Gamers around the world rejoice as the new Animal Crossing game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, releases in less than a month! Shown for the first time at E3 in June 2019, new and old fans of the series alike were in awe over the idea of the game making its way onto the new Nintendo console, the Switch. With the last main titles of the series, New Leaf and Happy Home Designer, releasing in 2012 and 2015 respectively on the Nintendo 3DS, fans have been asking Nintendo when the next game would be coming out on the company’s new console. Katsuya Eguchi, the creator and spokesperson behind the Animal Crossing series, won the hearts of gamers with the announcement of the new title.

Following the similar formula as its predecessors, in New Horizons, you take on the role of a villager on a new adventure crafted by the game’s favorite capitalistic tanuki, Tom Nook. Nook has created a new business venture in the form of a desert island getaway package! Here, you will create your new life amongst new and beloved villagers as you shape the island to be what you want it to be. New Horizons fosters many of the same elements that games before it has harnessed, including activities like fishing, decorating and interacting with NPCs (non-playable characters), but it has worked extremely hard to give a twist on the adored series.

As of February 20, Nintendo has announced that players will be able to customize their experience in various new ways. One way of customizing is deciding what kind of island you would like to have, with up to four options to choose from as well as the choice of if you’d like to live in the northern or southern hemisphere. This allows players from either sphere to experience the island’s seasons as if they were their very own! 

You can also customize your island with new bridges, slopes and stairwells, as well as making your own pathways and shaping the island anyway you want from rivers, cliffs and waterfalls. Furthermore, the ability for character customization has increased tremendously – from dress to appearance, you can make your character look just like you! Players will now have the ability to craft new items for their homes from the recipes and materials they gather around the island, adding a unique flare to their experience. Also, New Horizons offers players to use the internet or local play to be able to invite up to eight friends on one island to play with! On top of that, if you and a couple friends want to play but only have one Switch, don’t worry – four players can play on one system simultaneously in Party Play! 

There is so much that is offered with the new Animal Crossing game that we don’t have enough time to include them all. Gamers, the world is at your fingertips with this new game and there is so much you do to make it your own. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is set to release on March 20 on the Nintendo Switch. Make sure you pick up your own copy and explore the whole new world Nintendo and Nook Inc. has to offer!