Written by contributor Kat Humphries
The Animal Crossing franchise is broadening its horizons this month with the release of the first ever Animal Crossing instalment for the Nintendo Switch! Animal Crossing: New Horizons will take players to their very own deserted island, a little piece of paradise to explore and make their own.
New Horizons is the fifth main instalment in the Animal Crossing series and it has been eight years since the fourth instalment, New Leaf, which was released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2012. Fans of the franchise are ready and raving for the chance to play on the Switch, a hybrid system that can be used both as a home console and portable device.
Many elements of New Horizons will be familiar to seasoned players. You play as a customisable human avatar, moving into a new town, creating a home, welcoming various animal neighbours, and performing activities such as fishing, bug-catching, watering flowers, and earning in-game currency known as Bells. With your Bells you can purchase clothes, furniture, and more to further customise your game.
In New Horizons, your new home is a deserted island, which you move to having purchased a too-good-to-miss vacation package from Tom Nook. Nook is a recurring character throughout the series who both helps the player and is often all too keen to take your hard-earned Bells for mortgages, extensions, and more.
“Your island getaway,” says Nintendo’s official website, “has a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. You can hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean.”
There are also some new features that have never been seen in previous Animal Crossing games. You will be able to customise the landscape more than ever before, creating pathways, modifying cliffs, hills, ramps, and stairs. There’s an additional in-game currency option, Nook Miles, which can be exchanged for premium items. You may even come across castaways washed up on the shoes of your island!
There will be an emphasis on crafting on New Horizons, using resources like wood, weeds, rocks, and flowers to craft your own tools and furniture. There are also enhanced customisation options for your character, with a range of skin tones, eyes, noses, and mouths to choose from and lots of different hairstyles, clothing and accessory options.
The game is available for pre-order, and Nintendo have also released a special, limited-edition Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch console. The Joy-Cons are pale green and blue, while the dock features waves, a small island with Tom Nook and his nephews Timmy and Tommy standing on it waving a flag. There are also a couple of new Switch and Switch Lite travel cases available featuring New Horizons designs.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be released for Nintendo Switch on Friday March 20th 2020.
