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Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Critics Consensus (Play It)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a next-generation reboot of a Nintendo classic. There’s nothing else quite like Animal Crossing, and New Horizons is a much-needed escape that couldn’t have come at a better time.
Game Info
Escape to a deserted island and create your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. Your island getaway has a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. You can hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean. The time of day and season match real life, so each day on your island is a chance to check in and find new surprises all year round.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 109
Editors' Choice, Nom: Game of the Year (2020)
Gold TIER
45% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Simulation
DEVELOPER(S):
- Nintendo
PUBLISHER(S):
- Nintendo
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- Animal Crossing
GAME MODES:
- Co-operative, Multiplayer, Single player, Split screen
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
109
Critic Reviews
90
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
100%
Median Score
90%
Low Score
70%
What did you think of Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
Russ Frushtick (Polygon)
March 16, 2020
Recommended
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a respite from the current state of the world. I find my general anxiety slowly subside as I run through my town, water my plants, and build furniture for the sassy chicken gentleman living down by the beach. It’s exactly what I need right now.
Ian Walker (Kotaku)
March 16, 2020
Recommended
I know this can’t last forever. But in the meantime, I’m going to absorb as much from my time here as possible in the hopes of taking at least a little bit of Aurora back with me.
Dave Thier (Forbes)
March 16, 2020
10/10
Know that if you’re overwhelmed with the world, stuck inside, or adrift in a life that you know will look totally different next week — get Animal Crossing.
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (109 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnaitGames | Marta Trivi | 10 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Creative as always, polished as never before, the new Animal Crossing is bound for becoming a true phenomenon, one of the most important video games of 2020. | Read review |
| Areajugones | Víctor Rodríguez | 9.3 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing is back with New Horizons. A game that feels big, polished and absolutely addictive. Ninteno has managed to create yet another entry in the series that has enough changes without leaving behind the feeling and philosophy of Animal Crossing. | Read review |
| Ars Technica | Sam Machkovech | Recommended | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing games have always delivered a compelling version of self-quarantine, and this one overflows with quantity, without sacrificing quality, to do so at a scale series fans have never seen. | Read review |
| Atomix | Alberto Desfassiaux | 92 / 100 | 03-19-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is just the game we wanted and much more. This franchise demonstrates once more why it is so special. | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | Kyle Hanson | 4.5 / 5 stars | 04-08-2020 | It’s an exceptional game, with few faults to speak of, and players who have even the slightest inkling of interest should check it out as soon as possible. | Read review |
| AusGamers | RachelWu | 8 / 10 | 04-07-2020 | Perhaps it’s the result of the current state of things, but with all the vibrant and adorable charm that permeates Animal Crossing, I almost wish there was a slightly more sinister secondary storyline to contrast with the saccharine world. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Bahram Bigharaz | 9 / 10 | 03-30-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is yet another title that you can clearly see Nintendo’s mark on it. It aims only to entertain, and it succeeds. If you are looking to distant yourself from all the violence and adrenaline that most games on the market are offering right now, then this is a perfect match for you. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Eva Herinkova | 10 / 10 | 03-26-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an incredible experience and is, without a doubt, my favorite in the whole series. The formula is familiar for returning fans, yet still manages to feel like an enormous breath of fresh air. It truly is a distinctive, positive, and rewarding simulation that lets you become fully immersed in a fun, colorful, stress-free environment. While it still has its confusing moments, especially for new players, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was definitely worth the seven-year wait and is better than I could have ever hoped for. | Read review |
| Cerealkillerz | Manuel Barthes | 9.2 / 10 | 03-23-2020 | Good things take time, a luxury that benefits Animal Crossing in particular! New Horizons extends the life simulation with an impressive island building simulator that is bursting with creativity and richness of detail. This makes the trip to your own oasis of wellbeing a fantastic gaming experience that knows how to inspire for many weeks and months. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Jordan Biordi | 10 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons takes everything good about Animal Crossing, and improves it ten-fold. | Read review |
| Cheat Code Central | Jenni Lada | 4.9 / 5 stars | 03-24-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons could end up being the most important game of 2020. It certainly will be one of its best. It will be the coping mechanism that helps people both recover from and overcome the dark things around them. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Edie W-K | 9 / 10 | 03-20-2020 | “… if you want a relaxing lifestyle experience that’ll last you years, I can’t recommend this enough.” | Read review |
| COGconnected | James Paley | 92 / 100 | 03-16-2020 | If you’ve ever had even a whiff of interest in this franchise, Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be an absolute slam dunk. Don’t sleep on this one for a second. | Read review |
| Critical Hit | Brad Lang | 8.5 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a game that manages to be wholeheartedly cathartic, relaxing and adorable for every second you play despite some legacy flaws and clunky menus that may vex just a little too much | Read review |
| Cubed3 | Susan Gray | 10 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | As in the past games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is rich with culture, community, humour and charm. There’s a reason why the series has such a dedicated fan base | Read review |
| Cultured Vultures | Megan Walton | 9 / 10 | 04-10-2020 | New Horizons is a great continuation of an already fantastic series of games, and paying back Tom Nook’s loan has never been so fun. | Read review |
| Daily Mirror | Jasper Pickering | 5 / 5 stars | 03-16-2020 | Long time fans of Animal Crossing will have plenty to love with New Horizons and for younger players who may be unfamiliar with past entries, the appeal will become immediately apparent in its presentation. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a must play for any Nintendo Switch owner. | Read review |
| Daily Star | Rebecca Stow | 5 / 5 stars | 03-16-2020 | Similar to how Breath of the Wild and Odyssey reimagined 3D Zelda and Mario, New Horizons represents an exciting new milestone for the Animal Crossing series. | Read review |
| DASHGAMER.com | Dan Rizzo | 9 / 10 | 04-15-2020 | With an established franchise that has had its fair share of mixed emotions in prior entries, it’s wonderful to see it reach new heights, and garner a wider appeal amongst gamers. Animal Crossing New Horizons is no doubt, an essential staple to the growing Nintendo Switch library, and will be marked as such a memorable social tool in a time that humanity, truly needed it. | Read review |
| Destructoid | CJ Andriessen | 8.5 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Honestly, 18 days is far too little time to generate a comprehensive assessment of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There is still much I don’t know about this game, including how in-game purchases will ultimately be incorporated. But based on what I have been able to experience, it’s what I’ve wanted Animal Crossing to be for many years. While it fumbles its camping-inspired opening, New Horizons makes a nice recovery with a strong focus on player accomplishment, creating a potent sense of achievement in this idyllic piece of escapism. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Lisa Marie Segarra | 4 / 5 stars | 03-17-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the escapism we need right now. | Read review |
| Digitally Downloaded | Matt Sainsbury | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-26-2020 | We all need games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and while I don’t think it’s perfect by any means, and some of the new elements this time around come at the expense of what made previous titles so wonderful, the winning charm is still there in full. | Read review |
| DualShockers | Ryan Meitzler | 9 / 10 | 04-03-2020 | By bringing players into their own island, Animal Crossing: New Horizons works the series’ charming, wholesome magic like never before. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Brandon Jones | 4.5 / 5 stars | 04-08-2020 | After a few weeks with the latest Animal Crossing, our craving for catching rare bugs and improving our island hasn’t calmed one bit. The series’ first console release in over a decade has some slow parts, but enough has been improved to make it a difficult vacation to leave behind. | Read review |
| EGM | Mollie L Patterson | Recommended | 03-16-2020 | For now, Animal Crossing: New Horizons feels like a no-brainer for fans of the franchise, and a perfect place to start for newcomers—with the exception of ruining every other previous Animal Crossing game, should you ever want to go back to them. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Martin Robinson | Recommended | 03-16-2020 | An impressive suite of improvements combine with a more clearly defined structure for Animal Crossing’s finest outing to date. | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Francesco Fossetti | 8.5 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | It’s a special game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. An addictive diversion that allows you to escape from the daily routine to discover an alternative, made of flowers to plant, of strange talking animals, of a wandering disengagement between rivers and beaches. | Read review |
| Explosion Network | Dylan Blight | 8.5 / 10 | 04-25-2020 | It doesn’t matter how mundane and tedious the tasks can seem at times, I constantly feel like I’m achieving or working towards something while playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Doesn’t hurt it’s heckin’ adorable either. | Read review |
| FNintendo | André Reis | 9 / 10 | 04-01-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons marks the return of the much appreciated series to a Nintendo home console and this new episode is an achievement in every way. With its familiar formula but adding some new mechanics, New Horizons features a fantastic sense of progression, a lot of generosity in its rewards and puts the player in a wonderful environment, all these being major pillars of creating a marvelous experience where we most expect it. | Read review |
| Forbes | Dave Thier | 10 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Know that if you’re overwhelmed with the world, stuck inside, or adrift in a life that you know will look totally different next week — get Animal Crossing. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Jeff Cork | 9 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | A new challenge system reinvigorates the familiar core, providing a wonderful incentive to explore all of Animal Crossing’s myriad activities. This cheerful life sim is the next best thing to an actual vacation | Read review |
| Game Rant | Sarah Fields | 4.5 / 5 stars | 04-05-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons revitalizes the series formula with a fully customizable island that players get to design from the tent up. | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Paul Tamburro | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-27-2020 | Despite some of Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ new features disappointing, in almost every other department this is much more of what series’ fans love. | Read review |
| Gameblog | Yann Bernard | 9 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | The fresh thrill of discovering an uninhabited atoll tends to fade once such wild life gets cosier with crafted items, buildings, shops and incoming residents, until it looks like a village from the previous iterations. But the larger size of this wholly reshapable island, the customization’s vertiginous level and the improved community interactions create an even more fertile ecosystem, hence Animal Crossing can slowly though decidedly stare further, towards New Horizons, equipped with an ever updating NookPhone. | Read review |
| GameCrate | Angelo M. D’Argenio | 8 / 10 | 03-24-2020 | New Horizons is a great evolution for the Animal Crossing franchise. As always Nintendo has integrated some amazing innovations into the formula, but in the process made some really weird design decisions that detract from the fun. | Read review |
| GameGrin | James Martin | 9.5 / 10 | 04-22-2020 | New Horizons is simply the best Animal Crossing game to date. New features have been expertly developed, the pacing is perfect whilst retaining the magical charm the series has always been based upon. The latest in a growing line of must-own Switch titles. | Read review |
| GameMAG | Unknown | 9 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons significantly expands the functionality of New Leaf, but remains the same familiar game in the genre of contemplative life simulator. It is a very competent, detailed project of amazing, subtle beauty, which must be in the collection of every owner of the Nintendo Switch. | Read review |
| Gameplanet | Cerise Parr | 9 / 10 | 04-06-2020 | New Horizons is the near-perfect installment ahead of the 20th anniversary of the series. There is so much to do in this game, and Nintendo has really pushed the limits for the series with the amount of creative freedom they’ve handed over to the player. The only thing that lets it down is the clunkiness of an otherwise delightful multiplayer feature. Still, this is exactly the kind of game I want to be stuck at home with. | Read review |
| GamePro | Ann-Kathrin Kuhls | 90 / 100 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing New Horizons creates a versatile and deep life simulation despite peaceful island life. | Read review |
| Gamerheadquarters | Jason Stettner | 9.5 / 10 | 03-22-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the sequel I’ve been waiting for, providing countless hours of gameplay and being a near perfect experience. | Read review |
| GamesBeat | Jeff Grubb | 95 / 100 | 03-16-2020 | The best thing I can say about New Horizons is that I think it’s going to win over some players who previously bounced off the franchise. And it will do so without losing any longtime fans in the process. Those players will find more to love than ever before. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Joshua Broadwell | 10 / 10 | 03-27-2020 | The latest Animal Crossing is also the best, full of life, charm, and near-endless ways to make your very own island paradise. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Becca S. | 9 / 10 | 03-24-2020 | It cannot fix what’s going on in the world right now, but Animal Crossing: New Horizons gives us the joyful, meditative escape that so many of us desperately need right now. Whether you’re young or old, you’ll find something to like. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Kallie Plagge | 9 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons gives you more creative freedom and more to do on any given day while preserving what makes the series special. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Sam Loveridge | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-16-2020 | There continues to be nothing quite like Animal Crossing, and New Horizons proves that there’s life in the old Nook yet. | Read review |
| GameXplain | Unknown | Recommended | 03-16-2020 | Video Review | Read review |
| GameZone | Cade Onder | 9 / 10 | 04-11-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is easily the most personal and customizable game in the franchise. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Shubhankar Parijat | 9 / 10 | 03-24-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the culmination of the series’ formula, the zenith of everything Animal Crossing is about, and one of the best games Nintendo have produced in years. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Amy Kay Purcell | 95 / 100 | 03-29-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is easily the best Animal Crossing game to date. This life simulator is the most immersive, feature-filled, and customizable to date, having exponentially amplified all the charm and addicting qualities of New Leaf. A must have for any fan of the series, or anyone who simply needs a distraction from the current state of the real world. | Read review |
| Geeks Under Grace | Karen Kennedy | 9 / 10 | 04-08-2020 | If you are looking for a chill, happy game to play during your stay-at-home time during the COVID-19 global crisis, this is the perfect choice. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Adam Cook | 10 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | A beautiful, welcoming game that is everything and anything you want it to be. This is one you’ll play all year and beyond, and it’s exactly what the world needs right now. | Read review |
| GotGame | Kristin Mitra | 9.5 / 10 | 04-21-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a vast improvement when comparing to its predecessors; with impeccable detail (like kneecaps!) and beautifully integrated new features, it offers a charming experience. Veterans and newcomers alike can experience a moment of escapism, being whisked away to a faraway island for relaxation. | Read review |
| GRYOnline.pl | Adam Zechenter | 9 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | In case of Animal Crossing, a dull slogan like “this game is addictive” becomes true. I have been, with utmost pleasure, fishing, and planting flowers; I have decorated my house and talked to the residents of the island, and it was all fun. And even though I’ve spend more than 50 hours with New Horizons, there are still lots I of things haven’t seen. If you own a Switch and like splendid grind, you simply have to play it. | Read review |
| GuiltyBit | Isaac Toro | 9.4 / 10 | 03-29-2020 | Animal Crossing New Horizons perfectly combines what was seen in the saga, adding details that make it unique. The best way to evolve one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises. | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Kirstin Swalley | 4.5 / 5 stars | 04-05-2020 | Animal Crossing has always been a series where every little thing leads to something productive. | Read review |
| Hey Poor Player | Anthony Pelone | 4.5 / 5 stars | 05-25-2020 | Animal Crossing‘s original vision had humble goals in facilitating local communication with friends and family; now, New Horizons confidently stars on the global stage by readily shattering virus-devised boundaries for the sake of vital human interaction. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | David Martinez | 88 / 100 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing New Horizons adds new customization elements, tools, objects and activities to the classic formula. It´s not a game for everybody, but fans will love it. | Read review |
| IGN | Samuel Claiborn | 9 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an expanded, polished, next-generation reboot of a classic Nintendo game that’s full of surprises. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Mattia Ravanelli | 9.2 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons change the game in a lot of subtly but meaningful ways, giving it more depth, freedom and a better flow. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Unknown | 8.2 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing debuts on Nintendo Switch with New Horizons, a game that draws heavily from users of previous titles feedback, but with too slow a progression in comparison. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Adrian Gunning | 4.5 / 5 stars | 04-16-2020 | Animal Crossing New Horizons is the must have game of the year for the Nintendo Switch! | Read review |
| INDIANTVCZ | Patrik Strnad | 9 / 10 | 04-14-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an amazing successor. It has beautiful graphics, great gameplay and perfect music. Sometimes it lacks in certain aspects though and sadly, it also lacks in one big aspect, the co-op. It still is an almost perfect game, that we would recommend anyone, who loves relaxing games, and might need something calm in his life. | Read review |
| Jump Dash Roll | Patrick Sullivan | 9 / 10 | 05-13-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons provides a level of freedom unheard of in most titles, leaving players the opportunity to do whatever they want in any given day, and despite a few bumps they succeed spectacularly in letting you create your own experience. | Read review |
| Just Push Start | Mark Fajardo | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-23-2020 | There is no denying Animal Crossing: New Horizons won’t appeal to everyone. However, given how so many things have changed, it’s nice to have a routine and other mundane tasks that give your life a sense of normalcy. Not only is it relaxing in general, it’s the kind of escape that is perfect in a time when things are everything but. It might not be the best in terms of pacing, but anyone willing to invest in this adventure and give the simple charms a genuine try will likely be surprised by just how fun it can be. | Read review |
| KeenGamer | Dakota Gordon | 7.5 / 10 | 03-29-2020 | You’ve been invited to a new horizon: will you take it? The first console Animal Crossing game since New Leaf, New Horizons allows the player to civilize a deserted island, review its structure, and build themselves from scratch. Though the title implies otherwise, not everything here is as fresh as advertised. | Read review |
| Kotaku | Ian Walker | Recommended | 03-16-2020 | I know this can’t last forever. But in the meantime, I’m going to absorb as much from my time here as possible in the hopes of taking at least a little bit of Aurora back with me. | Read review |
| LevelUp | Pedro Pérez Cesari | 9.3 / 10 | 03-24-2020 | Thanks to new customization possibilities, a lot of classic charm and many QOL improvements, Animal Crossing: New Horizons stands as the best of the franchise so far. This game builds a community sense in different levels, something that we need at present time. | Read review |
| Luis Alamilla | Luis Alamilla | 9.5 / 10 | 03-25-2020 | Video Review | Read review |
| Merlin’in Kazanı | Ersin Kılıç | 90 / 100 | 04-08-2020 | Animal Crossing New Horizons, the new stop for those who are overwhelmed by city life, opens the doors to a new life for players | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | Unknown | 9 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing finally gets a sequel that moves the franchise forward, in a surprisingly timely release that is perfect for this year in terms of both its gameplay and its philosophy. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Stephen LaGioia | 80 / 100 | 04-04-2020 | New Horizons draws from familiar Animal Crossing elements while building upon and redecorating them with its fun island motif. It’s still fairly minimalistic, but I liken it to a warm honey tea | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Ryan Pearson | 8 / 10 | 03-30-2020 | Lots small details and progress, that build up over time into something greater. If you’re looking for a challenge or an epic quest, you won’t find it here. If you want a way to chill out, and build something you can take pride in (albeit, once), then Tom Nook has the perfect package for you. | Read review |
| Nintendo Enthusiast | Daniel Thompson | 9.5 / 10 | 04-03-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons ultimately helped me better appreciate the importance of being able to spend time with others. With or without a pandemic, this is one of the best games to have graced Nintendo Switch yet. It’s the purest and most engaging form of Eguchi’s vision, and there’s an unparalleled belonging and meaning that’ll draw me back in for a long time to come. | Read review |
| Nintendo Life | Alex Olney | 10 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons takes Animal Crossing and not only drags it back onto home consoles, but improves upon every single facet imaginable. | Read review |
| Nintendo Times | Craig Majaski | 9.5 / 10 | 03-30-2020 | EXCELLENT | Read review |
| Nintendo Wire | Unknown | 9.5 / 10 | 04-11-2020 | Whatever the case, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is magic reinvented. It’s been seven years since the last mainline entry, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and 12 years since the last console entry, City Folk. To all long-time fans and newcomers, let me tell you: It was well worth the wait. | Read review |
| NintendoWorldReport | Daan Koopman | Recommended | 03-16-2020 | Even after all these years, there is a daily routine that I hold dear and makes me adore the various elements that glue this game together. It has been sharply dialed up to eleven, without disagrading any newcomers. | Read review |
| Pardis Game | Mohammad Hossein Bethaei | 9 / 10 | 04-05-2020 | With New Horizons, once again not only we have a great next step in the Animal Crossing Franchise, but also one of the most polished and visually appealing games of this genre. A great daily activity to make your own ideal life in a soon-to-be populated island | Read review |
| Paste Magazine | Garrett Martin | 8.5 / 10 | 03-30-2020 | That head might naturally drift towards the hellishly contorted world we live in, and not the delightfully cartoonish one of Animal Crossing, but escapism is overrated anyway. I’d rather worry about every aspect of modern living while quietly reflecting on the rhythmic roar of a videogame ocean than while sitting slackjawed in a living room I won’t ever be able to leave again. Give me these New Horizons—rigid, commercial, and staid—over the chaos of the last decade. | Read review |
| Player.it | Amerigo Cirelli | 9 / 10 | 03-27-2020 | My seven days on Ciroxland Island proved to be a relaxing and excellent experience to alternate my forays into the Palace of Persona 5: Royal and the ruthless demons on Doom Eternal. | Read review |
| Player2.net.au | Dylan Burns | Recommended | 04-03-2020 | If you’ve never played Animal Crossing before, New Horizons will suck you into it’s ostensibly calm island world like nothing else. For series veterans, you will eagerly surrender to this whirlpool, only to emerge in time for the next entry in the series. | Read review |
| Polygon | Russ Frushtick | Recommended | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a respite from the current state of the world. I find my general anxiety slowly subside as I run through my town, water my plants, and build furniture for the sassy chicken gentleman living down by the beach. It’s exactly what I need right now. | Read review |
| Post Arcade (National Post) | Chad Sapieha | 8 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Nintendo’s adorable life simulator is blissfully free of anything more stressful or worrisome than rain showers and bug bites | Read review |
| Reno Gazette-Journal | Jason Hidalgo | 9 / 10 | 04-21-2020 | If you loved the Animal Crossing games of the past, New Horizons will definitely scratch your itch for the series and then some. And if you’ve never played the game before, now is as good a time as any to start. Admittedly, Animal Crossing isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re the type who craves more heart-pumping action. If you want a charming, laid-back game that tickles your creative fancies, however, this latest entry in the Animal Crossing series just might expand your horizons. | Read review |
| Rocket Chainsaw | Andrew Cathie | 4.5 / 5 stars | 04-05-2020 | While there are some frustrations around the online and multiple-residents side of things, this slice of life is better than ever and you should make getting a hold of it a priority. | Read review |
| Saudi Gamer | سندس الخباز | 8 / 10 | 04-06-2020 | New Horizon might be the best in series so far! with brand new additions & features it’s quite fun and addictive for both fans and newcomers | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Cody Gravelle | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-16-2020 | Tom Nook’s latest venture is profitable for fans and villagers alike. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Michal Korec | 9 / 10 | 04-02-2020 | This island is full of adventures. You can spend a lot of time here. Becouse there is so much fun… well and it is slow. | Read review |
| SelectButton | Kevin Mitchell | 8 / 10 | 04-07-2020 | Animal Crossing is a bonafide amazing single-player experience, especially for those that haven’t played the series since the Nintendo GameCube, which was a remaster of the Japanese only N64 title. The awkward shared island implementation and limitations put a damper on those playing on a single Nintendo Switch. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Josh Hawkins | 9 / 10 | 03-24-2020 | If your Switch has been sitting in the corner collecting dust since the last big Nintendo release, and you want something to sink your teeth into, I highly recommend picking up Animal Crossing: New Horizons and getting lost in the beautiful – if not sometimes menial – work that Tom Nook has waiting for you. | Read review |
| Slant Magazine | Steven Scaife | 3.5 / 5 stars | 04-12-2020 | After a while, the game inadvertently becomes about the cost and upkeep of civilization. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Nicolò Bicego | 9.3 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons easily wins the “best entry in the series” title, bringing in much needed new content in the franchise. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Austin Suther | 9.5 / 10 | 03-30-2020 | It’s the best Animal Crossing yet, with the best visuals, unparalleled customization, wonderful villagers, and so much content that it isn’t even funny. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is Nintendo at its best. | Read review |
| Telegraph | Jack Rear | 5 / 5 stars | 03-16-2020 | While a deserted island is the setting for a shedload of games, from Fortnite to Far Cry, none have ever tried very hard to live up to the Desert Island Discs dream that most of us have fantasised about at one time or another. | Read review |
| The Digital Fix | Georgina Howlett | 8 / 10 | 06-22-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a stunning new instalment in the Animal Crossing franchise, hindered only by its lack of immediate content, quality of life issues and missing returning characters and features While future updates will give the game long-term playability, for those already sipping vacation juice on their five-star islands, island life feels pretty mundane right now. | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Erica Mura | 9.4 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | If you’ve never played a game in the series, New Horizons is a great start. On the other hand, if you are already familiar with Animal Crossing, you will find a good amount of nostalgia but also pleasant little news, which will make this new adventure worthy of being lived day by day. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Stefan L | 9 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect island escape, drawing you in to play day after day. All of the charms of the series’ previous games are here, but with gorgeous new graphics, DIY crafting and the eventual ability to remodel your island, you can really create the island settlement of your dreams. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Rebecca Stone | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-30-2020 | New Horizons is the definitive Animal Crossing experience—that much is clear after a relatively short amount of time spent with it. And with the promise of future holiday updates, it’s guaranteed that fans both new and old will return to their islands again and again for many years to come. | Read review |
| Unboxholics | Γιώργος Πρίτσκας | Recommended | 03-25-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is above all a place of expression, relaxation and communication. An innocent fantasy of escape, made with great care, having the necessary design details to elevate it into a living, “warm” entity that will accompany us for a long time. | Read review |
| USgamer | Caty McCarthy | 4.5 / 5 stars | 03-16-2020 | With real-world headlines more harrowing than ever, there’s never been a better time to go on vacation within Animal Crossing: New Horizons. | Read review |
| VG247 | Alex Donaldson | Recommended | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is everything I hoped it would be, and it’s yet another stellar release that showcases a confident Nintendo at its best. It is excellent, and is easily another must-own Switch title – at least, if you can understand and embrace Animal Crossing’s uniquely lazy pace. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Evan Norris | 8 / 10 | 04-18-2020 | Those that gravitate toward serene sandbox simulation will find in New Horizons a game to play for weeks, months, and even years. | Read review |
| Video Chums | Mary Billington | 8.1 / 10 | 03-28-2020 | This latest Animal Crossing delivers the same charm and laidback fun that fans love. Plus, it provides more structure with its nifty Nook Miles system. In the end, this is a game that you’ll be glad to pick up and play in short bursts for weeks, months, or even years. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Imogen Donovan | 9 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is beautiful and peaceful, offering safe harbour from the stresses of everyday life. There’s so much to do and so much to see, so what’s wrong with making a back seat? | Read review |
| WayTooManyGames | Aaron Price | 8.5 / 10 | 04-20-2020 | After a month of playing New Horizons daily, I’m surprised I’m still not sick of it. The hard part is the first couple days, when you need to learn all the new mechanics that differ from the previous installments, but after that, it’s pretty much smooth sailing. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Dave Aubrey | 9.4 / 10 | 03-16-2020 | I adore Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and this is quickly becoming one of my most-played games on Nintendo Switch. If you’ve ever had a love slow-paced social sims like Animal Crossing or The Sims, this game is essential. | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | Cheyenne Clark | 5 / 5 stars | 03-29-2020 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect getaway from daily life, putting players in a serene world where the only thing that matters is catching fish and arranging furniture. Its crafting system creates a sense of ownership over the island while also doubling as a creative outlet. It’s an absolutely delightful and refreshing experience. | Read review |
Awards & Recognition
RECOGNITION
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Credits
CREDITS
DIRECTOR(S):
Aya Kyogoku
PRODUCER(S):
Hisashi Nogami
DESIGNER(S):
n/a
PROGRAMMER(S):
Yoshitaka Takeshita, Hiromichi Miyake
ARTIST(S):
Koji Takahashi
WRITER(S):
Makoto Wada
COMPOSER(S):
Yasuaki Iwata, Yumi Takahashi, Shinobu Nagata, Sayako Doi, Masato Ohashi
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