Beginner's Guide to Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a game that was developed by Nintendo, is played on the Nintendo Switch, and is well-loved by many.

When first entering the game, you find yourself upon a mostly deserted island, and the goal is to complete tasks to improve the island you are now living on. This task was given to you by Tom Nook, as part of Nook Inc's Getaway Package, though Tom would say it's more of an opportunity. Starting all the way at the bottom, you'll spend hours, days, slowly progressing to YEARS of hard, back-breaking, grueling work, but the time spent on this development will soon prove to be an achievement, and your many island villagers will be most grateful. Every bell earned is well worth the result.

Here are some basic knowledge points to take note of:

• At the very beginning, Timmy and Tommy, colleagues of Tom Nook, will be there to greet you and help in the application for the Deserted Island Getaway Package. Follow the directions they provide (including the player's information, customization, and choice of island) and you'll take a flight via Dodo Airlines to your very own deserted island.

  Once on your island, you will follow the requests and tasks given from residents and, most importantly, Tom Nook, a tanuki/raccoon. Though Tom Nook is now your landlord and seems he rules the island, don't forget that the island's fate is now in your hands, and you have the freedom to choose what the future of your island is going to be. Isabelle helps run the town center with Tom Nook, and ensures that your island is running smoothly. Her daily morning announcements give you all the details for the day ahead.

• The currency of your island are Bells. Bells can be earned in a number of ways, but the most common is to sell items to Timmy and Tommy at Nook's Cranny. There are also visitors who stop by the island weekly or monthly that will either buy or sell certain items. For example, there is a visitor named Flick, a bug enthusiast who totally 'bugs' out over any bug you set in front of him. He will pay a much higher price for bugs than Timmy or Tommy would.

  Another way to earn Bells are from the Stalk Market. This is a market where you can buy and sell turnips in order to turn a profit. The catch is though that the value fluctuates by the day and is determined by that Nook's Cranny sets. Every Sunday morning, Daisy Mae visits the island and offers to sell you turnips. Starting Monday through to Saturday evening, (as Sundays are meant just for buying), you have a chance to sell the turnips at a profit or a loss at Nook's Cranny. Once Sunday comes around again, all of the turnips you currently have in stock will perish, and you will lose out on the money originally invested.

  One of my favorite visitors is a fox named Redd (aka Crazy Redd or Jolly Redd). He is the shopkeeper for his shop Jolly Redd's Treasure Trawler. He sells artwork and unique furniture. Though he is quite the smooth talker, his lies and deceipt couldn't be more obvious. His "unique" furniture sells for twice the price than what it would go for at Nook's Cranny, and his artwork is commonly known to be counterfeit. Though if you have a trained eye, you may be able to beat him at his own game. If so, you can choose to donate the artwork to the island's museum.

• There are a number of items that can be added to your inventory, including:

  1. Resources
  2. Fish
  3. Bugs
  4. Flowers
  5. Artwork
  6. Fossils
  7. Items and Decorations
  8. Clothing
  
  And there is so much more!

• Though items in your inventory can be sold for a profit, you can also donate items to the island museum, where the curator, an owl named Blathers, will display the donated items for all island villagers to enjoy. Items donated include fish, bugs, artwork, and fossils. This is dependent on you, the player, and only you. The more you donate, the more your island museum will flourish.

  Eventually, the museum will gain a cafe: The Roost. The cafe is operated by Brewster, a pigeon that serves coffee to the island's villagers for only 200 Bells. Brewster is stoic at first meeting, but the more you visit, the more he will start to enjoy your company, and will even offer a splash of pigeon's milk in your coffee, free of charge.

• In total, you are allowed up to 10 villagers to live on your island. When you first arrive, there will already be two villagers that reside there. In all, there are 413 villagers that can decide whether or not they want to live on your island. There are multiple ways to gain villagers, like by visiting the campsite on your island or by visiting mystery islands via Dodo Airlines. Each villager is unique in their own way, but they can also be categorized into personality types (lazy, jock, cranky, smug, normal, peppy, snooty, big sister). If you are selective enough (and don't mind kicking out the villagers you dislike), you will end up with an island full of your dream villagers.

  Interacting with your villagers can make the game enjoyable, and as the game goes, the relationships you hold with your villages grow closer. You can talk to them as they walk about the island, visit their homes (or they might visit yours), send letters, give gifts, attend parties, and so much more. Even something so simple as gifting them an item and them showing gratitude... the littlest things can make you smile.