Animal Crossing returns in 2020 with a twist. As the first main series title available on the Nintendo Switch, New Horizons decided to shake things up a little with an overwhelming number of new features, customization options, and activities to enjoy. To help you become acquainted with all there is to offer, we’ve created a comprehensive New Horizons Beginner’s Guide to help!
This time around, instead of a quaint little town to oversee, the player helps Tom Nook create an island living utopia with unique characters, terraforming, and personal touches around every corner. Did you know you can construct a giant mecha-robot battling it out with Godzilla on the beaches of your island?
But tackling an entire island’s creation is tough work. Here is an Animal Crossing: New Horizons beginner’s guide packed with tips and tricks for the best start.
What You Need to Know When Setting Up Your Island
When you first launch Animal Crossing: New Horizons, one of the first tasks you’ll undergo is to set up your island. Here are a few things to remember:
- You are unable to change the name of your island, so choose carefully. Remember: the word “island” is not added to your name.
- You are unable to change your name or birthday.
- Until you unlock terraforming, you are stuck with the layout of your island — choose carefully!
- As you play, you’ll unlock new appearance and customization options to alter your look and aesthetic.
Upon creating your new island, you’ll welcome two random villagers who won the getaway package alongside the player character.
Furthermore, you’ll have a native fruit growing on your island. While not lucrative, this fruit is a nice starting solution for a few bells. Some of the options available include pears, apples, and oranges.
If you do not like the look of your island layout, the starting villagers, or the fruit type, you can reroll your island by backing out of the game and closing it completely.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Beginner’s Guide – Your First Few Days on the Island
Your first day spent on Tom Nook’s once-deserted island is an introduction. Following the welcome party, you’re let loose on the island to do anything your heart desires. In the coming days, Tom Nook will introduce you to the mechanics of New Horizons, including crafting and how to improve your island. Eventually, you’ll have a bustling town with numerous villagers and enterprises to enjoy.
To start, as we previously said, you’ll have two starting villagers. You’ll want to talk to the other villagers to form friendships, which eventually blossom into them giving you DIY recipes and the occasional gift, such as clothing or furniture. You can’t track your friendship, though.
Unlock Your Starting Tools
You start your journey on this newfound island with nothing but your wits. You’ll want tools to better explore the island, to craft, and to construct buildings.
- Fishing Rod and Bug Net — Speak to Tom Nook at Resident Services.
- Slingshot — Purchase a DIY recipe from Timmy.
- Stone Axe — Offer Tom Nook two bugs and/or fish from the island.
- Watering Can — Give Tom Nook four bugs and/or fish.
- Shovel and Vaulting Pole — Give Tom Nook five bugs and/or fish and then talk to Blathers once he arrives on the island.
- Ladder — You’ll receive a ladder to explore deeper into the island after Tom Nook’s tasks and when you pay your debt.
Collect Necessary Resources
To earn Nook Miles and to craft, you’ll need to collect resources. Such resources include rocks, tree branches, and weeds. For most resources, you’ll need the tools we listed above. But be warned: Your starting tools will break frequently.
- Clear weeds — Around the island, especially underneath trees, you’ll find an abundance of weeds to pull. If you remove these from around the base of each tree, the fruit that will drop won’t bounce too far from the tree and risk disappearing.
- Shake trees — When you shake a tree in New Horizons, you’ll receive branches and the occasional wasps. Hopefully, by this point, you have a bug net to catch the ensuing wasp assault.
- Plant trees — You’ll need a lot of wood to craft furniture and tools in the coming days. Your best bet now is to plant plenty of trees for future use.
- Hit trees — With a flimsy axe, start hitting trees. You can hit each tree three times to score normal wood, hardwood, and softwood. You’ll use each one to craft, so stock up on all of them now.
- Hit rocks — Using a shovel, smack any rocks you find on your island. You’ll receive minerals and stones — a maximum of eight from each rock — when you strike a rock. But do so strategically. When you smack a rock, first dig a hole behind you and to the right or left to lock you in place.
Don’t Ignore the Bulletin Board
Beside Resident Services, you’ll notice a wooden bulletin board. If you pass by and notice a yellow bird perched on top, it means there is a new message available. Take a moment to stop and read!
The messages begin with a simple greeting. Eventually, as your island expands, it will alert you to villager birthdays and special events. You’ll even have a chance to post your own unique messages, too.
While these tips are a great start, you’ll soon want to take in the bells. Learn how to Pull in Easy Bells in the Beginning!