2015
    2
    This game is not worth 40$. its a terribly shallow game with no replayability. you can't even make your own house or do basic stuff likeThis game is not worth 40$. its a terribly shallow game with no replayability. you can't even make your own house or do basic stuff like change your clothes. there is no rating system so no matter how you design the house the villager will compliment you. their banter is short and is really lazilly done. this doesn't feel like a Nintendo game at all.

    2/10    … Full Review »
  2. ashford
    Oct 1, 2015
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. I downloaded this game because it was Animal Crossing and because I have absolutely loved every game. I kind of figured that home decorating would be the focus here, and since I love that aspect of the AC games, I thought I would like this. I wasn't prepared for the disappointment. The game is not challenging. At all. If a client asked for a blue house and you gave them a pink house... you'd still get raving reviews. I would have liked to have seen some more challenge and thought put into the IN-GAME-rating system so that I could feel like I needed to put effort into playing. There's isn't a risk of getting a bad review and therefore there isn't any real reward. The collector in me feels no joy when new items appear to use. This is because I really don't have to do anything to "collect" items... I could just open up the characters' "must have items" and say "ok! I'm done!" I hate that there isn't a town. I can't walk around a town and see all the houses I've decorated lined up in the places I've put them. The only way to see them is if I drive there. It would have been amazing to decorate a complete town. Alas, no. After completing a home I just have this empty feeling that my work is sitting somewhere I will never really see because I can't see it in a town. You can't interact with the characters. Not really. The conversations all seem to be the same too. I paid the same price I would for a full AC game yet there isn't any player interaction but I have to pay MORE for these silly little cards? No. That doesn't even interest me. In fact it kind of irritates me because of the price thing. Speaking of player interaction... What is the big deal with collecting emotions? I will never see another live player... this just feels like a waste of game space. I could see this game being around $25-$30. It's something you could casually do when bored and the design aspect of it is amazing. I love how they've made decorating so easy. And I love you can decorate exteriors. I would love this idea to be implemented into the next full Animal Crossing game but I never want to see another AC dedicated to just one aspect if it will be this disjointed and un-challenging. In fact it would be very neat if each character you created could have a different job... One be the mayor... the other a designer... etc.

    So if you're looking for something mindless to do to pass the time... wait until this goes on clearance.    … Full Review »
  3. nalukima
    Oct 1, 2015
    4
    Although I'm a huge fan of the Animal Crossing series, this game thoroughly disappointed me. There is no real motivation, as you can obtain noAlthough I'm a huge fan of the Animal Crossing series, this game thoroughly disappointed me. There is no real motivation, as you can obtain no items, clothes, or money. It gets very repetitive, as well. After playing for only a few days, I already am finding myself bored with the game. The villager reactions (to your designs) are pretty much all the same. There's not much to do, as well. In the regular animal crossing games, one can go fishing, dig fossils, swim, dive, garden, shop, talk to villagers (who actually have important things to say), etc. In this game, you can only design houses and visit places (where you can literally do nothing, but stare). It's just so boring. Also, it doesn't let you save until you finish up an entire day. So, basically, if you're in the middle of designing a house, you can't save. Which sucks. The only cool things in this game include: you can completely customize your character's facial features/change your skin color, you can add 'sound' (not music, but actual sound effects) to a room, and you can change the design of a store-including the interior and exterior (but you cannot shop there or really do anything with it). This game is not nearly as well done as most of the Animal Crossing games and I wouldn't recommend it.… Full Review »
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