Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Released 20 March 2020 Developer Nintendo EPD Publisher Nintendo
You move to a deserted island and slowly turn it into a village: gathering materials, crafting tools and furniture, building houses and shops, and making friends with animal neighbours. The game follows the console's real-world clock and seasons, and several family members can share one island or visit each other's online. It suits a wide age range, including young children playing alongside a parent.
How it makes money
Fair: pay clearly, know the ceiling
Bought once for A$79.95 on the Nintendo eShop, with one optional paid expansion, Happy Home Paradise (A$37.50, free for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members). Large content updates, including version 3.0, have been free. A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (15 January 2026) costs A$8.00 as an upgrade pack or A$87.95 as a full edition. There is no real-money currency in the game: Bells and Nook Miles are earned by playing. Playing online with other people needs a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership.
How you pay
- Pay once
A$79.95 on the Nintendo eShop buys the whole base game; there is no in-game store for real money.
- Paid DLC
Happy Home Paradise, a resort-design expansion, is A$37.50; it is free with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.
minor part of the game - Editions
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (15 January 2026) adds 4K, mouse controls and larger online groups: A$8.00 as an upgrade pack or A$87.95 as a full edition.
minor part of the game - Online sub
Visiting other players' islands online needs a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership; single-player and local play do not.
minor part of the game
Techniques it uses to keep you paying or playing
- Daily pressure
Daily Nook Miles+ tasks, daily shop and event changes and island upkeep reward logging in often; there is no streak bonus or penalty beyond missing that day's events.
minor part of the game - Collect all
Completing the museum, Critterpedia and furniture catalogue is a long-term goal; it is done with in-game Bells and time, not real money.
minor part of the game
What it costs
Price: A$79.95 · everything A$117.45
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Nintendo eShop (AU) · Switch ↗ | A$79.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Happy Home Paradise (DLC) Free with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. |
Nintendo eShop (AU) · Switch ↗ | A$37.50 | Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Full game plus the Switch 2 upgrade; does not include Happy Home Paradise. |
Nintendo eShop (AU) · Switch 2 ↗ | A$87.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack For owners of the Switch version. |
Nintendo eShop (AU) · Switch 2 ↗ | A$8 | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Reviews from across the web
What the critics said
-
9/ 10
IGN ↗
Sees a bigger, more refined version of a beloved Nintendo series that still manages to surprise.
-
9/ 10
GameSpot ↗
Says the game adds creative freedom and more daily activities while keeping what makes the series special.
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9/ 10
Game Informer ↗
Enjoys the relaxed, self-paced island life and the new goals that encourage trying every activity, but finds local co-op cramped.
-
Essential
Eurogamer ↗
Considers it the strongest game in the series so far, thanks to better features and a clearer structure.
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10/ 10
Nintendo Life ↗
Says the series arrives on home consoles with improvements to almost every part of the formula.
Scores belong to the outlets that published them; follow the links to read the full reviews. Summaries are ours.
Age ratings
Classification
Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes). They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the badges above are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
Who can talk to your child, and what can they buy?
- Text chat
- Players can interact with strangers
- Contains user-made content (not pre-checked by the developer)
- No account needed
Offline play needs no account. Online play (paid Nintendo Switch Online) lets players visit islands through a friend list invite or a Dodo Code, and anyone who has a Dodo Code can enter, so codes shared publicly can let strangers in. Chat is typed with the on-screen keyboard. Custom Designs and Dream Addresses are made by other players and are not checked beforehand. The Switch 2 Edition adds Nintendo's GameChat (voice, optional video with a USB-C camera); Nintendo says children need parent or guardian approval for GameChat in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app. ESRB lists 'In-Game Purchases': the only paid extras found are the eShop DLC and upgrade pack.
Platforms & release
Where you can play it
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 Switch 2 Edition; the Switch version also runs on Switch 2. |
15 January 2026 | Store page ↗ |
| Nintendo Switch | 20 March 2020 | Store page ↗ |
Further reading
- Official website ↗
- Nintendo Australia: Switch 2 Edition page (online and GameChat details) ↗
- Wikipedia ↗
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: www.nintendo.com, www.nintendo.com, api.ec.nintendo.com, www.classification.gov.au, www.esrb.org, www.metacritic.com, opencritic.com, en.wikipedia.org. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.