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
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  1. Starfree
    Apr 8, 2020
    6
    It’s still amazingly good, but having to unlock basic features like the museum and the town hall just feels wrong. And while the crafting we very much welcome for furniture. For tools it feels limiting, and this series is not a game that you should feel limited in. Having to get island to a 3 star rating by doing stuff that you don’t wanna do like planting flowers and building fences isIt’s still amazingly good, but having to unlock basic features like the museum and the town hall just feels wrong. And while the crafting we very much welcome for furniture. For tools it feels limiting, and this series is not a game that you should feel limited in. Having to get island to a 3 star rating by doing stuff that you don’t wanna do like planting flowers and building fences is also not really fun. I was expecting K.K. on the first Saturday and I was really excited for him but then I learned that I have to unlock him? This game is a Sim, why do I have to unlock basic features? It’s an amazing game and I would recommend it to anyone. But i personally think Stardew Valley and Rune Factory are way better games to just relax and simulate life.… Expand
  2. Flexosuarous
    Apr 8, 2020
    7
    Preface: I've been playing animal crossing since the gamecube game and AC is one of my favorite gaming series of all time... that being said, this game is a bit of a disappointment.

    Things I like: -Customizing island via terraforming -crafting items as a means of gaining furniture -the island tours -the graphics -the music - ability to place items outside - the fencing system    Preface: I've been playing animal crossing since the gamecube game and AC is one of my favorite gaming series of all time... that being said, this game is a bit of a disappointment.

    Things I like:
    -Customizing island via terraforming
    -crafting items as a means of gaining furniture
    -the island tours
    -the graphics
    -the music
    - ability to place items outside
    - the fencing system
    -the general gameplay
    - camera controls inside home
    -Happy Home Designer inspired customization features inside of home

    Things I don't like:
    -Very lacking list of obtainable furniture
    -No nintendo items
    - many missing furniture sets from previous games
    - The available furniture is uninspired and bland
    -only two stores available, no brewsters, no kicks, no garden store
    - No ressetti
    -No art, Redd, or art wing of museum
    -Nooks store only upgrades once
    -Can't buy crafted furniture from catalog
    - crafting tools is nothing more than an annoyance
    - Golden tools break so there's no point in unlocking them
    - Isabelle telling me absolutely nothing at the beginning of every day
    - the fish and insects are no longer animated when viewing the fish/insect dex
    - not fish/ bug sizes
    - I've already said this in a way... BUT HAVING TO CRAFT TOOLS EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES IS MADDENING

    This game took 2 Steps forward with the increased customization of the island outside of one's home, placing furniture outside is great and really changes the game - but this game took 50 steps back with all of the cut material. All in all, its a decent enough game and I have enjoyed my time with it... but I'm starting to realize how empty it is. It really just makes me want to go back and play animal crossing new leaf. If i'm only going to have two stores anyways, I'd rather play wild world.
    Being able to customize the island is cool and all, but it really doesn't make up for losing so much of what has made this franchise great. I hope that more of the cut content is added in the future. If we never get more shops, and nintendo items aren't added, I can't see myself playing this game for very long. I'll likely go back to new leaf or wild world. In those games I absolutely loved getting all the furniture I could in order to make my house as unique and homely as possible... in new horizons I have three rooms, two of which are completely empty because the furniture I have obtained is so boring...

    Thanks for reading.    … Expand
  3. Carrottopadc
    Apr 8, 2020
    1
    The one island is absolutely unacceptable. Why could they not give multiple saves? Why do I have to share my resources if I want to play with someone else? It makes no sense, and it’s ruining the game for me. Also having to wait for specific parts of the day. I work and I’m very busy more often than not, and the time sensitive specs are enraging when you compare it to the original AnimalThe one island is absolutely unacceptable. Why could they not give multiple saves? Why do I have to share my resources if I want to play with someone else? It makes no sense, and it’s ruining the game for me. Also having to wait for specific parts of the day. I work and I’m very busy more often than not, and the time sensitive specs are enraging when you compare it to the original Animal crossing where you would just go to sleep. I recommend you just play the original on the GameCube then delve into this game… Expand
  4. SloppyPancake66
    Apr 8, 2020
    7
    A great Animal Crossing game. Keeping the core mechanics with some added features. Aninal Crossing has been a part of my childhood for so long. One complaint I do have is the extremely lackluster music. It's like they said "Hey, this title music sounds cool. What can we make with this theme?" I really wish they put more effort into music design, otherwise a really great staple AninalA great Animal Crossing game. Keeping the core mechanics with some added features. Aninal Crossing has been a part of my childhood for so long. One complaint I do have is the extremely lackluster music. It's like they said "Hey, this title music sounds cool. What can we make with this theme?" I really wish they put more effort into music design, otherwise a really great staple Aninal Crossing game.… Expand
  5. Elabrh19
    Apr 8, 2020
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Solo el primer jugador que haya creado la isla, puede hacer que avance, mi novio se ha interesado por jugar y vaya, he tenido que darle las herramientas como el hacha o la pala, porque no tenía la opción de conseguirlas por él mismo. Gracias nintendo por hacerme gastar 60 euros en un juego que no sirve para mucho más que jugar una persona sola....… Expand
  6. Serrins
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    Why only one island per console. We share switch at home and I cannot play my own game since the only the first user to start game will own its own island. Great Nintendo!
  7. animalsloth
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    They had the audacity to advertise this as a "family" game, yet only the first profile on the console who started the game first can actually experience the story and progress, while player 2 will have to share the island and is pretty much a "visitor" with no control over what happens, no point gathering resources, even the animals treat you like a visitor. It pretty much ruins the wholeThey had the audacity to advertise this as a "family" game, yet only the first profile on the console who started the game first can actually experience the story and progress, while player 2 will have to share the island and is pretty much a "visitor" with no control over what happens, no point gathering resources, even the animals treat you like a visitor. It pretty much ruins the whole experience. They obviously did this out of pure greed to sell more switch consoles and i have lost all respect for them. All I can ask is please bring in an update where, even if they wont let other people on the console have their own island, at least let us have the option of equal control. This game really could have been great if they didnt ruin it by doing this..… Expand
  8. CultCoop
    Apr 8, 2020
    9
    Great game overall, almost a 10, but bogged down slightly by the “1 island per switch” problem, though not directly affecting me, I know that the issue has worsened the experience for others.
  9. QuesoCaeso
    Apr 8, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game is limiting on how to get Five stars on your island, it has a set way of calculating how your island is rated but it clashes with themes and styles of building ones island. It grades based on the amount of items in the Island, meaning you can just literally fill the island with random items anywhere and get five stars but the island doesn’t look how you’d like it. For example, I was told by Isabelle that I have too many trees and it was problem for my ratings but my islands theme is overgrown... it worked beautifully in new leaf… Expand
  10. Phillips126
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    I created an account on metacritic just to post this review. The limit of one island per console is utterly ridiculous. Was there no thought put into this by Nintendo? My 9 year old daughter was the first to play this game and as one can expect, the island is littered with items with no thought to building a "perfect" little world. This is great for her, she enjoys herself... but theI created an account on metacritic just to post this review. The limit of one island per console is utterly ridiculous. Was there no thought put into this by Nintendo? My 9 year old daughter was the first to play this game and as one can expect, the island is littered with items with no thought to building a "perfect" little world. This is great for her, she enjoys herself... but the rest of the members in my household have to suffer. We cannot contribute anything to her island and we are unable to create islands ourselves to build OUR visions of the perfect utopia. This needs to be fixed immediately as only one person can truly enjoy this game per console! Please at least make it one island per account/user on the Switch!… Expand
  11. Greenys
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    Avere solo un'isola rovina il gioco,poi è super ripetitivo.
    Lo sconsiglio fortemente.
  12. m3tr0id
    Apr 8, 2020
    6
    8 years for this.. dont get me wrong it's cute and a bit fun but this game feels dry. Online play is useless to. Besides being cute online what's the point of opening my door lol
  13. gabriot
    Apr 8, 2020
    2
    If this game were made by ANY OTHER company than Nintendo they would have never gotten the free pass by critics this milquetoast sub mediocre uninspired trashbag of a game received.

    It's one of the worst games I've played on the Switch. Where to even begin. For starters, the completely F-U Nintendo gave to fans of people that have multiple family members that play on their Switch is    If this game were made by ANY OTHER company than Nintendo they would have never gotten the free pass by critics this milquetoast sub mediocre uninspired trashbag of a game received.

    It's one of the worst games I've played on the Switch. Where to even begin.

    For starters, the completely F-U Nintendo gave to fans of people that have multiple family members that play on their Switch is just beyond excusable. If you aren't the main player account of the switch you a.) Cannot create a different island b.) Can't visit anyone online without linking and paying for a completely brand new online account and c.) Can't actually advance the game AT ALL and have to wait for the main account player to actually progress the game for everyone else. This is some ActiBlizzard level BS I wouldn't expect from Nintendo, scary sign for things that may be to come.

    But even if all that were fixed it's still just such a bad game. There's NOTHING to do here! Seriously what is there to do? The crafting system is the most rudimentary I've ever seen in a game, the graphics suck, the dialogue - oh my GOD the dialogue is mind numbingly frustrating. 90% of it is meaningless, but it just goes on and ON and ON AND ON!! You just sit there pressing the "a" button over and over again rolling your eyes that you have to sit through yet another endless bit of dialogue that goes in circles and circles, repeating the same thing he's saying over and over and OVER AGAIN. For instance in a recent update there is a bunny that lets you know there are eggs to be found for a limited amount of time until Easter (or "Egg Day" as their PC overlords commanded them to call it). That's all he says in essence, but it takes 20 freaking pages of dialogue going in circles over and over again that you have to sit through for him to say it.

    And on that note every single npc in this game just has literally nothing to say, like EVER. No personality, no actual tasks to be done, no real interactions, NOTHING! It's just such a bad game. How anyone can enjoy this is beyond me. Avoid it like the plague.    … Expand
  14. Impa_1
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    This is disgusting to force people buy a second console in addition to enjoy the game in couple. You've just ruin your reputation Nintendo. You suck.
  15. dokutora
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    If you're the second player to load this game on your switch, enjoy playing the demo version of the game.

    lets say you own a game on PS4, but your brother played it before you did. Now every time you play that game, you only get to enjoy a quarter of the features and can't play the game further until your brother does... unless you buy a second PS4. Sounds pretty stupid, why is    If you're the second player to load this game on your switch, enjoy playing the demo version of the game.

    lets say you own a game on PS4, but your brother played it before you did. Now every time you play that game, you only get to enjoy a quarter of the features and can't play the game further until your brother does... unless you buy a second PS4.

    Sounds pretty stupid, why is Switch any different?

    The people defending this terrible, corporate greed design choice choice seem to have the argument "Oh but this is how the last game was"

    Its cool to have a limited co-op feature, but why is this the only option?
    why can't the second player play through the full-featured single player game?
    Well, everyone knows why.    … Expand
  16. Kopchony
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    This is very addictive and colorful game with awfully slow dialogue system, horrible online multiplayer. Looks like developers haven't heard of internet existing. If 7 if your friends will visit your island be ready to spend about a half an hour just to arrival animation. In the end I love Animal Crossing but horrible online, unskippable dialogues, lack of cloud saves etc drive me MAD!This is very addictive and colorful game with awfully slow dialogue system, horrible online multiplayer. Looks like developers haven't heard of internet existing. If 7 if your friends will visit your island be ready to spend about a half an hour just to arrival animation. In the end I love Animal Crossing but horrible online, unskippable dialogues, lack of cloud saves etc drive me MAD!

    Do not buy it!    … Expand
  17. Santy37
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    Nintendo, I've been a fan of your products ever since i was a small boy, and when we purchased Animal Crossing, me and my brother thought we can have our own islands, but nope you guys restricted it to one island a switch, and restricts the other players from having the same experience. It content lock the second player to what ever the first player was able to accomplish, this ruins theNintendo, I've been a fan of your products ever since i was a small boy, and when we purchased Animal Crossing, me and my brother thought we can have our own islands, but nope you guys restricted it to one island a switch, and restricts the other players from having the same experience. It content lock the second player to what ever the first player was able to accomplish, this ruins the fun and makes the game boring, so we are returning the game. All of this to push on people buying a new switch, its a stupid reason. This ruined the experience so much.… Expand
  18. TurboR
    Apr 8, 2020
    7
    Лично мне понравилось!)
    Ну с лакалкой вообще не удобно играть ,отдельный остров нельзя, по локальной просто не удобно!!
  19. Connsm01
    Apr 8, 2020
    4
    Created a metacritic account only to rate this half of a game. It's disappointing when you have to read a FAQ to find out about the one island per console issue. This is a fantastic game for whoever plays first, but I have to drop it 5 points for for this one issue alone. I can only see my youngest getting frustrated he can't do certain things without getting on the oldest ones account.Created a metacritic account only to rate this half of a game. It's disappointing when you have to read a FAQ to find out about the one island per console issue. This is a fantastic game for whoever plays first, but I have to drop it 5 points for for this one issue alone. I can only see my youngest getting frustrated he can't do certain things without getting on the oldest ones account. I'm new to animal crossing, and apparently this holds true to formula, but this is a Nintendo Switch. Utilize it's potential and make separate islands we can all have freedom to make our own decisions on. If you want to stick to the one island, make it so each island is linked to each other (separated by rivers, and later accessable using bridges). Major oversight in console gaming and it's obvious the community isn't happy. Time to switch up the formula on the Switch devs. Pretty sure this will be a one and done for our household.… Expand
  20. DannTheHuman
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    One island per console (meaning only one user gets the first-playing experience) on a $59 game? You must be crazy.
  21. Joewhite41
    Apr 8, 2020
    1
    As expected the game is brilliantly fun and relaxing, I haven't skipped a day playing it since it came out and I don't see myself doing so in the future, however does that mean the game is actually any good? Well the short answer is no. The reason I come back every day is because you have to, if you want to choose which villagers you have in your town you have to come back every day andAs expected the game is brilliantly fun and relaxing, I haven't skipped a day playing it since it came out and I don't see myself doing so in the future, however does that mean the game is actually any good? Well the short answer is no. The reason I come back every day is because you have to, if you want to choose which villagers you have in your town you have to come back every day and hope someone is staying at the campsite as it's near impossible to find them on islands. if you want to fill your house with furniture you actually like you're basically just hoping to get something good in the store every day. If you want something to do you have to hope there's an NPC in the village that day. It's been less than a month since it came out and I'm already just logging on, checking my shops, getting my message in a bottle, collecting my nook miles, and leaving as that's really all there is to do. I cannot decorate my town or my house any more as I've got no more furniture that would look good. I can't get new villagers because they barely show up on islands, I can't progress with the story as the amount of stars your village has depends only on having more villagers (my friend regularly tells me he wishes his island looked like mine, but he has three stars because he has 10 villagers whereas I have one because I have six villagers), I cannot try to grind bells as nearly everything ends up being an egg during this event. There really is absolutely nothing to do. then there's the huge cutscene that means it can take nearly two minutes just to go to someone else's island and every time someone comes to your island you have to stop what you're doing and wait for the stupidly long cutscene, Not to mention the fact you cannot play on two accounts unless you want to share an Island which puts you at a huge disadvantage. Overall just not a well thought-out and designed game.… Expand
  22. DestinyLord1134
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    This game is completely ruined by the fact you need to have 2 concoles and 2 games to play in the same household, especially when the price for entry is currently over 500 dollars for the console and game because of price gouging.
  23. MrSparko
    Apr 8, 2020
    2
    Disappointing that families that share a switch can’t have their own save file and island. My wife started the game, so I don’t even bother playing since my experience will be arbitrarily constrained by Nintendo. Mind boggling decision by them. User accounts exist for a reason! Hope they fix it soon.
  24. rmscouto
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    People saying that "you can only have one island per switch" are being too benevolent. In fact, you can only have one gameplay per switch! The first player/account to play will be the Resident Representative, meaning that he/she will have the full gameplay experience. Remaining player will not be able to: create an island, name an island, take part in the decisions (e.g. make buildings),People saying that "you can only have one island per switch" are being too benevolent. In fact, you can only have one gameplay per switch! The first player/account to play will be the Resident Representative, meaning that he/she will have the full gameplay experience. Remaining player will not be able to: create an island, name an island, take part in the decisions (e.g. make buildings), invite NPC (e.g. Bladders). Basically, you can have one player per console, remaining ones are "playable residents". Nice touch Nintendo, specially given the time of release (covid19)… Expand
  25. bam0909
    Apr 8, 2020
    0
    Give second players more freedom. I understand that the reason that they built the game this way was that "they want people to connect". So I can actually accept why they had people share an island, but why does the progression need to be dependent only on the 1st player. It ruins the experience for the other players.
  26. EeveeAfterDark
    Apr 7, 2020
    8
    Animal Crossing New Horizons is absolutely gorgeous and relaxing switch game with some minor flaws that hold it back just a bit. The game starts you off from scratch as you have you have to build your own island basically all by yourself with only Tom Nook's small residential services tent in place to get you started. Not only do you have to pick a spot to put your tent to live but youAnimal Crossing New Horizons is absolutely gorgeous and relaxing switch game with some minor flaws that hold it back just a bit. The game starts you off from scratch as you have you have to build your own island basically all by yourself with only Tom Nook's small residential services tent in place to get you started. Not only do you have to pick a spot to put your tent to live but you also pick the locations of your first 2 villagers as well as future 8 other villagers as in order to keep with the starting from scratch theme you have to find most of your villagers yourself. Personally, I really like the idea of starting from scratch as it really feels like i have full control over my island and that everything on it has made because of me.

    The game goes by real time and every single day you have something new to do such as picking fruit from your trees, hitting rocks to get materials such as iron nuggets and filling up your town museum with bugs, fish, and fossils you find. But in order to get buildings such as the museum to access more things you do, Tom Nook gives you tasks every day to help gain the access to new buildings and functions. The game is very relaxing to me as I can just go day by day slowly building up my town but not having to do everything all at once. It gives me a reason to come back every day.

    The game heavily features a brand new crafting system that use to create almost everything on the island including your own tools. This is where my first small issue is, while the crafting is fantastic and adds to the experience, the tools that you use everyday can break unlike previous Animal Crossing games and it happens enough to be tedious to have to get the supplies and then re-craft them. Also kind of sucks is accounts on the same system all have to share an island instead of getting to create their own. Online multiplayer is a bit annoying as it has a very sluggish start as you always wait a few minutes for a cut scene to play as a new person arrives and even when they are there functions are limited on the island.

    Though while these issues are certainly a pain in the butt at times it still isn't enough to deter from the lovely relaxing life simulation game that is Animal Crossing New Horizons. If you want something to just relax and play its definitely worth your time
    8/10    … Expand
  27. Stark64
    Apr 7, 2020
    0
    Buy another switch? Not cool guy! Instead I’ll buy a number Pat! I’ll buy a Zero!
  28. MilkReviews
    Apr 7, 2020
    10
    I feel like a vast majority of the bad reviews are talking about the bad multiplayer, but none of them are talking about the actual game. I love this game, and honestly think that this is the most casual and relaxing experience I have ever had in a form of media. From the music, to the gameplay, to the amazing visuals, this game is a masterpiece. 10/10
  29. DaWizardMan2822
    Apr 7, 2020
    10
    The best game in the series yet, all the new mechanics are a breath of fresh air for the series.
  30. kinktwink
    Apr 7, 2020
    10
    So many angry reviews on this one because of the one island per console feature. I'm not entirely sure why people are so surprised given this is information that's been commonly known for months now.

    Anyway, I think this game is perfect. The graphics are extremely polished and there's always something to do. The pacing can be extremely relaxing, or you can time skip to get things done    So many angry reviews on this one because of the one island per console feature. I'm not entirely sure why people are so surprised given this is information that's been commonly known for months now.

    Anyway, I think this game is perfect. The graphics are extremely polished and there's always something to do. The pacing can be extremely relaxing, or you can time skip to get things done quicker. Strongly recommend if this is your type of game.    … Expand
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 »