Animal Crossing: New Horizons provides choices for almost every detail in the game, making each island a world of the player’s own imagination. From the moment Timmy and Tommy are introduced at the check-in counter, decisions are made that greatly impact the island’s future. With so many options of how to play New Horizons, it can be difficult to decide what the island should have first.
At the beginning of the game, there are a few tasks that must be completed – such as placing villager tents, throwing a party, naming the island, and taking on the new role of Resident Representative. After these first steps, there are new goals introduced to build up the island. One of the ultimate objectives of New Horizons is earning a 3-star island rating after which K.K. Slider is invited to visit and perform a concert for the villagers. Once K.K. Slider has performed his first concert on the island, terraforming is unlocked, which opens many new doors to design and decoration.
There is a great amount of freedom that players have in deciding how to complete tasks necessary to reach K.K. Slider’s initial concert and the New Horizons credits. The quest to earning a 3-star rating includes various tasks like inviting other villagers to the island, construction of buildings, and collecting items to decorate outdoors. Although New Horizons can be played in a variety of ways, there are a few elements that should always be included first.
How To Start A New Animal Crossing Island
One of the best ways to get started on an island in New Horizons is to begin making friends. At first, two villagers accompany the player to the new island. Tom Nook will eventually instruct the Resident Representative to gather materials to create homes that three additional villagers can move into. New Horizons has a maximum of ten villagers per island, which can be added to the game via amiibo, trading with friends, recruiting them through the campsite, or encountering them on a mystery island tour. Adding villagers makes each island a unique community with interesting resident dynamics to explore.
Inviting new villagers to move in is not the only way to grow the island’s residents. There are also many opportunities to meet beloved characters of the Animal Crossing series. In addition to the Nooks, characters like Blathers, the Dodos, the Able Sisters, and eventually Isabelle make the island their home. In order to convince these characters to join the island, there are several tasks to complete – like gathering materials for buildings or purchasing items for them.
As the amount of residents on an island increases, this will undoubtedly inspire other additions necessary to reach the 3-star island rating goal. For example, New Horizons offers several bridge and incline options to create greater fluidity between buildings and homes. Additionally, hunting for villagers on mystery island tours can introduce the player to nonnative fruits and flowers to add to their own islands to improve their rating. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a relaxing game with flexible objectives, and adding residents is one of the most fun and efficient ways to begin island life.
