Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Switch 2 Edition Wiki

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Switch 2 Edition

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a life simulation game developed by Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo, released for Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2020 and re-released as a Switch 2 Edition in 2026. The player settles on a deserted island via Tom Nook's Deserted Island Getaway package and shapes it into a thriving community, gathering resources, paying off loans, and welcoming animal villagers. Gameplay revolves around a relaxed real-time clock: time passes alongside the real world, driving seasonal events, daily shops, and the changing wildlife of each month. Core loops include DIY crafting, bug catching, fishing, fossil hunting, sea diving, gardening, and decorating with furniture and terraforming, all tied to the Nook Miles reward system. Its enormous cast of special NPCs, hundreds of collectible creatures, and local plus online multiplayer made it one of the best-selling games of all time.

• Real-Time Clock Simulation: The game runs on a real-time clock synced to the player's system, so days, seasons, weather, and the calendar drive every activity from shop hours to monthly catchable wildlife.
• DIY Crafting and Tool Durability: Resources gathered around the island (wood, stone, iron, clay) are turned into tools and furniture at a workbench; tools wear out over time and must be repaired or remade.
• Nook Miles and Achievement Loop: Completing everyday actions earns Nook Miles, a separate currency redeemable for special items, tickets to Mystery Islands, and QoL perks, layered on top of Bells, the normal currency.
• Collecting and Museum: Fishing, bug catching, fossil digging, sea diving, and acquiring art fill the town museum's exhibits, rewarding complete collections with themes and scenery.
• Island Designer and Terraforming: An in-game app lets the player reshape the island itself, building cliffs, waterways, and paths and arranging outdoor furniture to craft a personalized layout.
• Special NPC Roster: A rotating cast of visiting and resident special characters (Tom Nook, Isabelle, K.K. Slider, Redd, Daisy Mae, and others) drives shops, events, and services on a weekly timetable.
• Single- and Multiplayer Life: Up to four players share one island on a single console in local co-op, while online play allows up to eight players to visit one another's islands and trade.
• Switch 2 Edition: The 2026 re-release brings high-resolution presentation and Switch 2 platform features to the island, carrying forward the full base game and update content.