Full Animal Crossing: New Horizons guide for island life

Animal Crossing New Horizons guide
(Image credit: Nintendo)

Our Animal Crossing: New Horizons guide has got all of the advice you could possibly need to create your dream island idyll. Whether you're a veteran of the series or a fresh arrival on the scene, there's lots of new systems to learn so you can get up to speed and stay one step ahead of Tom Nook. Whether you're catching bugs, digging up fossils, or something else entirely, there's plenty of hidden depth beyond the simple exterior of an island simulator. We've got a whole suite of walkthroughs to help you fully explore your islands, fill in your glossary, and fine-tune your paradise to perfection, so you're bound to find what you need in our full Animal Crossing: New Horizons guide.

Top Tips

Animal Crossing: New Horizons tips

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-tips/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons tips
Our 22 top tips to get you started in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, what to expect, what to do next and more.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nook Miles Rewards

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-nook-miles-rewards/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nook Miles Rewards 
Every Nook Miles Rewards we've unlocked to date, and what you get for ticking it off your list.

How to get Nook Mile Tickets

How to get <a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/how-to-get-nook-miles-tickets-animal-crossing-new-horizons/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Nook Mile Tickets in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Jump on a jet and fly away, to a land just over the sea, for new fruit, more resources and even a fresh face.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons amiibo

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-amiibo-how-to-use/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons amiibo support explained 
How to use amiibo and amiibo cards best with Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Tools

Animal Crossing: New Horizons vaulting pole

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-vaulting-pole/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons vaulting pole 
How to get your little paws on the vaulting pole and fling yourself across rivers in order to access your entire island.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons shovel

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-shovel/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons shovel 
How to get the shovel for all your fossil digging, tree planting and flower unearthing requirements in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons ladder

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-ladder/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons ladder 
Scamper up cliffs by getting yourself this handy little extendable ladder. Here's how you get it.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons magic wand

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-magic-wand-star-fragments/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons magic wand 
Here's how to get the magic wand recipe, and how to get the star fragments you'll need to make it.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons golden tools

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-golden-tools/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons golden tools
An in-progress guide to unlocking all the golden tool recipes available in game.

Resources

Animal Crossing: New Horizons fish

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-fish/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons fish guide 
How and when to catch all the fish, broken down by hemisphere, month, and time of day.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons bugs

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-bugs/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons bugs guide 
Every creepy crawly you can catch, broken down by north / south hemisphere, month, and time of day.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons art

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-art-museum-redd/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons art
Figure out how to outfox the art fox with our guide to all the fake art and building out your art gallery.

Image

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/best-animal-crossing-new-horizons-design-codes/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Best Animal Crossing: New Horizons design codes
Get cool clothing, paths, and more created by the wonderful community straight into your game.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons DIY recipes

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-diy-recipes-crafting/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons DIY recipes 
Every DIY recipe we've discovered and crafted so far, all here for your reading pleasure.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons fencing

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-fencing/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons fencing 
How to unlock the option to place fencing, and where to buy more styles to adorn your island with.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons flowers

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-flowers-hybrid-breeding/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons flowers guide
How to get all the different types and how to create hybrids for all the colours possible on your island.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons shrubs

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-shrubs/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons shrubs
Get familiar with the latest flora on your island and get decorating.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons turnips

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-turnips/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons turnips
How they work, when to buy, when to sell and how to find Daisy Mae. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons iron nuggets

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-iron-nuggets/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons iron nuggets 
How and where to find iron nuggets, which you'll need for the better, longer-lasting tools. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons rusted part

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-rusted-part/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons rusted part
Gather these unusual resources to ensure you can craft everything you want. Yes, I'm talking giant robots.

Facilities

Animal Crossing: New Horizons museum

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-museum/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons museum 
How to unlock the museum properly, and reunite with our old owl pal Blathers.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons tailor

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-tailor-mabel-sabel/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons tailor 
How to get Mabel and Sabel back in your life and build the Able Sisters Tailor on your island.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons shop

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-shop-nooks-cranny/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons shop 
How to upgrade the shop from a corner of Tom Nook's tent to the fully-fledged Nook's Cranny we all deserve.

Characters

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Isabelle

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-isabelle/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons Isabelle 
How to get Isabelle back in your life and pulling some strings for you over at Resident Services. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Resetti

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-resetti/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons Resetti 
Is Resetti actually in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Our island clues say yes, and here's why.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons KK Slider

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-kk-slider/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons KK Slider 
How to get KK Slider onto your island and playing regular gigs, as should be the way. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Kicks

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-kicks/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons Kicks
How to find - and keep - the little cute shoe-selling skunk on your island. 

Your Home

Animal Crossing: New Horizons house move

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-move-house/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons house move
How to move - and upgrade - your home once you've opened up your island.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons roof colors

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-roof-colors/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons roof colors
How to unlock the option to change your roof colour, and further home customisation. 

Your Island

How to evict a resident in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-how-to-evict-resident/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">How to evict a resident in Animal Crossing: New Horizons 
Top tips for trying to get rid of a problem resident and get them to hop skip it on somewhere else.

How to improve your&nbsp;Animal Crossing: New Horizons island rating

How to improve your <a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-island-rating-how-to-improve/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons island rating 
Top tips that should help you get your island rating to five stars quicker.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Island Designer app

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-island-designer-app/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons Island Designer app
How to unlock the app, in order to start terraforming on your island - cliff editing, adding/removing water, and placing paths.

All the Animal Crossing: New Horizons fruit

All the <a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-fruit/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons fruit available
Every type of fruit explained, along with how and where to get the full basket on your own island.

How to grow an Animal Crossing: New Horizons money tree

How to grow an <a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-money-tree/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons money tree
Literally start making money by planting it in the ground and plucking the rewards. Here's how to do it.

Your Character

Animal Crossing: New Horizons character customisation

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-character-customisation-hairstyles-clothing/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons character customisation
How to unlock it, where to buy new hairstyles, facial hair and more to really customise your character.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons reactions

<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/animal-crossing-new-horizons-reactions/" data-link-merchant="gamesradar.com"" target="_blank">Animal Crossing: New Horizons reactions
How to get them, and use them to really express how you're feeling right now. It's joy, right?

Sam Loveridge
Global Editor-in-Chief, GamesRadar+

Sam Loveridge is the Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar, and joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.