“Animal Crossing: New Horizons” was released for Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2020. The game was the fifth instalment of the “Animal Crossing” franchise, bringing a more decorative design feature to the game.
After the game’s release, it quickly became the new cozy game with online features, allowing players to play online with friends during COVID-19. The game made a profit of over 1.8 billion during the first year of its release, becoming the best-selling game of the year.
So what’s all the hype about? The game opens at the Nook Inc. airport, where you meet Timmy and Tommy, who walk you through the need-to-know about deserted island life. The game gives you options to name, customize and select your deserted island map before you board the plane.
Upon landing on the island shores, via seaplane, you meet your two random starting villagers and Tom Nook as you make your way to resident services. Once roll call has been gone through Tom welcomes you to the island and tells you to speak to either Timmy or Tommy to pick up your tent.
Playing through the tutorial, you’re able to name your island and have officially been given the title of island representative, because why would anyone else be but you? After the tutorial, the game syncs to your real time and date, a common feature in the franchise. However, if you think your vacation on a tropical island starts now, you’d be wrong.
After Tom Nook rudely wakes your character up, he gives you a Nook Phone, courtesy of Nook Inc., to help with island life. Those who are familiar with the franchise, however, know that nothing Tom Nook does for your character is free. That’s right, if you’re using video games as an escape from real life, you might want to avoid “Animal Crossing” as you will find yourself with a seemingly never-ending amount of debt to Tom Nook.
Besides your debt, you are also in charge of improving, decorating, selling land and helping everyone else on your island. Since the game is synced up to your Switch system, the game is meant to be a slow-play game where you get on every day and do your daily tasks before logging off.
Following the months after the game’s initial release, Nintendo announced what was said to be the last update for the game. The update added new features such as diving, treasure islands, Brewster and Brewster’s café. Additionally, Nintendo released the “Happy Home Paradise DLC.” This additional content explores the concept of vacation islands, allowing you to decorate vacation homes and facilities for villagers, earning Poki, which works as money on the island.
After this update, which was said to be the last, the game eventually died down in interest among players over the years. That is, until November of 2025, when Nintendo announced a new 3.0 update plus a small switch two game upgrade. The update later came out earlier this month, on January 25, 2026.
The 3.0 update features a wide variety of new features, such as a new hotel on your docks pier, multicrafting, slumber island decorating, storage increases, furniture, clothing and a bunch of other small quality of gameplay improvements.
The Switch Two upgrade, running about $5.00 introduces a megaphone feature, 12-player online play and other small improvements such as optimized graphics.
Currently, Nintendo has not made an official statement as to whether this new update will be the final update for the game or if they have more surprises down the road. But after five years of no new content, players are enjoying this free update, with many players booting back open their islands again and some even restarting the game.