Beginner Guide & Tips - What To Do | Animal Crossing (ACNH)

Read this Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch (ACNH) guide to learn how to play the game! This beginner's tips and guide features useful gameplay tips, what to do, and more!!!

Things You Should Do In November

Check out this article to find out what to do in November, including which fish, bugs, and sea creatures you won't be able to catch next month!

The Best Way To Progress Through The Early Game

Early Game Story Walkthrough

The airport is available after the 2nd day. For step 5 and onward, we recommend saving up Miles and buying the Pretty Good Tools Recipe, as it will improve the durability of your items, letting you gather materials more efficiently.

Early Game Walkthrough Video

Getting Started on the Island

Creating Your Character

Once you arrive at the airport, you will need to check-in at the counter. Here, you will be able to customize how your character will look in the game! Unlike previous titles, you do not need to answer any questions for the game to determine how you look!

You Can Change Your Look Anytime

Keep in mind that what you initially look is not permanent! You can use a mirror or vanity item to change the way you look, if you feel like you need a makeover!

Choosing Your Island

You will also be tasked to choose which island you plan to live in! Keep in mind that these islands have different layouts, so take some time to learn the different features of each island before choosing!

Customize the Terrain

If you feel like your island's layout could be better, you can opt to mold the terrain of your island! Change the layout of your island to just how you like it! However, you will need a permit to start terraforming!

Choose Which Hemisphere to Play In

You will also be able to choose which hemisphere your island is located in! Depending on the hemisphere, the current in-game season will change! These could determine in-game events, the look of the island, & more!

Placing Your Tent

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you'll be able to choose the location of your home base, or your tent! Choose the spot that you like the most, whether on beach or near some trees!

Can Also Place Villager's Tents

You also have the option of choosing where to place the tents of villagers on the island. This makes for great island planning and layout!

2 Starting Villagers

When you first arrived at the deserted island, you will meet two villagers to live in the same island. Learn more about how the starting villagers are determined from the guide below.

Daily Island Life - What To Do

Things To Do Every Day

Some events in Animal Crossing reset every day when the date changes. These include bonus free Miles, merchandise for sale, and more. If you try to boot up the game for a short time every day, you'll reap the rewards quickly.

Gathering Materials

Now that you're settled in, you can start gathering materials! You can shake trees to gather fruits, gather weeds, and more! These can be used later on when you start crafting!

>> Material List Can Be Found Here

Learn DIY Recipes to Craft Items

Once you have the materials, you can learn DIY recipes to help you create and customize furniture and tools! Once you have the recipe, head to a workbench to start crafting!

• Check Out DIY Crafting Here!
• Check Out What To Do With Duplicate Recipes Here

Create Tools to Interact With the Environment

Remember to create tools since these will help you interact with different items on the island, making your life easier! Don't forget to get the Tool Ring to easily access your tools!

Catch Bugs & Fish For Bells

You can also catch Bugs and Fish, then sell them for Bells! Bells are the in-game currency which allow you to purchase better tools, more furniture, and even more DIY recipes!

Use Fish Bait to Spawn a Fish

Scatter Fish Bait in any body of water and a fish will appear immediately. This will work at any time and anywhere, even at Piers and other locations.

Related Articles

Bug List

Fish List

Repaying Your Debt

Your purchase of the Getaway Package will cause you to take out a loan from Tom Nook. In New Horizons, you will need to pay back Tom Nook using Miles instead of Bells. Thankfully, there is no time limit or interest, so there is no pressure for you to pay back the debt immediately!

Pay Off A Loan Before Taking Out Another

However, if you want to take out another loan, you will need to completely pay off any outstanding debts you have! Keep this in mind if you are planning on taking out another loan!

Paying Off 3rd Loan Unlocks Mailbox Movement

After paying off your 3rd Loan to Tom Nook, you'll gain the ability to move your mailbox around freely!

Interacting With Villagers

Daily island life will not be what it is without the island's residents. Make sure to talk to all the villagers every day as they may have some quests for you, with very nice rewards!

Can Make Villagers Leave

You also have the power to make villagers you don't like leave the island. There are several ways such as ignoring them or complaining to Isabelle about them!

Increase Inventory Space

By spending bells, it's possible to get 2 additional upgrades to your inventory space. You can go from 20 -> 30 -> 40 maximum slots, so consider prioritizing this!

Plant Flowers

Make your island more beautiful by planting flower. You can raise island evaluation by planting flowers and make good scenery.

Customize Your Furnitures

Custom your furnitures and Nook Phone to make it your own style. Coloring your furnitures is also great way to bring good luck with Feng Shui.

Multiplayer Options

Online Multiplayer

Thanks to the airport, players will be able to visit their friend's island, or invite others to visit your own island! Each island can support up to 8 players, so you can bring several friends over to explore! You can exchange friend codes in the link below!

Do Various Activities Together

With online multiplayer, you will be able to buy and sell items in your friend's island's shops, catch exotic bugs and fish, gather fruits that aren't native to your island, and much more!

Local / Couch Co-op

Party Play is Animal Crossing's Local or Couch Co-op feature. Here, you will be able to invite players who have accounts on the same Nintendo Switch to come visit your island!

Secrets And Cheats

Things You Might Not Know About The Game

There are many aspects to New Horizons that might be somewhat less known to most players. Some of these include 'cheats' such as traveling through time, while others are simply fun easter eggs (like the fact that you can change your clothes at refrigerators!) Either way, check out our full article to find out tons of neat facts about New Horizons!

Learn About Villager's Personality

There Are 8 Different Personalities

There are 8 types of villager personality in ACNH and the DIY recipes he/she gives differs depending on their personality. Learn more about the villager's personality from the guide below.

Increase Friendship Levels

Talk To Villagers And Give Them Gifts

By talking to villagers on your island and giving them presents, you'll be able to improve your friendship! Doing so will give you possible rewards and unlock the ability to have the villager say custom greetings! You can also get a picture of a villager if you're close friends!

Reset To Get Villagers You Want

How To Choose What Villagers You Get

It is possible to repeat certain processes in game in order to get multiple chances of getting a villager that you like. This is different depending on what part of the game you're in, so make sure to check out our very detailed guide below:

Animal Crossing New Horizons Switch - Recommended Articles

April Updates

April Update Related Articles
1.10 Update
May Day	Museum Day	Wedding Season

Essential Guides

All Fish List	All Bug List
Sea Creatures List	Villager Tier List
All Villagers List	Mystery Island List
DIY Recipes List	DIY Materials List

Must Reads For Beginners

Beginner Guide & Tips
Points of No Return	Beginning Questions
Best Island Layout	Best Tent Location