Read this Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) guide on how to increase island rating. This includes Isabelle's island evaluation, island environment, rewards, and max ratings!!!
Table of Contents
Island Rating Rewards
Unlocks New Island Features
| Island Rating | Unlocked Feature |
|---|---|
| ★★★☆☆ | - Unlocks Island Designer - Invites KK Slider to island |
| ★★★★★ | - Unlocks Golden Watering Can DIY recipe - Can grow Golden Roses |
Aim For Initial 3-Star Rating
A 3-star rating on your island will unlock the Island Designer app on your Nook Phone. Having this app will allow you to terraform your island. You'll also get visits from K.K. Slider, the popular Animal Crossing musician!
Check Out the Nook Phone Guide Here5-Star Rating Unlocks Gold Watering Can
When you reach a 5-star rating for your island, you'll get the DIY recipe for the gold watering can. This is considered endgame content and would take lots of resources & play time to achieve.
Check Out Our 5-Star Island Rating Guide Here!How to Increase Island Rating
Video Guide On Increasing Island Rating
How To Improve Island Rating & Environment
- Invite max villagers to island
- Add / upgrade shops & facilities
- Plant more flowers and trees
- Add fences & outdoor furniture
- Remove weeds & garbage
To improve your island rating and environment, make sure to follow the above conditions. Doing so will increase your star rating!
Ask Isabelle For Improvement Tips
Isabelle will also give you tips on how to improve your island's environment. She'll give you pointers on what she wants to see on the island to make it look and feel better.
Place Furniture In One Spot For 3-Star Rating
Find an empty, wide space on your island and concentrate a lot of outdoor furniture there. This will help you get the 3-star rating faster so you can unlock the Island Designer app.
Place Items All Over Island For 4-Star Rating
To reach a 4-star rating on your island, you'll need to place furniture and flowers all over the island. Speak with Isabelle in Resident Services to know if there's anything that's missing.
No. Of Items For 5-Star Rating
These numbers were confirmed by members of our team.
| Fence | 250+ pcs |
|---|---|
| Flowers | 250+ pcs |
| DIY Items | 70+ pcs |
| Nook Miles Items | 20+ pcs |
| Nook's Cranny Items | 65+ pcs |
Invite Max Number Of Villagers To Island
Sell Land & Invite Villagers
You can increase the number of villagers on the island by putting up land for sale. Tom Nook can help you with this at Resident Services!
Check Out How To Invite Villagers To Island!Invite Via Campsite
One way to invite new villagers to your island is to speak with them when they visit your campsite. This way you can select which villagers will reside in your island.
Check Out Campsite Features Here!Invite Via Mystery Island Tour
In Tom Nook's Mystery Island Tours, you'll visit other deserted islands that may have new villagers in them. You can also invite them to come and live in your island.
Check Out Mystery Island Tours Here!Add Or Upgrade Shops & Facilities
Your island environment will also increase with the number of shops and facilities you have on the island. Progress the story and complete special character quests to unlock more stores!
How To Unlock Each Store
Upgrade Stores
it is also possible to upgrade these two stores, although currently the upgrade conditions are hotly contested and are not confirmed. It is likely that this upgrade will simply happen over time, so build the stores as fast as possible!
Plant More Flowers & Trees
If the island evaluation mentions something about "improving the natural scenery", this means you need to plant more trees and flowers.
How To Add More Trees & Flowers
Plant Flower Seeds & Fruits
You can plant more flowers and trees by using your shovel, digging a hole, and planting seeds or fruits. You can purchase seeds from Nook's Cranny or get fruits from deserted islands.
Take From Mystery Island Tours
You can also take trees and flowers from the deserted islands on mystery island tours. Use your shovel to uproot flowers and trees to take them whole into your inventory.
Add Fences & Outdoor Furniture
Improve Island Landscape With Outdoor Furniture
Placing outdoor furniture on your island will boost up your rating and environment. If you want to raise your rating fast, you don't need to think about the layout or design, just put down as much furniture as you can.
Check Out All DIY Recipe List Here!Install Fences To Improve Rating
Installing fences around your island will also improve its environment and rating. You can purchase DIY recipes from the Nook Stop terminal for Nook Miles.
Check Out How To Farm Nook Miles!Remove Weeds & Garbage
Pull Out Weeds From Ground
Go over your entire island and make sure to pick out every weed you see. This counts towards your island's evaluation, even in areas that are hard to reach such as hills!
Pick Up Materials Off Ground
Make sure to pick up any materials you've dropped on the ground as this will take points away from your rating. Place these items inside your house's storage instead.
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 |
