Animal Crossing: New Horizons Reviews

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is ranked in the 99th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
IGN
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Mar 16, 2020

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an expanded, polished, next-generation reboot of a classic Nintendo game that's full of surprises.

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Essential
Mar 16, 2020

An impressive suite of improvements combine with a more clearly defined structure for Animal Crossing's finest outing to date.

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9 / 10.0
Apr 8, 2020
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Easy Allies Review video thumbnail
Mar 16, 2020

There continues to be nothing quite like Animal Crossing, and New Horizons proves that there's life in the old Nook yet.

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Metro GameCentral
Top Critic
9 / 10
Mar 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.

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9 / 10.0
Mar 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

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Unscored
Nov 15, 2021

What makes Animal Crossing an appealing franchise is that I’m able to meet it on my own terms — even if those terms are the polar opposite of the ones I brought to the game in 2020. New Horizons is no longer my “global living room,” as Bijan Stephen described Fortnite in 2018. It’s more like my secret clubhouse, a space that’s mostly just for me, and maybe the kind of friends that feel comfortable sitting in silence. Coming back to the game this time — alongside all of its new content — means doing things differently, but it’s still just as satisfying.

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Unscored
Mar 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.

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9 / 10
Mar 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.

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Kotaku
Top Critic
Unscored
Mar 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.

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Mar 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.

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Mar 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.

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8.5 / 10.0
Mar 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.

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9.3 / 10.0
Mar 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.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

88 / 100
Mar 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.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10
Mar 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.

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Forbes
Top Critic
10 / 10.0
Mar 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.

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9 / 10
Mar 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.

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IGN Spain
Top Critic
8.2 / 10.0
Mar 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.

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9.2 / 10.0
Mar 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.

Review in Italian | Read full review