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. Faksnap1000
    Feb 7, 2023
    4
    Is it a game or just a stupid time waster? My review score shows you what I think.
  2. Zylir
    Apr 3, 2020
    5
    There's a few issues I have with this game. The lack of online interactive related things and unnecessary long transitions when people leave your island, the fact that there's only a "Real time" option, and that there's no way in game to advertise your island. I'd love a brochure to "sell" your island, tell people you have certain things there and be more social with it by showing it offThere's a few issues I have with this game. The lack of online interactive related things and unnecessary long transitions when people leave your island, the fact that there's only a "Real time" option, and that there's no way in game to advertise your island. I'd love a brochure to "sell" your island, tell people you have certain things there and be more social with it by showing it off maybe and saying stuff like "Hey, I have a tarantula island, come on by!" Create more of a city, involve more on your island. I just feel it's so limited for not really a good reason but to be a cop out. I'd love more interaction with the citizens and events with them. Everything seems so bare bones for a $60 game.

    I'd also enjoy it if you had sort've a function to treat it like stardew valley where it had it's own hastened day/night cycle to an extent. I'd like to at least play the game in a few weeks, enjoy all there is to see and catch/do quests for everyone in that time frame. It's just not there, just nooks increasing debt with everything you do. I get that "animal crossing may just not be for me" however, I don't think a lot of what I said are bad idea's nor would make people dislike the game any. Do people really enjoy the game mostly being played only an hour or so at a time and all these things that you probably wont ever get done because you may not be playing in the September time frame to catch certain things?

    The last thing is the most obvious though. Not sharing your island. Me and my gf share the switch because I barely play Nintendo games and so she somewhat does, so very little reason to own two. People telling others "Why not just own 2 switches! stop being poor!" why should we be punished for their poor design choice? Such a weird thing to defend a company on.    … Expand
  3. Mirr
    Apr 7, 2020
    4
    No se pueden crear dos islas en la misma consola. Por el resto aunque aveces algunas mecánicas son algo tediosas no es nada preocupante excepto lo de que te puedan dar recetas repetidas eso es horrible porque te puedes tirar muchísimo tiempo y no tener una mesita de noche como me ha pasado a mí por ejemplo.
  4. Volpatron9000
    Apr 7, 2020
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Im addicted to this game however i have some major issues. First is the one island per console isnt a wise move. Second there's literally zero new content after you renovate the store ONCE NPCS are nonexistent besides villagers blathers the nooks and isabelle ( i don't count the dodos **** those guys ) like how can you have a 2020 release game have less content than the 3ds game that came out in 2012... wheres brewster wheres gracie wheres resetti?? And that rescue app doesn't count. This game is overall extremely disappointing it pretty much boils down to a happy home designer spinoff disguised as a triple a title. Im beginning to thing that they made the beginning slow on purpose to pad out the game a little bit. I can't believe this is the game we've been waiting for i hope they update it soon or come out with an expansion pack or dlc because i feel ripped off and i got this as a gift. Smh Nintendo you didnt ruin animal crossing but you definitely watered it down 2/5 compared to the other games i dont want to give it a one or a zero because the game is stunning to look at but besides that its a shadow of its former self still fun to play but i got way more enjoyment out of new leaf i still haven't unlocked everything in that game and ive been time traveling like crazy in that game. For at least a year on and off but i've pretty much unlocked everything in less than two weeks in this one... its comparable to mgsv ground zeroes and thats not a compliment… Expand
  5. TheAlucard
    Apr 7, 2020
    2
    There are lots of features taken out of this game from previous games. Seems like Nintendo really just threw this game together. It’s becoming more and more disappointing every day. Previous titles have way more content.
  6. 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
  7. TurboR
    Apr 8, 2020
    7
    Лично мне понравилось!)
    Ну с лакалкой вообще не удобно играть ,отдельный остров нельзя, по локальной просто не удобно!!
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. daveyofdoom
    Apr 11, 2020
    2
    The game itself is great, but restricting households to one island per console is terrible and ruins the entire experience.
  11. Metabert1212
    Apr 11, 2020
    1
    I’m not happy with the implementation of multiplayer in this game. I bought the game for my wife and she was excited to have her own island to explore. Come to find out, when my boys created their characters they could only go to my wife’s island. So there can only be one island per Nintendo switch, regardless of who is logged into the game under their own profile. So unless I buy multipleI’m not happy with the implementation of multiplayer in this game. I bought the game for my wife and she was excited to have her own island to explore. Come to find out, when my boys created their characters they could only go to my wife’s island. So there can only be one island per Nintendo switch, regardless of who is logged into the game under their own profile. So unless I buy multiple switches and multiple copies of the game we can’t experience our own island..... what the actual heck is that? That has got to be the laziest game development I’ve ever seen. How did the developers think it would be ok to force one island per switch???!?! This game is a huge disappointment. They really should patch the game and fix the abysmal multiplayer. I never would have downloaded the game if I had known the ridiculous decision they made. I have never played a game that had this glaring of an issue, meanwhile critics are rating it very high. Look at the user score... critics are completely out of touch with what people want in a game. Developers should pay attention.… Expand
  12. Lukea108
    Apr 13, 2020
    5
    About as much content as a mini clip browser game from 2007, massively lacking in stuff to do. also 1 island per console is infuriating
  13. Yuanxue
    Apr 11, 2020
    1
    I have to say I'm disappointed! As a fan of animal crossing new leaf, new horizon canceled so many things that are good from previous version. The coffee shop, the numerous dialog for villagers etc. New horizon for me is like animal crossing pocket camp. It lost the spirit of previous animal crossing
  14. tigerlkng
    Apr 12, 2020
    6
    中规中矩，只能说。有的交互甚至比端游还差
    例如，我想按一下爆米花机玩玩，但我发现除了声音外没有任何动作，但是村民可以，有些家具互动甚至说僵硬，比如咖啡机村民直接把头按进去喝
  15. christhekane
    Apr 12, 2020
    2
    If you have more than one child then for the sake of your sanity do not buy this game. You can only have 1 island and the first player to start the game is the only player with access to all crafting recipes and able to progress the game, all other players are there to only assist and cannot have their own island. It is either a terrible design choice or intended to force parents toIf you have more than one child then for the sake of your sanity do not buy this game. You can only have 1 island and the first player to start the game is the only player with access to all crafting recipes and able to progress the game, all other players are there to only assist and cannot have their own island. It is either a terrible design choice or intended to force parents to purchase additional consoles and copies, either way it is not acceptable and the issues it would cause in households should have been foreseen. If you're buying this for yourself or have an only child the game is great, otherwise it is one to avoid; as unfortunate as this is.… Expand
  16. Guslazz
    Apr 12, 2020
    2
    Great game, obviously. What ruining it to me is limiting one island per console. It’s such a low move. It’s money grabbing to me and it ruins the experience for families with one console. It’s sad that people are being forced to buy another Nintendo console to experience the game fully.
  17. Vwheeler
    Apr 12, 2020
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. We gave this game to my sons on Easter. My younger son loves this game. My older son who has to play on his younger brothers island got mad and left the room very upset. Thank you for the one island limit Nintendo and animal crossing. You ruined Easter… Expand
  18. AlwynOwen
    Apr 13, 2020
    3
    This game is great! If you have your own switch that is. Me and my brother bought a copy of the game excited to start our own islands, but little did we know after him starting the island we had to share it. Since he's the mayor he's always one step ahead of me in everything and has more privileges than I do. Alot of people tell me "it's tradition in the franchise" but I think it's timeThis game is great! If you have your own switch that is. Me and my brother bought a copy of the game excited to start our own islands, but little did we know after him starting the island we had to share it. Since he's the mayor he's always one step ahead of me in everything and has more privileges than I do. Alot of people tell me "it's tradition in the franchise" but I think it's time for a change. I can afford a second copy but I'd still have to share the island and quite frankly that's an EA move. As a resident I give it a 3 but if I had my own island I'd give it a 10. Wake up Nintendo, wake up and smell the ashes.… Expand
  19. Panxosim
    Apr 12, 2020
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pésimo, simplemente una burla a quienes amamos esta hermosa saga, porque nintendo? Porque?.… Expand
  20. gslopez
    Apr 12, 2020
    2
    The truth is that if I would want to play this game alone, my rate will be a lot better. I´m playing with my girlfriend, she is "the main citizen", and I can't help with anything! I don't have the main DIY recipes, I can't help in the main decisions and my experience is pretty limited. I don't have problems with the one island limitation but it feels like the co-op game experience isThe truth is that if I would want to play this game alone, my rate will be a lot better. I´m playing with my girlfriend, she is "the main citizen", and I can't help with anything! I don't have the main DIY recipes, I can't help in the main decisions and my experience is pretty limited. I don't have problems with the one island limitation but it feels like the co-op game experience is incomplete.
    And finally, why is it necessary to change the switch tools button when you are the second player? and why can't I pick items and store them in my inventory? That makes no sense to me.
    Please Nintendo, fix the co-op experience !!!!    … Expand
  21. honest_rev7
    Oct 1, 2020
    1
    WARNING:

    this game makes you suffer psychosomatic disorders. it starts gradually, and then it gets worse, and worse and worse. which is why 1) people get testy and argue with their bf/gf/wife/hubby/siblings which is why 2) people have to take a break from the game. because when playing this loop, they are reportedly much more mentally fragile, get triggered easily, suffer bouts    WARNING:

    this game makes you suffer psychosomatic disorders.

    it starts gradually, and then it gets worse, and worse and worse.

    which is why 1) people get testy and argue with their bf/gf/wife/hubby/siblings

    which is why 2) people have to take a break from the game. because when playing this loop, they are reportedly much more mentally fragile, get triggered easily, suffer bouts of mania, and have mental breakdowns

    3) which is why people hit plateu here after that initial high. it's addictive but not in a fun game sorta way, but like addiction proper. nook miles become external goals that prevent your brain from ever "finishing" aka getting some rest.

    don't let this game ruin your life. it's not cute, it's a dreadful game that wreaks havoc on your mental health once you see it for what it is.    … Expand
  22. Panzer8
    Apr 13, 2020
    1
    bought the special edition switch and the 60$ game to share with my brother, only to find out that we can't create different islands and that the second player can barely do anything, disappointing to say the least, i really can't believe that nintendo would do something like this, im 100% sure that A LOT of families are experiencing the same thing, something so easy to fix as just givingbought the special edition switch and the 60$ game to share with my brother, only to find out that we can't create different islands and that the second player can barely do anything, disappointing to say the least, i really can't believe that nintendo would do something like this, im 100% sure that A LOT of families are experiencing the same thing, something so easy to fix as just giving the option to have different island per user, seriously disappointed with you nintendo.
    DO NOT BUY THIS if you share the switch with someone and this person wants to play the game.    … Expand
  23. piscesperiod
    Oct 13, 2020
    8
    I particularly enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of this game. It's truly unique. You do things in your own time, at your own pace. Animal Crossing is also a neat reminder that everything takes time, in a day and age where we've grown to be accustomed to unrealistic speed and high expectations.

    I've been playing for a couple months now, and I'm enjoying it a lot. Bounding with the    I particularly enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of this game. It's truly unique. You do things in your own time, at your own pace. Animal Crossing is also a neat reminder that everything takes time, in a day and age where we've grown to be accustomed to unrealistic speed and high expectations.

    I've been playing for a couple months now, and I'm enjoying it a lot. Bounding with the villagers is really cool, customising your island and character and seeing how the flowers bloom, bridges are built and seasons pass is more entertaining than I thought it would be.

    The downsides I'd say are how you can never choose quantity of items, you always have to buy and sell one by one (notable exception of flowers and shrubs, which you can buy in bulks). Also having to first craft a flimsy tool to only then be able to craft the normal one (crafting the tool directly would have been appreciated).    … Expand
  24. Drull7737
    Apr 13, 2020
    1
    The game is fun, the gameplay is addicting, this low score is based on the fact that if you try to play with multiple profiles, you will only have one island. This means that one person might start the island and have it be theirs and someone else would just be a resident, unable to play the game the way it was meant to be. Resources are limited, leading to whoever plays first every dayThe game is fun, the gameplay is addicting, this low score is based on the fact that if you try to play with multiple profiles, you will only have one island. This means that one person might start the island and have it be theirs and someone else would just be a resident, unable to play the game the way it was meant to be. Resources are limited, leading to whoever plays first every day getting everything and the second being left with nothing. Even buying a separate game cartridge won’t solve the problem. It’s a cheap way to sell switches, and proves Nintendo is losing its dedication to customers and families. 1 Star… Expand
  25. ANTURODRIGUEZ
    Apr 13, 2020
    2
    2nd accounts (the one that is "not" creator of the island) can not advance at the same pace as the principal... They do not let 2nd accounts do practically anything interesting, nor be part of the growth of the island.. So basically you're stuck until the principal advance
  26. climberguy12
    Apr 13, 2020
    3
    Quality game if you have one user in your household who would like to play this game. Fairly pointless game for any other users in your household.
  27. sokidan
    Apr 13, 2020
    6
    I have mixed opinions on this game, which I will list below:

    Positive: + Addition of crafting and Nook Miles makes it more game-like, and have more incentive to play + Customization of furniture, and being able to place items outside increases creativity + Some Quality of life improvements, like not being stopped by store-keepers when entering and leaving +Animals have more    I have mixed opinions on this game, which I will list below:

    Positive:
    + Addition of crafting and Nook Miles makes it more game-like, and have more incentive to play
    + Customization of furniture, and being able to place items outside increases creativity
    + Some Quality of life improvements, like not being stopped by store-keepers when entering and leaving
    +Animals have more animations, cute.
    + Terraforming is a neat addition

    Negatives
    - Terraforming controls are finnicky and overly-time consuming to use
    - No way to craft in batches
    - Animals repeat themselves constantly
    - Online is terrible with dodo codes. Load times everywhere, constant errors
    - Lack of furniture sets
    - Less stores, upgrades, and main characters than in past titles
    - One Island per Switch
    - Player 2 is a glorified NPC, unable to do anything while you are the leader
    - Game repeats same song for first week, become grating fast
    - Loading in-between museum rooms is grating, same with in houses

    All in all, it is an entertaining time-waster, but this is NOT a 10/10 game. Cute, yes, but it has a wide array of issues and quality-of-life problems that alone knock it down points. After a few weeks of playing without fast-forwarding the clock, the game has become stale with little remaining depth to offer.    … Expand
  28. keith6937
    Apr 14, 2020
    0
    Like the game's single player play through, but the decision to limit it to one island per console, was the the dumbest thing I've seen. I have 4 kids who want to play it, but no one but the one who played first is actually in charge of anything, everyone else is second class stuck on their island. And with the island being as small as it is,, even if they weren't second class, it makesLike the game's single player play through, but the decision to limit it to one island per console, was the the dumbest thing I've seen. I have 4 kids who want to play it, but no one but the one who played first is actually in charge of anything, everyone else is second class stuck on their island. And with the island being as small as it is,, even if they weren't second class, it makes everything cramped and horrible. Bad job, needs an update to change to one island per account.… Expand
  29. Strarompi
    Apr 14, 2020
    2
    Only the first player created in the game can actually contribute to the development of the island and do the important stuff. The other players on the island can’t contribute and can only really gather resources. This limits every other player than the 1st one and really blows. I hope Nintendo fixes this.
  30. DavyHolly
    Apr 14, 2020
    0
    Locking the save data to once switch, limiting a household to one island so only one person can have a full experience? I see broken homes as siblings and souses alike fight over island layouts. This is such a clear money grab.

    Shame on you, Nintendo.
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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 »