What it's about a deserted island, a raccoon dog and no way to lose
You move to a deserted island on a getaway package from Tom Nook, a raccoon-like tanuki who runs the shop and is very keen on loans. You start in a tent with a few tools. From there you catch fish and bugs, craft furniture, build a home, invite animal villagers to live next door and slowly turn the place into a little town.
There's no timer and no way to lose. The game follows the real clock, so the island has day and night and the seasons change as the year goes by. It's all about doing a few small things, then closing the console.
How I got into it found it by accident, played hard, then drifted away
I honestly don't remember how I found it. I was looking something up online and it came up. What I do remember is the start: I played very intensely at first, to get a lot done and move forward with building and managing the island. Then it became daily check-ins, and then I got bored.
The reason is simple. Solo mode gets tedious after a while. I think this game is only really fun when you start sharing it with other players, and the game doesn't make that easy. You need a code, and there's no simple way to go out and meet other players. So I slowly let it go. It turned into pure farming with nothing really new, and waiting for a season to change to get new stuff feels like a very long time.
How it looks soft colours, tiny details, a calm island
It's a soft, friendly game. The sea is a clear blue, the grass is bright, and the villagers are round and cute in their little clothes. Everything is small and detailed, and the weather and the light change through the day.
On a TV it's clean and colourful. In handheld it's still lovely, and the text is easy enough to read.
How it sounds gentle music that follows the hour, and I wasn't blown away
The music is okay. It changes with the hour, so the island sounds different in the morning and late at night, and on Saturday nights K.K. Slider turns up to play a song. But to me it feels recipe-made and unoriginal. It doesn't bother me, and it's nothing to ride home about either.
The villagers don't speak in real words, but make soft sounds that fit them, and the digging, fishing and shaking trees are all satisfying. It works well with headphones in the evening.
The story and the people whimsical neighbours, not much passion
You meet whimsical characters along the way. Tom Nook and his two nephews run the shop, Isabelle helps with the town, and the villagers have personalities, some cheerful, some grumpy. But their stories aren't full of passion or immense entertainment. They keep it lightly entertaining, and the point isn't the story anyway.
I guess you create your own once you start sharing the island with real players.
After work: effort and challenge mindless, meditative, and a bit like chores
This is an easy game. There's nothing to fail, and if you leave it for a week, you just pick up where you left off. The effort is low, and that's why it works as a wind-down.
So does it give you space to chill? For a while, yes. It's genuinely relaxing after a day of work, because you don't have to think about anything. You quickly pick up an order for doing things in the game, you follow it automatically, and when you're done you're relaxed and your mind has been off whatever was troubling you. It's a bit like meditation: it keeps your brain occupied. So mission accomplished.
But when you play alone, it really does feel like you're doing chores. Picking up bits, paying off a loan and checking the shop turn into a routine with nothing new at the end of it.
Docked vs handheld handheld for me, docked for the colours
I prefer handheld. It suits short, daily visits, and the text is easy to read. Docked is nice for the colours on a bigger screen. The controls are easy, though decorating and the menus can be fiddly with a controller.
What gets in the way playing alone, no easy way to meet people
- Playing alone gets repetitive and farm-y, with nothing really new.
- It isn't easy to meet other players: you need a code.
- Online play needs a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership.
- Local play is for up to four people on one console, so you need people in the same room.
- New things arrive with the seasons, and that can feel like a very long wait.
On Switch 2 sharper picture, mouse decorating, still 30fps
There's a Switch 2 Edition, out on 15 January 2026, with sharper pictures (up to 4K on a TV, still at 30fps), mouse controls with the Joy-Con 2 for decorating and designs, a megaphone using the microphone, and online sessions of up to 12 players if everyone has the Switch 2 Edition. Owners of the Switch version can buy an upgrade pack for about €5.
A free update (3.0) also added a hotel and Slumber Island, and some of it needs Nintendo Switch Online. I haven't checked either out yet. That tells you how much I wanted to go back: I have better games waiting for me every day.
Verdict pretty, relaxing, and thin when you're alone
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a cute, calm game with a great first hour. Everything is new, you progress quickly, and it keeps your brain busy enough that the day's worries fade. For that alone, it can be a lovely way to switch off in the evening.
The problem comes later. Played solo, it becomes a routine of chores with very little new, the seasons make you wait for fresh content, and the game doesn't make it easy to meet other players. It's when you share the island that it's meant to come alive. I never got there, and I slowly let it go.
So it's decent, but for me it's a game that runs out of steam. As a place to switch your brain off it works. As a reason to look forward to the evening, it didn't last. If you have friends or family to share an island with, it could be great. If you'll be playing alone and need surprises to stay interested, there are better ways to spend your evening.
