Animal Crossing: New Horizons

So far, 2020 has not been a great year, with very little to brighten people’s days and scary world events that have locked half the earth’s population down to their homes. Fortunately, Nintendo stepped up and released a game that is the exact opposite of the current world climate. A game so colorful, so happy and filled with pure positivity that even the most hardened skeptic wouldn’t be able not to raise a smile to the colorful and wonderful world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Nook Who’s Back, Tom is Back

So, what’s new in the Animal Crossing world you may wonder, well actually quite a lot. You start the game by flying out to your new home on your own private island, and from there the rest is entirely up to you. Starting with a simple tent, after paying off your Island relocation fees, you will be able to upgrade your temporary accommodation to a small home. You do this via Tom Nook’s new Nook Miles rewards program. Through completing tasks ranging from finding eggs, catching bugs and pulling in a specified number of fish you win Nook Miles. The Nook Miles program ultimately allows the player to discover the complete expanse of their new home and fully embrace island life. And, as you explore, you’ll realize that New Horizons looks much better than any Animal Crossing game to date. Individual tree leaves shuffle in the wind, sunlight glistens off the ocean and aurora flashes across the night sky. As your island develops, other buildings and facilities will begin to appear. These include new shops, a museum to house all the bugs and fish you collect and an improved Resident Services. You can also buy new items to further explore and decorate your island, but it’s easier to utilize the game’s brand-new crafting system. With the help of Tom Nook’s crafting bench and the plentiful natural resources your deserted island offers, your villager will be able to craft basic tools once you’ve learned the corresponding DIY recipes. Twigs, stones, and weeds can be collected and used to craft shovels, axes, and medicine. As you learn more DIY recipes your crafting opportunities will broaden to include furniture, outdoor accessories and better tools.

Customize Everything Your Heart Desires

During the early game, your furniture will be limited to basic tables and chairs, but customization kits let players add a splash of color in order to inject some style into their interiors. Speaking of style, New Horizons offers an incredible amount of decoration options. Taking elements from spinoff games Happy Home Designer and Pocket Camp, players can now decorate the outside of their homes as well as the inside. Players will embark on an ultra-exclusive Nook Inc. Deserted Island Getaway Package and enjoy a peaceful existence full of creativity, charm and the freedom to roll up their sleeves and make their new life whatever they want it to be. Players can collect resources they can craft into everything from creature comforts to handy tools as they set up a homestead they can decorate freely, both inside and out. But the improved customization doesn’t stop there. Don’t like the direction a river flows in? Frustrated that a cliff face is blocking the view from your garden? It’s not a problem. With the new land forming tool you can redirect rivers and re-sculpt hilly terrain to perfect your island’s geography. The customization potential it offers is near infinite, and it’s an exciting mechanic for casual players to mess around with as well.

Cute Is The New Hardcore

Don’t be fooled by the cutesy graphics or the simplistic game style, Animal Crossing is ridiculously addictive and you’ll find hours fly by as you go around your island customizing to your heart’s content. There are honestly very few games out today that truly makes one feel happy and puts a smile on one’s face. Animal Crossing couldn’t have come out at a better time as we all need some positivity and smiles in 2020.