Animal Crossing: New Horizons Reviews

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is ranked in the 99th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
92 / 100
Mar 16, 2020

If you’ve ever had even a whiff of interest in this franchise, Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be an absolute slam dunk. Don’t sleep on this one for a second.

Read full review

GameMAG
Top Critic
9 / 10
Mar 16, 2020

Animal Crossing: New Horizons significantly expands the functionality of New Leaf, but remains the same familiar game in the genre of contemplative life simulator. It is a very competent, detailed project of amazing, subtle beauty, which must be in the collection of every owner of the Nintendo Switch.

Review in Russian | Read full review

Mar 16, 2020

Long time fans of Animal Crossing will have plenty to love with New Horizons and for younger players who may be unfamiliar with past entries, the appeal will become immediately apparent in its presentation. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a must play for any Nintendo Switch owner.

Read full review

Dave Aubrey
Top Critic
9.4 / 10.0
Mar 16, 2020

I adore Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and this is quickly becoming one of my most-played games on Nintendo Switch. If you've ever had a love slow-paced social sims like Animal Crossing or The Sims, this game is essential.

Read full review

Mar 16, 2020

Tom Nook's latest venture is profitable for fans and villagers alike.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Apr 10, 2020

As much as I love Animal Crossing, I suppose I expected just a lot more than what we’ve seen in New Leaf and Pocket Camp. I would even throw my hands up in elation if Gyroids made their triumphant return as audible and visual furniture once again. Despite some of these minor misgivings, and lost opportunities in my estimation, Animal Crossing: New Horizons delivers on an island building simulation that will not disappoint. If you’re headed to the island, say “Hi” to Nook for me.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Nov 16, 2021

There is also the regret dictated by the knowledge that this will be the last substantial free expansion and that the Happy Home Paradise DLC will be the only paid content of New Horizons. A real shame, given that such updates have demonstrated the enormous potential for renewal that the gameplay of Animal Crossing offers: a title that we would never want to abandon. However, remaining focused on the present, we can only promote the 2.0 update, which represents the best possible return to the island of our dreams.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Will Greenwald
Top Critic
Apr 2, 2020

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is fun, relaxing and simply very chill. You won’t feel pressure while playing, and you probably won’t get much of a sense of competition. If you’re looking for structured goals and a distinct progression towards a specific end, you won’t find it in this game. What you will find is a big island you can customize and develop and trim to your heart’s content, with plenty of things to build, buy, and place wherever you’d like. Like a bonsai tree, rather than a board game.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Apr 21, 2020

If you loved the Animal Crossing games of the past, New Horizons will definitely scratch your itch for the series and then some. And if you’ve never played the game before, now is as good a time as any to start. Admittedly, Animal Crossing isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re the type who craves more heart-pumping action. If you want a charming, laid-back game that tickles your creative fancies, however, this latest entry in the Animal Crossing series just might expand your horizons.

Read full review

Apr 12, 2020

After a while, the game inadvertently becomes about the cost and upkeep of civilization.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Apr 6, 2020

New Horizons is the near-perfect installment ahead of the 20th anniversary of the series. There is so much to do in this game, and Nintendo has really pushed the limits for the series with the amount of creative freedom they've handed over to the player. The only thing that lets it down is the clunkiness of an otherwise delightful multiplayer feature. Still, this is exactly the kind of game I want to be stuck at home with.

Read full review

Nintendo Enthusiast
Daniel Thompson
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Apr 3, 2020

Animal Crossing: New Horizons ultimately helped me better appreciate the importance of being able to spend time with others. With or without a pandemic, this is one of the best games to have graced Nintendo Switch yet. It's the purest and most engaging form of Eguchi's vision, and there's an unparalleled belonging and meaning that'll draw me back in for a long time to come.

Read full review

9 / 10
Apr 1, 2020

Animal Crossing: New Horizons marks the return of the much appreciated series to a Nintendo home console and this new episode is an achievement in every way. With its familiar formula but adding some new mechanics, New Horizons features a fantastic sense of progression, a lot of generosity in its rewards and puts the player in a wonderful environment, all these being major pillars of creating a marvelous experience where we most expect it.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Twinfinite
Rebecca Stone
Top Critic
4.5 / 5.0
Mar 30, 2020

New Horizons is the definitive Animal Crossing experience—that much is clear after a relatively short amount of time spent with it. And with the promise of future holiday updates, it’s guaranteed that fans both new and old will return to their islands again and again for many years to come.

Read full review

Mar 29, 2020

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect getaway from daily life, putting players in a serene world where the only thing that matters is catching fish and arranging furniture. Its crafting system creates a sense of ownership over the island while also doubling as a creative outlet. It's an absolutely delightful and refreshing experience.

Read full review

GameCrate
Angelo M. D'Argenio
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Mar 24, 2020

New Horizons is a great evolution for the Animal Crossing franchise. As always Nintendo has integrated some amazing innovations into the formula, but in the process made some really weird design decisions that detract from the fun.

Read full review

92 / 100
Mar 19, 2020

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is just the game we wanted and much more. This franchise demonstrates once more why it is so special.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

GameXplain
Top Critic
Loved
Mar 16, 2020
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - REVIEW (Nintendo Switch) video thumbnail
90 / 100
Mar 16, 2020

Animal Crossing New Horizons creates a versatile and deep life simulation despite peaceful island life.

Review in German | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Mar 16, 2020

It's a special game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. An addictive diversion that allows you to escape from the daily routine to discover an alternative, made of flowers to plant, of strange talking animals, of a wandering disengagement between rivers and beaches.

Review in Italian | Read full review