It feels like the whole world is playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons right now. The social simulator has arrived at just the right time and players are lining up to board a Dodo Airlines plane and start a new life on a deserted island. However, that island doesn’t stay deserted for long and its growth comes with some issues.
Many aspects of the game are truly enjoyable but some features have turned out to be less of a dream and more of a nightmare. Here we take a look at the very best and worst aspects of life on your very own island in New Horizons.
10 Best: It Has A Large Amount Of Customization
New Horizons feels like a true escape. You rule the island and although Tom Nook is still hanging around peddling loans like a backstreet loan shark the player is in control. You decide where islanders live and the location of the new museum and shops, not him.
The only things set in place are the plaza and the airport. Everything else you can place, move, decorate and customize. You can also place items all over the island so you can make the entire place look exactly the way you pictured it.
9 Worst: Co-Op Has Huge Limitations
Each Switch will only allow one island, even if you have more than one copy of the game. You’ll also find that only the primary founder of the island can access quests that require placing stores and other amenities.
There is the option to allow up to seven other players on your island. However, they are restricted. While you can build and farm and play together there is a leader. Other players must stay close to them and will have limited access to functionality. You can change up that leader so you can share resources but it’s very much a case of one player, many helpers.
8 Best: You Can Play At A Relaxed Pace
The game works best played in short bursts each day, preferably at different times. There is plenty to do if you want to sink more hours in but those who just want a little escapism each day will find themselves equally content.
Every day there are new resources to collect and even just taking a lap of your island to grab these can be enough to make you feel like you’re keeping pace. It also means you’re more prepared when Tom Nook starts asking you to collect materials to help with building projects.
7 Worst: The Island Builders Are Slow
Speaking of being relaxed, the island builders are very slow. While the chilled pace is great, the first couple of island weeks can feel like a grind as you wait and wait some more for structures to be built.
Unlocking enough elements to be able to explore your entire island, gain access to the shop and start your museum can feel like a long process. However, you can use the time travel hack to speed this up, just make sure you don’t go backward or past Saturday if you have turnips on you!
6 Best: Making Bells Isn’t Too Challenging But Collecting Everything Is
One of the best things about the game is that you can amass bells quite quickly, meaning that house upgrade and expensive furniture isn’t as unreachable as it may seem. All resources can be sold, even weeds have a price, and you can also dabble in trading and the stalk market.
However, for those who like a challenge, filling the museum will be a massive task. Once the building is unlocked just go inside and wander around. There are a lot of empty spaces to fill and given some of them will require seasonal catches, it’ll take a while.
5 Worst: Resources Are Limited Each Day
Every island has five rocks. One will yield bells and the other four stones, clay or iron nuggets. Even if you master the art of hitting the rock eight times (by digging behind you or building a fence) then you’re still going to run out of options, fast.
Trees and fruit are far more plentiful but so many things require iron, including decent tools, that you’ll be willing to trade for it pretty quickly. Luckily you can get a boost from other islands but that requires either spending nook miles or stealing from your friends also limited supplies, which we don’t condone.
4 Best: The Nook Miles Currency Is A Nice Addition
Luckily Nook Miles are here to take off the pressure a little. They are earned by simply living your best island life. Everything the game wants you to do is rewarded and you can trade them for useful recipes, furniture and more.
It’s nice to have the alternative currency and it gives players more flexibility. Nook Miles also have their own rotating catalog, meaning you have two chances to acquire things you want each day.
3 Worst: Visitors Can Take Your Resources
If you open up your island you’ll get visitors, however, this comes with a price. Visitors can do things to mess up your island. While they need special permission to use an axe, for example, they can still cause havoc.
Flowers can be picked, trees shook and fish plundered and your limited daily resources can be wiped out by visitors pretty fast. For anyone who doesn’t like interference on their island, being anti-social is essential.
2 Best: Visiting Other Islands Can Boost Supplies
Visiting other islands is a two-way process, so just as someone can take your resources, you can do the same to others. While we don’t condone stealing there are mutually beneficial options available.
Taking your native fruit and selling it elsewhere will boost your bells, or trade it with a friend so you can both grow none native trees. You could also pick clean the island of a friend who has told you they can’t get online that day or an island you visit with your Nook Miles ticket. Playing nice can still bring benefits.
1 Worst: Wasps And Tarantulas
While collecting can usually be enjoyable there are wasps and tarantulas on this island and we aren’t very happy about it. The wasps will immediately sting unless you are very handy with a net. For those of us without lightning-fast reflexes, the stings can be cured with medicine but you’ll need to buy or craft it.
There are also tarantula’s running around that can bite you. If you do manage to catch these then you’ll avoid fainting, but your character will proudly hold up the specimen, turning arachnophobes into quivering wrecks in seconds.
NEXT: 10 Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Animal Crossing: New Horizons
