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. Tilert88
    Mar 31, 2020
    0
    We are 3 people in this family who wants to play this game with our own Islands, now Nintendo demands us to buy one console each to be able to do so?!?!?! I love Nintendo and have supported them for 25 years, but this was a big blow....
  2. Tempsplash
    Apr 21, 2020
    5
    Don't buy the game if you're sharing it with a family member, or someone like that. Overall, the game is great, except for one big problem which reviews are not addressing, and could be a deal breaker for some people. That is how you have to share one island per console, and only the person who arrives on the island first gets the full game experience. I don't understand why Nintendo wouldDon't buy the game if you're sharing it with a family member, or someone like that. Overall, the game is great, except for one big problem which reviews are not addressing, and could be a deal breaker for some people. That is how you have to share one island per console, and only the person who arrives on the island first gets the full game experience. I don't understand why Nintendo would do that, and it ruins the experience for many people including my sister who joined the island second. It just seems greedy to me!… Expand
  3. Amaranthh
    Mar 29, 2020
    0
    Local multiplayer and one island per console just shows how greedy Nintendo has become.
  4. amanimini
    Mar 29, 2020
    0
    I'm an Animal Crossing superfan, and because of that alone I'm enjoying this game a lot. HOWEVER, my score is simply because I don't think this game should be rewarded for how much it fails to deliver. The one island per console thing was bad enough, but then on top of that, your subsequent user accounts have a limited experience in the game too. Only one person gets to have the fullI'm an Animal Crossing superfan, and because of that alone I'm enjoying this game a lot. HOWEVER, my score is simply because I don't think this game should be rewarded for how much it fails to deliver. The one island per console thing was bad enough, but then on top of that, your subsequent user accounts have a limited experience in the game too. Only one person gets to have the full Animal Crossing experience and that's awful for a family game. It goes far beyond that as well, though. So many of the features, items, and even signature characters from previous games have been completely taken away in this. There's some reviews on this page that list most of these things that were taken out, but the point is, this game feels unfinished and rushed. The good news is: Nintendo can definitely fix this with updates, DLC, and general fixes. The bad news is... I'm not so sure they'll actually do it. I can see them adding in *some* of the missing features, but I'll have to wait and see if they'll actually make this feel like a finished game and fix the issue of multiple people wanting their own island. I wouldn't even mind paying for the game again to have another island. For now, though, it feels incomplete and a bit unsatisfying for a huge Animal Crossing fan.… Expand
  5. davrich
    Mar 29, 2020
    1
    My wife and I were soooo looking forward to playing this game, and when she started I thought it was great. But when I went to start my own game and realized I couldn't have my own island, also that my functions were limited on her island, the game was absolutely ruined for me. I cannot justify buying another switch just to play this game
  6. Traveldude189
    Mar 29, 2020
    0
    The game literally has no long term objectives local multiplayer is horrible especially since you cant purchase a second switch anywhere. The fact that most of the game is acquiring clothing and furniture for a house i dont ever care to expand and i have to wait months and months in real to get new bugs or fish is just insane. Ive never traded in a game before or sold it but this oneThe game literally has no long term objectives local multiplayer is horrible especially since you cant purchase a second switch anywhere. The fact that most of the game is acquiring clothing and furniture for a house i dont ever care to expand and i have to wait months and months in real to get new bugs or fish is just insane. Ive never traded in a game before or sold it but this one definitely takes the cake.… Expand
  7. jbenavidesv
    Mar 29, 2020
    0
    By having one island per console is a bad strategy for users to get more consoles.
  8. Balouh
    Mar 29, 2020
    0
    One Island limitation is so **** up.
    Gameplay was ok until I checked my gf can not play her one islad so we decided to get the money back. We dont want to support such a move.
  9. ACNH2player
    Mar 29, 2020
    0
    I wanted to like this game. It's sweet, it's beautiful, it's funny, but... I'm a player 2. I have less than half of the resources of the "mayor", I can't advance anything on my own, I can't build anything. It's no less than frustrating and hurtful to see my boyfriend play our game, and have all of the buildings, DIY's, and character options. I hope they change this, because until then,I wanted to like this game. It's sweet, it's beautiful, it's funny, but... I'm a player 2. I have less than half of the resources of the "mayor", I can't advance anything on my own, I can't build anything. It's no less than frustrating and hurtful to see my boyfriend play our game, and have all of the buildings, DIY's, and character options. I hope they change this, because until then, this game is unplayable.… Expand
  10. Xelbby
    Mar 29, 2020
    0
    Nul... Seul le tout premier joueur peut faire avancer le jeu.. Le deuxième est bloqué si le premier n'avance pas le jeu.. Je trouve ça dommage pour un jeu qui était temps attendu de l'avoir créer comme ça dans le seul but de faire acheter des consoles ...
  11. Slumber112
    Mar 29, 2020
    1
    Don’t be fooled by the “8 player” tag at the top. This is a single player game, anyone else living on your island can’t do anything but fish and improve their house. If your not player one you literally can’t do anything on the island. What the hell nintendo at least give us the option to change who is the main person. Was loving the game but now I can’t even play it.
  12. Simsalahbim
    Mar 25, 2020
    3
    If you have 2 kids (or more) and they both want to play this game in a peacefull democratc way, then don't buy this game. You can only create 1 island, the first player that creates this island = boss in other words this game is created for 1 player or for households with multiple nintendo switches.
  13. gogglebrains
    Mar 26, 2020
    4
    After a week, I honestly regret playing this game at all. I put up with the slow early pacing, the clumsy core gameplay elements (effectively untouched since the Gamecube days), and the tedious and dull crafting system, because the level of creative potential that New Horizons promised was incredibly tantalizing. But like some sort of Sisyphean hell, true creative freedom is agonizinglyAfter a week, I honestly regret playing this game at all. I put up with the slow early pacing, the clumsy core gameplay elements (effectively untouched since the Gamecube days), and the tedious and dull crafting system, because the level of creative potential that New Horizons promised was incredibly tantalizing. But like some sort of Sisyphean hell, true creative freedom is agonizingly restricted by the poorly thought-out mechanics, leaving me feeling miserable for having wasted my time in the first place.

    New Horizons' most prominent additions are hamstrung by half-baked, outdated, inconvenient, and unintuitive design decisions, making them far too frustrating or shallow to be worthwhile.

    The new terraforming tools, for example, give an unparalleled ability to treat the island as your personal canvas. However, by the time you unlock them, your town will be populated by around 15 buildings such as stores and homes, many of which you'll likely want to move once you gain the ability to freely create rivers and paths. In Stardew Valley (a $15 indie game developed primarily by a single person), the interface for moving farm buildings is incredibly simple and convenient: pick up a building, and pop it down where you want it; boom, done. In New Horizons, moving a building to an altogether new location involves paying a substantial sum of money ($50,000 bells) and waiting overnight. It's even worse If you wish to only move a building slightly, as you have no choice but to first move it somewhere else, then move it back where you want it (requiring $100,000 bells and two days; and you can only move one building a day). I play with time traveling, yet having to wait day after day after day to move multiple buildings around is still incredibly obnoxious even for me; I'm sorry for anyone who's actually trying to play this game in real-time.

    Another botched new feature is the crafting system. Tools break incredibly quickly, and crafting more is an obnoxiously slow process. Resource gathering is shallow and awkward, amounting to little more than brainlessly smacking rocks and trees. For some ungodly reason, a crafting bench placed in your house cannot use resources you've stored in your home's sole Storage menu, meaning you have to pointlessly retrieve and later re-store multiple types of materials every single time you go to craft. In summary, the crafting system is incredibly half-baked, pointlessly time-wasting, and the minor benefit of being able to craft some simple furniture is capsized by the disastrously tedious tool replacement loop.

    New Horizons allows you to switch between a front-view camera angle (as seen in New Leaf) and a more top-down angle (similar to the Gamecube version). This is a huge improvement over previous entries in this series.... and yet still comically half-baked by the standards of the broader industry. Why can't Animal Crossing just have the same camera controls that have been standard in third-person 3D games for 20 years?    … Expand
  14. thierfeu
    Mar 28, 2020
    1
    The game is nice, smooth, fun, everything I love into a video game. so my mark is 10/10

    but... there is a terrible point that is the fact that only one island can be created per CONSOLE !
    unacceptable, and regarding this decision the game desserves a -9 points markdown.

    so it's 1/10
  15. CallMeFreak
    Mar 28, 2020
    2
    I felt the need to give my husband his half of the money back when we realized that he would be a glorified visitor. I started the game first because he drove and I started playing it on the way home after getting it.
    Even if we wanted to get another Switch and another copy of the game, we can't. (Plus that's another $360 down the drain, or $260 if we want drifting issues we can't get    I felt the need to give my husband his half of the money back when we realized that he would be a glorified visitor. I started the game first because he drove and I started playing it on the way home after getting it.
    Even if we wanted to get another Switch and another copy of the game, we can't. (Plus that's another $360 down the drain, or $260 if we want drifting issues we can't get fixed out the box.) By the time we can we'll both have moved on to something else.
    I enjoy the game a lot more than he does, that's for sure. I'm glad that there's BL3 DLC that he can enjoy instead.

    I'm sorry I want to spend my $60 the way I want to.    … Expand
  16. 000anon2759
    Apr 1, 2020
    0
    one island per console. greedy and unfair, an anti-consumer practice and is disappointing to say the least
  17. mattogodoy
    Apr 1, 2020
    0
    One island per console?
    That is plain stupid. It is a move my nintendo for you to buy more consoles. The saddest thing of all is that it is working...
  18. jdsharbs
    Apr 5, 2020
    0
    This game has caused lots of heartache for my kids. The fact that you can only do one island per console is a terrible thing to do to children. Each wanted to make their own island and visit each other's island. But greedy stupid Nintendo really screwed this game up.
  19. SgtKnux
    Mar 25, 2020
    10
    I was upset at first about "one island per console," but because of it I've found the value in their decision. My wife and I leave little surprises and gifts for each other since we're co-located, and nothing is really lost progression-wise. If she gets something setup first, then I can still attend ceremonies and experience the "newness" of the island growing. Though the museum'sI was upset at first about "one island per console," but because of it I've found the value in their decision. My wife and I leave little surprises and gifts for each other since we're co-located, and nothing is really lost progression-wise. If she gets something setup first, then I can still attend ceremonies and experience the "newness" of the island growing. Though the museum's donations are shared (which I like), you still have to find things yourself for them to be added to your "creature codex" so progression issues are not felt. I can understand people want their own unique island so they can fly to each others' and visit and whatnot, but so much Animal Crossing Charm comes from sharing your space.

    Just make sure you buy doctors masks and gift them out.    … Expand
  20. irzaliando
    Mar 28, 2020
    8
    Although the 1 Switch 1 save file is terribly frustrating, this game is still really amazing. It's simply the best Animal Crossing game to date.
  21. jessxsp
    Apr 7, 2020
    0
    Is such a shame not being able to create your own islands. Yo can’t even have your own experience trough the game
  22. Eckman6121
    Mar 25, 2020
    8
    As someone who is brand new to the series I have certainly enjoyed it thus far. I've got my first house upgrade. I really enjoy the relaxing nature of the game. We have two switches in our house, so we won't be sharing the game. But given the size of the map, I don't really see that as much of a problem. It's not a perfect game, but it's a good game with a minimum of problems. The loadAs someone who is brand new to the series I have certainly enjoyed it thus far. I've got my first house upgrade. I really enjoy the relaxing nature of the game. We have two switches in our house, so we won't be sharing the game. But given the size of the map, I don't really see that as much of a problem. It's not a perfect game, but it's a good game with a minimum of problems. The load times really haven't been as bad as other reviewers have made it out to be and I am playing it as a digital download as opposed to a cartridge. I enjoy the crafting in the game and it can be slow paced at times, most of the time. I can make a ton of money doing whatever I want. I like fishing, so the majority of my money has been from that. Even the crappy tools last a fair bit of time. It does what Animal Crossing games set out to do, to be relaxing and fun. I would love to share my island with other users on my switch, it would be a combined effort, expanding a community of friends and family. Something other reviewers aren't considering. This is a great and does what it set out to do. 8/10.… Expand
  23. imtheamora
    Mar 30, 2020
    10
    This game is fantastic, a brand new feel to the game that pulls it off well. But one question remains, why does this game have so many bad reviews? Most of them seem to be bland reviews that are most likely spam.
  24. MattGough
    Mar 27, 2020
    0
    The worst game for families due to the priority of one player. The player who names the island is the main player and the others are so limited in their gameplay. Trying to force people to buy another switch. Limitations of second player include:

    - Not being able to complete a lot of the quests. - Not being able to buy or craft tools unless the first player has unlocked them before    The worst game for families due to the priority of one player. The player who names the island is the main player and the others are so limited in their gameplay. Trying to force people to buy another switch. Limitations of second player include:

    - Not being able to complete a lot of the quests.

    - Not being able to buy or craft tools unless the first player has unlocked them before hand.

    - Not being able to move buildings.

    - The First player getting all DIY recipes collected by the second player or themselves. Whereas the second player only gets the ones they have collected. - Limited creatures available to catch. In my experience the second player is a lot less likely to get wasps from trees etc. These are probably not all of the limitations for the second player but they are the ones that I have stumbled upon.

    It is a great game for the first player but I wouldn’t buy if you are wanting to play with others. This just seems like an excuse to make people go out and buy another switch which I believe to be outrageous.    … Expand
  25. joshyleon
    Mar 27, 2020
    0
    One of the biggest oversights, imho, is that you cant go to Nook Miles islands together. Instead when I visit my wife's island I just mill about occasionally helping gather wood and water her plants, which just diminishes her ability to play her island. I dont even give gifts in person anymore since unlocking the postcards to friends feature so theres really no reason to visit.
    Meanwhile    One of the biggest oversights, imho, is that you cant go to Nook Miles islands together. Instead when I visit my wife's island I just mill about occasionally helping gather wood and water her plants, which just diminishes her ability to play her island. I dont even give gifts in person anymore since unlocking the postcards to friends feature so theres really no reason to visit.
    Meanwhile if we could all visit an island together, we could at least have fun in a little gathering instance; running around trying to find the best / cool stuff and meeting new villagers together.    … Expand
  26. MOleszek
    Mar 28, 2020
    0
    This game is cute and family friendly at the first glance. However if you have more than one person who wants to play this game it immedately goes from cute little farming game to frustrating hellscape.
  27. Asser82
    Mar 29, 2020
    1
    I really do not like the single island decission. It does not let me play the game I like. My child does not have the chance, to have the full gaming experience.
  28. Deorka
    Mar 29, 2020
    4
    It is sad to realize that a lot is done for money, to sell switch again and again.

    Even if the game present some new features (in 2020 wow...) you can't enjoy the full experience; In one hand because the "story-line" or the building progression can evolve only with the "island's owner" (the first player) and so all the others need to wait... In the second hand because when you    It is sad to realize that a lot is done for money, to sell switch again and again.

    Even if the game present some new features (in 2020 wow...) you can't enjoy the full experience;

    In one hand because the "story-line" or the building progression can evolve only with the "island's owner" (the first player) and so all the others need to wait...

    In the second hand because when you play as a couch coop player (i don't know for the online multiplayer) you are restricted, you cannot open your inventory and cannot use crafting, well, you can "switch" to be leader and recover these things but this is boring...

    And I don't talk about the lack of more interactions with object

    So in the end, even if you accept the fact that there will be just one island in the console you have to face 2 major problems that constantly remind you that Nintendo WANT money

    It really affect the multiplayer experience so for me the new features are cool but the restriction sucks too much
    And it is sad to see that a lot of "critic reviews" are willfully blind    … Expand
  29. Avasond
    Mar 29, 2020
    4
    Really a great game but I can't give ita positive rating until multiplayer is fixed. My boyfriend would ruin my island!
  30. Chromatica21
    Mar 30, 2020
    9
    First of all, I understand that people have problems with the multiplayer. That should definitely be fixed, and it makes sense that people are upset. However, in my personal experience, this game is amazing.

    I basically live in Animal Crossing: New Horizons nowadays. It's a simple but fantastic game. The multiplayer is definitely flawed, but the rest of the game has so much content and    First of all, I understand that people have problems with the multiplayer. That should definitely be fixed, and it makes sense that people are upset. However, in my personal experience, this game is amazing.

    I basically live in Animal Crossing: New Horizons nowadays. It's a simple but fantastic game. The multiplayer is definitely flawed, but the rest of the game has so much content and has so much to do at all times. It's basically Animal Crossing, but in a completely different setting and with crafting, which makes it so much more interesting than the older games. The multiplayer is the only flaw that really affects what I think of the game, and the rest of it is fine-tuned to perfection.    … Expand
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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]
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