Parents' Guide to

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Game Nintendo Switch 2020
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

David Chapman By David Chapman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 7+

The island life is idyllic in this latest adventure sim.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 7+?

Animal Crossing</a> franchise, which has already seen a number of games, collectibles, and more. New Horizons includes features that allow players to import content from <a href=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/"/game-reviews/animal-crossing-new-leaf">Animal Crossing: New Leaf</a>, <a href=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/"/game-reviews/animal-crossing-happy-home-designer">Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designers</a>, and compatible Nintendo amiibo figures and cards.</p> ">

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 6+

Based on 27 parent reviews

age 13+

It’s a great game

I love it but could use a bit more updates then 2 years ik we won’t see another animal crossing for bit of years :(
age 5+

Animal crossing

It’s the best game for kids it has animals and you can turn your island into anything you want! My kids enjoy it so much it a nice game it has cute voices and you can go fishing and sell them and you can earn bells

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (27 ):
Kids say (187 ):

It's been many years since Nintendo first invited gamers to pack their bags and make a new virtual home for themselves in the world of Animal Crossing. Now, with Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Nintendo has fine-tuned the franchise's formula to the point of near perfection, offering gamers an island vacation that's easy to pick up and almost impossible to put down. The game offers up all the core mechanics that have appealed to fans since taking out their first mortgage with Tom Nook. Once again, there's no winning or losing. Instead, the game is essentially a personal Zen garden, encouraging players to simply have fun and enjoy life on their island as they see fit. For some, that might mean raising a colorful garden; others might enjoy passing the time near the water with some fishing. There's no wrong way to play here, and that's the best part about it.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons brings with it a number of upgrades and additions that fans of the series should appreciate. Right off the bat, players have more customization options for their characters, including choosing their characters' skin tone. This might seem minor, but it adds a much more personal touch that can make the game more relatable to players. It also introduces a robust crafting system to the series. By visiting a bench, players can use materials collected from the island to build all kinds of items, from handy tools to festive decor. Being able to craft tools is a welcome change, as players no longer have to hope certain tools are in stock at the shop. Another interesting addition are Nook Miles, a new kind of currency that players earn alongside the usual Bells. Unlike Bells, which are earned by selling off items, players earn Nook Miles simply by playing the game. The Nook Phone app lists different challenges for players to accomplish; accomplishments earn Nook Miles that can be used to pay off home improvements or for other shop exclusives. By doing this, the game removes a lot of the "greed" element of previous games, rewarding players for things they'd likely be doing anyway.

Game Details

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