October marks the start of the spooky season in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, with major events and new critters to catch. Aside from attending a big Halloween party, players can also catch lots of new critters on land, in the water, and beneath the waves. With the seasons changing, October is a great month for critter collectors and social butterflies alike.
Much like September in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, October is a busy month with a packed monthly rotation of new bugs, fish, and deep-sea creatures. As before, players in the Northern Hemisphere will encounter different creatures than players in the Southern Hemisphere. Some October events are also exclusive to players in a specific hemisphere. However, there’s plenty for you to do, regardless of where your island is located.
New Bugs (And Where To Find Them)
Northern Hemisphere
Name | Location | Time of Day | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Ladybug | On top of flowers | 8am – 5pm | 200 |
Southern Hemisphere
Name | Location | Time of Day | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Agrias butterfly | Flying | 8am – 5pm | 3,000 |
Atlas Moth | On trees | 7pm – 4am | 3,000 |
Common bluebottle | Flying | 4am – 7pm | 300 |
Darner dragonfly | Flying | 8am – 5pm | 230 |
Flea | On villagers | All day | 70 |
Giant water bug | On fresh water | 7pm – 8am | 2,000 |
Jewel beetle | On tree stumps | All day | 2,400 |
Long locust | On the ground | 8am – 7pm | 200 |
Madagascan sunset moth | Flying | 8am – 4pm | 2,500 |
Rajah Brooke’s birdwing | Flying | 8am – 5pm | 2,500 |
New Fish (And Where To Find Them)
Northern Hemisphere
Name | Location | Time of Day | Shadow Size | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dab | Sea | All day | Small/Medium | 300 |
Yellow perch | River | All day | Small/Medium | 300 |
Southern Hemisphere
Name | Location | Time of Day | Shadow Size | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Butterflyfish | Sea | All day | Small | 1,000 |
Clownfish | Sea | All day | Very small | 650 |
Crawfish | Ponds | All day | Small | 200 |
Guppy | River | 9am – 4pm | Very small | 1,300 |
Killifish | Ponds | All day | Very small | 300 |
Neon tetra | River | 9am – 4pm | Very small | 500 |
Sea horse | Sea | All day | Very small | 1,100 |
Snapping turtle | River | 9pm – 4am | Big | 5,000 |
Surgeonfish | Sea | All day | Small | 1,000 |
Zebra Turkeyfish | Sea | All day | Small/Medium | 500 |
New Deep-Sea Creatures
Northern Hemisphere
Name | Time of Day | Shadow Size | Speed | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seaweed | All day | Large | Stationary | 600 |
Spiny lobster | 9pm – 4am | Large | Fast | 5,000 |
Venus’ flower basket | All day | Medium | Fast (lunges) | 5,000 |
Southern Hemisphere
Name | Time of Day | Shadow Size | Speed | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lobster | All day | Large | Fast | 4,500 |
October Events And Seasonal Items
October has some great events, and it’s a particularly fun month for Southern Hemisphere players, who get to experience Cherry Blossom Season from October 1st through to October 10th. Hardwood trees will blossom and cherry blossom petals can be caught with a net. Players can combine these with DIY recipes obtained by popping balloons to craft special cherry-blossom themed decorations. This includes a beautiful cherry blossom bonsai, sakura-wood flooring and wallpaper, and the outdoor picnic set.
C.J.’s Fishing Tourney also returns on October 8th, the second Saturday of the month. You can spend some time participating in fishing competitions to catch as many fish as possible within three minutes. This earns points that can be exchanged with C.J. for special prizes. It’s worth taking part, as C.J.’s next Fishing Tourney won’t take place until January 14th, 2024 in both hemispheres.
Finally, Halloween takes place on October 31st. It’s worth prepping for Halloween before the day by buying lots of Candy from Nook’s Cranny. Jack, the pumpkin-headed specter, will visit islands after 5pm and you can exchange Candy for special spooky-themed items. You can also give Candy to your villager friends in exchange for special DIY recipes, and they may even help you by decorating your face with makeup.
Overall, October is busier and more fun than the lazy summer months, so returning to your Animal Crossing: New Horizons island in October 2023 is well worth it.
Animal Crossing New Horizons
- Franchise:
- Animal Crossing
- Platform(s):
- Nintendo Switch
- Released:
- 2020-03-20
- Developer(s):
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s):
- Nintendo
- Genre(s):
- Simulation
- Multiplayer:
- Nintendo
- ESRB:
- E
- Expansions:
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Happy Home Paradise
- How Long To Beat:
- 68-600 hours
- Platforms:
- Nintendo Switch
- Expansion Packs :
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons- Happy Home Paradise
- Prequel:
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf
