Animal Crossing: New Horizons

 Switch
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 6617 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,370 out of 6617
  2. Mixed: 571 out of 6617
  3. Negative: 2,676 out of 6617
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Jose01862374948
    Apr 30, 2020
    3
    The game is great except for 1 thing. Yo can’t have multiple islands per switch, me and my sister bought the game thinking we would be able to build our seperate islands individual paradise. but no, you cant even have 2 islands, and the worst part, as the second player you can berely contribute to the progress of the game, you fell like an npc more than a player. All im asking is to haveThe game is great except for 1 thing. Yo can’t have multiple islands per switch, me and my sister bought the game thinking we would be able to build our seperate islands individual paradise. but no, you cant even have 2 islands, and the worst part, as the second player you can berely contribute to the progress of the game, you fell like an npc more than a player. All im asking is to have at least 2 islands per switch, or to be able to have more than 1 town organizer.… Expand
  2. Whatnoww
    Apr 30, 2020
    8
    Pretty good game with some limitations in single islands and locked out of progress multiple users which is a downer. And no cloud saves yet. Great game otherwise.
  3. sourasalemon
    Apr 30, 2020
    0
    It's a complete disappointment that my partner, who has been playing these games for all of his life, had the first claim to an island and then I, who has never had the chance or interest to play any animal crossing game until now, will be unable to ever have the full game experience on the console that I had snagged from my friend for an unbeatable price. On top of the general principalIt's a complete disappointment that my partner, who has been playing these games for all of his life, had the first claim to an island and then I, who has never had the chance or interest to play any animal crossing game until now, will be unable to ever have the full game experience on the console that I had snagged from my friend for an unbeatable price. On top of the general principal of me refusing to buy another system just for one game, the console is OUT OF STOCK EVERYWHERE, and we don't live together so it's not like I can play anyway--I haven't seen him in almost two months, and I have to live away from my own home for a job, but even if I did buy a new system I can't even move my game to the console that I am already attached to after all of this is over?? What a joke. I'll probably never play this and not have any desire to play an animal crossing ever because this restriction has just ruined any joy I could possible ever have for this series.… Expand
  4. Nixav
    Apr 29, 2020
    10
    It’s an adorable experience that constantly surprises, euphoric in the satisfaction it provides with each mechanic, no matter how big or small.
  5. Saunjune
    Apr 29, 2020
    4
    Only 1 island per Switch console, not account, even if the game is purchased multiple times. Only 1 Island ambassador can make major decisions about the island... per Switch console, not account. This leaves all other accounts on the console playing this game unable to progress the story. I hope Nintendo does something to fix this. Worst couch co-OP gameplay ever. It makes me sad that whatOnly 1 island per Switch console, not account, even if the game is purchased multiple times. Only 1 Island ambassador can make major decisions about the island... per Switch console, not account. This leaves all other accounts on the console playing this game unable to progress the story. I hope Nintendo does something to fix this. Worst couch co-OP gameplay ever. It makes me sad that what would be a great game is hobbled by this poor choice in game design.… Expand
  6. ekixbrass
    Apr 29, 2020
    8
    This is my first time playing Animal Crossing, and it is very addicting! Very fun to play and there is always something to do. I understand why people are upset about the one island per console, but they shouldn't give this game a low rating because of it. The graphics are amazing and the animations are cute, but something I hate is that the tools always break.. it ruins the fun and I haveThis is my first time playing Animal Crossing, and it is very addicting! Very fun to play and there is always something to do. I understand why people are upset about the one island per console, but they shouldn't give this game a low rating because of it. The graphics are amazing and the animations are cute, but something I hate is that the tools always break.. it ruins the fun and I have to go build new tools which isn't relaxing at all. But overall, the game is amazing to play especially during this pandemic, it takes your mind off of things. If you're not sure whether or not to get this game, I was once in your shoes, and I bought the game because all of my friends had it. Now I absolutely love the game.… Expand
  7. pohthye
    Apr 29, 2020
    1
    I have no issue when the developer decided to do this to protect their product of being abused but when I look at the price tag of USD60 per copy I seriously think that they are trying to rip us off. I have 3 kids and I have to buy 3 copies of the game and 3 nintendo switches for them to play this game might as well I ask them to stick back to minecraft.
  8. Fritoe
    Apr 29, 2020
    9
    I'm going to start this review by saying Animal Crossing New Horizons is the best entry in the series. There is no doubt in my mind. The creativity and attention to detail that was put in by the developers is nothing short than inspiring. There is a part of me that is genuinely concerned for the future of the series, not for anything bad for the game, but for how much it has to offer.I'm going to start this review by saying Animal Crossing New Horizons is the best entry in the series. There is no doubt in my mind. The creativity and attention to detail that was put in by the developers is nothing short than inspiring. There is a part of me that is genuinely concerned for the future of the series, not for anything bad for the game, but for how much it has to offer. Where else can they go? The next installment is going to be something I'm afraid of. They might not even come out with one and just update this gem of creativity. I'm afraid I'm not explaining enough, but what I mean is that from each iteration we gain a new customizable feature. From being from a standard town, then to a bigger place with friends being able to visit, then to an even bigger place that has a city element, to being a mayor able to change layouts and buildings and now to a "god" as the community jokes about being able to shift the land itself. Hopefully, that explains my concern about the future of this game, where next? This definitely is, in my eyes, the ultimate animal crossing game and has provided millions of people including myself, hours upon hours of relaxing release. As I cross the 350-hour mark, I think its time for me to explain how I felt about the game. As the beginning is slow and may take a lot of time to start feeling like the traditional animal crossing everyone knows, you start understanding how the game is trying to teach you the fundamentals of the new mechanics introduced. It can be frustrating at first if you're the impatient type, but it is well understood the more you play. That's what makes all these negative comments so surprising to read for me. I never have written a review to anything other than amazon products and maybe a youtube comment if you consider that a review of some sorts. I even made an account to just write about this topic. Yes, the game is limited to one island per person. Do not go into this game expecting to have the experience of a maximum of 8 islands on your system. This is apparently is a reason for people to be giving the game a 0 on this site and others as well. Not about the gameplay, or what a good/bad game it is, or even how slow it takes to start as I thought the negative reviews would be about. No, it's about how f you have more than one account on your switch, the others won't be allowed to terraform the island. I cannot think of anyone who would od this other than children or people who are playing Animal crossing for the first time. I don't mean any of those remarks as insults, and I will explain. New leaf, the last game in the series before New Horizons. One player was the mayor, and that's it. Anyone else playing on your 3DS won't have access to those features. If the reasons for that aren't apparent to you, then you don't understand how basic computing and video games work and that's okay. It's okay to not understand something, that's why you should seek the information that you don't understand. Just think about how much memory it would take for the switch to have a maximum of 8 islands with all unique layouts, villagers, and all the other features that make this game the masterpiece that it is. That's not possible to fit on the system itself, therefore it's not a reality. It wasn't for the 3DS, so why is it a problem all a sudden? That's when kids come into the picture. Parents will usually buy one system for the house and each kid wants to have their own island which I completely understand as I would as well as a child. However, does that inherently make it a bad game? Of course not. I have another family member on my island who doesn't have terraforming access as they are the second player to move in. When they want to change something about the island they do one of the possible two things. They either ask me to change it for them, or they log in as me and do it themselves. Oh yeah, did I mention the ability to switch accounts on the switch is Minimalistically seamless? It takes less than 5 seconds to change profiles and start a game. It's fine to criticize a game, but it's downright insane to mass bad review a game for system limitations when the problem has nothing to do with the gameplay its self. If I'm the wrong one for feeling this way then so be it, I'll stand alone. Is Nintendo just doing this to sell more consoles? Most definitely not, however, I don't think they are complaining that this is an "issue". Then that gets into the problem of how the bad reviews may affect Nintendo, but it hurts the animal crossing franchise more. People will see the negative source for consumers and assume it's just another game that critics love and the public didn't, further greatening the divide between creators and fans. I really don't know what to say at this point other than how disappointing it is to see the gaming culture turn into this immaturity and not appreciate the art that countless artists spent years creating.… Expand
  9. Chronicdoodler
    Apr 29, 2020
    1
    No family should have to buy multiple switches just for individuals to enjoy their own island and experience the full game. Charge for multiple game copies, that is fine that is what AC has always done (save for memory cards on GameCube, the closest equivalent). But entire consoles? That is a shameful money grab.
  10. TehCupcakes
    Apr 29, 2020
    10
    Most of the negative reviews are from people who didn't understand what they were getting or didn't give the game enough time to see how it shapes up after some time.

    Yes, it's true you can only have one island per console. This has always been how Animal Crossing games work where multiple users share a town. It allows you to talk to the same NPCs, contribute collectively to the museum,    Most of the negative reviews are from people who didn't understand what they were getting or didn't give the game enough time to see how it shapes up after some time.

    Yes, it's true you can only have one island per console. This has always been how Animal Crossing games work where multiple users share a town. It allows you to talk to the same NPCs, contribute collectively to the museum, etc. so that you share the experience with your household, rather than having disparate experiences on different saves. It's how the game is supposed to be played, and I dare say it is better for it. My siblings and I shared a town in the original AC as a kid and one of the best parts was hiding items for others to find, talking about the villagers, and visiting each others' houses. None of this would be possible if each player had their own island on a single system.

    It's also true that there are some things which only the first player can do... This feels arbitrary and actually is a bit of a bummer. I assume Nintendo did this for narrative reasons, and so that adults playing with their kids wouldn't have to live with their child's "poor decisions" or something like that... But as I said, it does feel a bit unnecessary and evokes more negative emotions than positive ones, so I don't think this was a very smart design decision. Still, the impact of these is actually pretty minimal in the grand scheme of the game, as becomes more apparent the longer you play. Some people evidently did not play long enough and just posted their immediate gut reaction.

    The slow pace of the game is not for everyone, but oddly most of the reviews here don't even touch on that. You should approach Animal Crossing a bit more like the Sims than your typical game; that is, the goals are mainly to do basic life tasks, decorate, and talk to people. It's much more driven by self-narrative, and your ability to enjoy it is going to depend on your own imagination and willingness to buy into the game world.

    Once you get past the initial cluelessness of wondering what you're supposed to be doing, you realize there is a lot to do and the answer is "whatever you feel like". Fishing, catching bugs, collecting furniture, coordinating outfits, arranging trees... It's all part of the experience, but the game does not force you to do one particular thing. New Horizons specifically adds some nice touches with the ability to place furniture outside, storage inside your house, etc. which are a sweet improvement over previous installments, and in a lot of ways make this the best Animal Crossing yet.

    There are minor things I wish they did differently. For instance, I would like to mail things to friends before I visit their island, but I understand why that isn't an option. (Traditionally in AC games, you can only send letters to villagers after you have spoken with them directly. So they applied the same logic to real players.) It would be nice if the shared-screen co-op allowed you to do things like travel together or open both players' inventories. (The system in place has a leader and a follower, where the follower is restricted in what they can do... But you can switch who the leader is very quickly if need be.) All of these things are rather petty in the grand scheme of things, though.

    The game is fantastic and has a wide array of content, with evidence of much more on its way. We have already gotten a pretty beefy patch and a few events, so it seems like Nintendo is committed to regular updates at least for another year+, given its popularity. You could see some of the complaints become irrelevant due to future updates, or they may just pack in a bunch more content. Either way, the updates are really the cherry on top of a game that is easily one of the best of the year. Don't listen to the complainers.

    By the way, it's perfectly fine to play this game solo, too. ;) Reviews shouldn't be so heavily weighted on the multiplayer experience only.    … Expand
  11. kieransteeves
    Apr 29, 2020
    2
    New Horizons is so close to being an amazing game, but Nintendo's shortcomings, oversight, or negligent understanding of the modern game environment means the game falls short. The game is pretty, polished, and cute. However it feels like a relic of the past. The major shortcoming of ACNH is how the game plays when trying to play with friends. There is nothing to do with your friends. YouNew Horizons is so close to being an amazing game, but Nintendo's shortcomings, oversight, or negligent understanding of the modern game environment means the game falls short. The game is pretty, polished, and cute. However it feels like a relic of the past. The major shortcoming of ACNH is how the game plays when trying to play with friends. There is nothing to do with your friends. You cannot build things together. You cannot paint together, decorate together, or even use basic terminal functions when someone is on your island. You can't sell things on a friends island if you are playing too late at night. if someone tries to come to your island they will not be able to if you have a dialog box open. When a person comes everyone involved will have to wait through a lengthy loading screen. If anyone disconnects everyone's progress will be lost. These issues make no sense in today's video game landscape, no other large release has these problems. I want to love this game. It is beautiful. But the actual act of playing the game with my significant other, the reason i bought it, is near unbearable tedium.… Expand
  12. CodyCulp
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    The game is fun and i have enjoyed my time playing the game so far. However, not being able to transfer my island to a new switch is ludicrous. Hacking will always be an issue and there is no need need to punish the fans for it. I can live with the cash grab of one island per switch but locking my island to one switch only is ridiculous.
  13. Jhonpo
    Apr 29, 2020
    10
    El juego es maravilloso y que bien esta jugarlo en estos tiempos de cuarentena
  14. Miinosh
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    Had fun for the first few days. When my girlfriend wanted to start playing, we realized that she could not have her own island. Since neither of us wants to be "player 2", which would severely limit what you can do, I lost all interest and won't play again until we can create separate islands on the same console.
  15. ViktoorC
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    Base game is good, however you can only have one island per switch which is just a super greedy move. Also the multiplayer is really slow and annoying, you can't craft in bulk which is just boring, the game has a lot of flaws that make me want to bang my head into the wall already
  16. Rick1987
    Apr 29, 2020
    1
    What's the point of a 2nd player if they can't really contribute to building anything in the town. Game is exactly what animal crossing is supposed to be I suppose but it gets pretty boring and repetitive, ESPECIALLY for anyone not the island representative, and for the rep since no one can actually help you build the town. BOO[!!! Shame on Nintendo until they make a patch for this
  17. Only2bashACNH
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    Doing my part to lower this game's score to say "f4ck you" to Nintendo. I bought this as a game my wife would enjoy, and she likes it, but I can't enjoy it too because some poopbutts at Nintendo decided one island per switch was a good idea. You greedy S.O.Bs
  18. Nate3nate
    Apr 29, 2020
    2
    Unfortunately this game (like most Nintendo games) falls under the umbrella of extreme Nintendo fanboydom and as such is subject to insanely high biased reviews (not including the negative multiplayer ones).

    Basically if you've ever played a game outside of the Nintendo lineup say like... Minecraft, Terraria, Rimworld, Stardew Valley, Subnautica, Starbound, Kenshi, etc etc etc. you    Unfortunately this game (like most Nintendo games) falls under the umbrella of extreme Nintendo fanboydom and as such is subject to insanely high biased reviews (not including the negative multiplayer ones).

    Basically if you've ever played a game outside of the Nintendo lineup say like...

    Minecraft, Terraria, Rimworld, Stardew Valley, Subnautica, Starbound, Kenshi, etc etc etc. you quickly realize that there is almost nothing to Animal Crossing and certainly nothing making it worth paying full price for.

    The world is extremely tiny, it's based on real time (which is cool on paper but terrible in practice), it's got 0 challenge, and it plays like a mobile game (in fact it looks just like it's mobile version Pocket Camp). You can run the entire starting area in about a minute, there are woefully limited resources across the entire island and woefully limited events or things to do across the entire game.

    It is quite "chill" which can be a nice change of pace for about 10 to 20 minutes, but once you get past the bubbly exterior you quickly notice that there are no brains on the inside to keep you engaged and entertained.    … Expand
  19. Sagerronan
    Apr 29, 2020
    9
    While the one island per console concept is lame, and I understand why people don't like it, I am the only user on my Switch, nobody else plays it or even wants to. I will not judge a game based on a situation I am not in. I WILL however, judge a game based on my experience.
    It is a fun game, very addicting. I've never been able to get into animal crossing until now. There's something    While the one island per console concept is lame, and I understand why people don't like it, I am the only user on my Switch, nobody else plays it or even wants to. I will not judge a game based on a situation I am not in. I WILL however, judge a game based on my experience.
    It is a fun game, very addicting. I've never been able to get into animal crossing until now. There's something about turning an empty island into a bustling city that appeals to me. Despite the overwhelming amount of games available to me at the moment, I have played animal crossing for at least 250 hours, which is not something I can say of many games.
    You start off on an empty island in a tent and then work your way up to better housing through loans from the resident loan shark (with no interest, oddly enough). Little by little you improve your island and your house and soon garner villagers to populate your village. You can pull weeds, catch bugs, fish, dig for fossils, design clothes, flags and a great many other things. It does get a bit repetitive, but is fun for me nonetheless. If you are the only person on your switch and you enjoy that kind of gameplay loop, this might be the game for you.    … Expand
  20. Gebbbe
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    One island per console for a whole family. This is a big shame for Nintendo.
  21. PotatoCake
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    The one island limit is stupid. I can't even play the game, because my brother has his own island, while I don't! The only reason for this is to get people to buy more Nintendo switches, which may I mention cost about 500 dollars right now, which is ridiculous! This is something that Bethesda or EA would do, but I never expected Nintendo to do this. Please fix this Nintendo, I really wantThe one island limit is stupid. I can't even play the game, because my brother has his own island, while I don't! The only reason for this is to get people to buy more Nintendo switches, which may I mention cost about 500 dollars right now, which is ridiculous! This is something that Bethesda or EA would do, but I never expected Nintendo to do this. Please fix this Nintendo, I really want to enjoy this amazing in the fullest, without having to pay 500 dollars.… Expand
  22. thisiscritical
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    We bought my son the game and he started playing it on the household switch. Well, it looked like a fun game, so I wanted to give it a try. I was super bummed to find out that you can only have one island per console and that, apparently, making an island is a huge part of the gameplay that would be lost if you don't have access to it. I think it is a ridiculous for nintendo to put onWe bought my son the game and he started playing it on the household switch. Well, it looked like a fun game, so I wanted to give it a try. I was super bummed to find out that you can only have one island per console and that, apparently, making an island is a huge part of the gameplay that would be lost if you don't have access to it. I think it is a ridiculous for nintendo to put on this game. I have the money to buy another console, but am refusing to do so on principal. I won't even buy a lite for this, though I would love to play. Fix this!… Expand
  23. Electrohead
    Apr 29, 2020
    9
    The game has a fantastic first two weeks that does a great job at constantly giving you new tasks that introduce new gameplay mechanics to the player. Once you complete the 'story', you're pretty much able to customize anything you want, resulting in the ability to make some pretty incredibly designed islands and homes.

    The presentation is fantastic. The game's graphics are very    The game has a fantastic first two weeks that does a great job at constantly giving you new tasks that introduce new gameplay mechanics to the player. Once you complete the 'story', you're pretty much able to customize anything you want, resulting in the ability to make some pretty incredibly designed islands and homes.

    The presentation is fantastic. The game's graphics are very stylized and the NPCs are all very expressive, making the game feel like a real living world. The music is all very cute as well, especially the tracks by K.K. Slider.

    You will eventually reach a point where the game becomes a lot less fun to play for extended periods of time; which is the norm for Animal Crossing. Thankfully though, Nintendo seems to be planning on supporting the game after launch and have already re-introduced past features like the Art Museum and Redd.

    Other than the eventual wall you hit where the game becomes less fun, the only really big flaws are some annoying menu management and crafting quirks, which will hopefully be patched.    … Expand
  24. Chris22222
    Apr 29, 2020
    2
    A fun game at first, but after some time into the game.. it became boring. Boring in terms of the frustration u get in the game. 1) fishing - these fish will let u know what frustration are - sea bass, black bass
    2) i have visit lots of mystery islands, and the fruit ii get is (other than my default fruit - pear) apples.. and thats it.. nothing else. For flower, for mystery tour, i get    A fun game at first, but after some time into the game.. it became boring. Boring in terms of the frustration u get in the game. 1) fishing - these fish will let u know what frustration are - sea bass, black bass
    2) i have visit lots of mystery islands, and the fruit ii get is (other than my default fruit - pear) apples.. and thats it.. nothing else. For flower, for mystery tour, i get only cosmos (default flower) and pansies.......
    3) got excited in subscribing to nintendo online, hoping at least trade with those fruit i wanted, well.. Nooooo, i got no chance.. tried visiting friends.. guess what.. connection not established bcos of the stupid NAT issue.

    Only good are, character design and graphics.    … Expand
  25. cryptolink
    Apr 29, 2020
    0
    One island per switch. Something else could've been done better. They want you to buy another console to play local multiplayer. Please nintendo. Do something about it!
  26. Meiyi
    Apr 29, 2020
    1
    Yes the game is fun until you are blocked because you are the number 2 player on your switch and the first player don't have time to play and continue the story of the game. Why could I not build bridges, buildings... ?! Just because I started to play later ! If you share a switch, don't play this game, you can have fun for 1-2 wekks ubtil you are blocked and cannot do anything with theYes the game is fun until you are blocked because you are the number 2 player on your switch and the first player don't have time to play and continue the story of the game. Why could I not build bridges, buildings... ?! Just because I started to play later ! If you share a switch, don't play this game, you can have fun for 1-2 wekks ubtil you are blocked and cannot do anything with the island because you are not the first player.… Expand
  27. CzechTea
    Apr 29, 2020
    9
    This is the most relaxing game on Switch, the single-player content is awesome. This is the place to meet new friends.

    But why are people review-bombing this game? i know that "the one island per console" is bad, but its not a reason to give this 0/10. They did it on purpose.
    Shame on you people.
  28. Nana316
    Apr 29, 2020
    4
    It was fun when I started but it gets SOOOO boring catching bugs and fishes and then you get barely any money.
  29. Tommyterror
    Apr 29, 2020
    3
    I thought it was a great game and spent hours and hours building my island up to my Specification, halfway through I have found there is a limit to my features needed to complete it, such as inclines and bridges. I am very angry and after spending so much time and effort to get to this point I honestly just want to put down the game and never play it again.
  30. Aimee0410
    Apr 29, 2020
    1
    Super annoyed and kinda angry! Just purchased this game for $80 and found out multiple people cannot have their own island! Only 1 island per switch not user! Massive downfall of the game THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED!!
Page:

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Switch Game of 2020
1
#1 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 111 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 110 out of 111
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 111
  3. Negative: 0 out of 111
  1. Universo Nintendo
    Dec 19, 2020
    95
    Animal Crossing New Horizons is basically perfect. Full of wholesome content that helped us cope with the COVID-19 pandemics, the game keeps the heart of its predecessors while innovating enough to make it unique. It may not have won Game of the Year but it'll be the game we all remember from 2020, for sure.
    Read full review
  2. The Digital Fix
    Jun 22, 2020
    80
    Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a stunning new instalment in the Animal Crossing franchise, hindered only by its lack of immediate content, quality of life issues and missing returning characters and features While future updates will give the game long-term playability, for those already sipping vacation juice on their five-star islands, island life feels pretty mundane right now.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    May 12, 2020
    95
    It’s full of detail, pretty small things, and surprisingly well working simulations and systems – everything polished in such a way that the player really does care about everything that’s going on. [06/2020, p.40]
See all critic reviews »