Animal Crossing: New Horizons review

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the choice for couples who share a Nintendo Switch and want something cozy. Nintendo's product page says up to eight players can live on the same island within one game, and that with one system and one game up to four can play on the island at the same time. With extra systems and copies, up to eight Nintendo Account holders can play together through local wireless or online play. You gather resources, craft, build and decorate, and visit friends' islands, so the game becomes a long-running shared home project. There is no way to lose, which suits partners who dislike timers. Nintendo lists it as supported on Switch 2 with the same behavior as on Switch. We could not confirm a USD price in the page text from our location, so its price is marked pending. Online features need a Nintendo Switch Online membership, sold separately, and on one console the second player has fewer controls than the island owner.

Who it is for

Couples with one Nintendo Switch who want a cozy shared island.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Up to four players on the same island at once with one system and one game
• Up to eight players per island across systems via local wireless or online
• Visit friends' islands and shared Slumber Islands
• Gather resources and build, craft and decorate
• Supported on Nintendo Switch 2 with the same behavior as on Switch

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: One Switch and one copy cover a couple on the same island
• Strength: Very low pressure, with no way to fail
• Strength: Works on both Switch and Switch 2
• Weakness: Online visits need a Nintendo Switch Online membership
• Weakness: The highest price we found among single-copy games here
• Weakness: On one system, the second player has a more limited role

Key facts

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Released: March 20, 2020
• Players: Up to 4 on one system, up to 8 online
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, playable on Switch 2

Where it ranks

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is No. 8 in our Best Games for Couples verdict and No. 2 in Best Nintendo Switch Games.