Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Animal Crossing

72 replies

BellsShellsFishBugs · 04/05/2023 20:18

Does anyone else play Animal Crossing?

I was enjoying this nice relaxing game, wandering through the trees catching butterflies, walking along the beach collecting shells. But now I have an ever increasing to-do list on my island as well as an ever increasing to-do list in the real world!

How long do you spend on your island each day? What are the most important things to do? If I shake and chop all the trees it takes forever, then there's fish to catch and flowers to plant and a museum to stock and houses to build for new residents and bridges and sea creatures and daily stretching and I'm supposed to chat with every resident every day and there's random visitors too. I can't get everything done!

It's beginning to feel like more chores to do every day instead of sitting down with a relaxing game!

If I keep playing will I eventually unlock indestructable tools?! Making tools and collecting the stuff to make the tools and then using the tools for two minutes before they break and having to make more tools just to collect the resources to make more tools is very frustrating!

OP posts:
ZeppelinTits · 06/05/2023 14:44

I fricking love Animal Crossing, I'm going through a hellishly stressful time just now and it's been a little soothing oasis in my day where everything is happy and peaceful. The worst thing that can happen in the game is a resident getting a little passive-aggressive because I haven't spoken to them in a while. Otherwise it's a fun paradise and I love swimming through the sea collecting sea creatures and making my home pretty.

I read an online guide which told me what to expect and what things I'd be able to do once I passed certain milestones which was helpful. There is a lot out there for newbies online so might be worth having a read, unless it would destroy the mystery for you in which case don't. The only annoying thing is not having any adult people to talk about the game with who don't roll their eyes at me so I was happy to see this thread Grin

SquirrelSoShiny · 06/05/2023 14:46

I just dug my island out and all the animals were very passive aggressive with me for my absence 😂 My whole island was trees and flowers but I'm chopping them alllllll down. I'm tired of the mess!

worktired · 06/05/2023 14:49

I love animal crossing. It's quite soothing to have a walk along the beach in the evenings Smile

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Video games
Original poster
BellsShellsFishBugs · 06/05/2023 15:52

Yes totally agree, I also have horribley stressy stuff going on in the real world and it's so relaxing to spend a couple of hours and the end of a hard day catching butterflies and swimming and decorating my house without moving off the sofa

Kind of wish I could send you all delighted and joyful reactions right now because this thread and the game have been the only good things in the past week. When I get the online thing after payday I will visit you all and bring you gifts 😘

OP posts:
LighthouseCat · 06/05/2023 17:55

I absolutely love Animal Crossing. I'm so proud of my island - it's got a farm, a Parisian style boulevard, a campsite which overlooks waterfalls, a secret trail through the woods, beach cafes and a harbour area overlooking a lake (which has a little island in the middle of it). I've done up all my residents houses to match their personalities (eg Grisley lives in a cabin in the woods). My DD got me into it. I didn't think I'd enjoy it much! We visit each other's islands. Her island is really amazing. I think it's such a good 'cosy' game where you can be creative or productive if you feel like it, or you can just potter about. I also love Harvest Moon for the same reasons. I'm slightly envious of those just starting out - so much fun to come : )

SecretVictoria · 06/05/2023 18:10

BellsShellsFishBugs · 06/05/2023 13:45

I like diving for sea creatures, they all seem to be worth much more than butterflies and fish so I've been earning bells much quicker since getting the wet suit.

I used the nooks miles ticket to visit another island and was hoping to find different fruit and flowers but it had the same fruit trees and flowers as I already have on mine so that was disappointing. Hopefully next time I try I'll get some new stuff.

Show quote history

You will only get three types of fruits, unless you go to another persons island. You get your own island fruit, the fruit your mum sends and a sister fruit on a mystery island; this doesn’t show up as often though.

Flowers are a bit different, you get your own, more on mystery islands, the ones sold in the shop and Leif brings different flowers/shrubs too.

I’m currently annoyed as haven’t made anything on my turnips this week after a couple of good ones.

Gingerlygreen · 06/05/2023 18:19

Animal Crossing got me through lockdown, I played it for a few weeks then decided to time travel, I got fed up of having to wait until the following day for things to happen.
I've also been to a few treasure Islands to catalogue and collect items.

I rarely play it now though because my island is done, I did one totally flatten and remodel it but it doesn't appeal to me to do it again.

The new Zelda comes out on Friday so that's going to keep me going for a few hundred more hours.

SquirrelSoShiny · 06/05/2023 18:22

Where do you find the food crops? I need wheat but haven't managed to find it yet.

Always9Oclock · 06/05/2023 18:30

Lots of tasks to do eh? Haha you work for Tom Nook now! Wink

Once you get through the first few days, then get your island to 3 stars, there's a lot more you can do and it becomes more enjoyable.

It's a great game and would also recommend the over 25s group on Facebook.

FinchHinch · 06/05/2023 18:39

SquirrelSoShiny · 06/05/2023 18:22

Where do you find the food crops? I need wheat but haven't managed to find it yet.

You can either buy them off Leif or some of the Kapp'n islands have them. If you have online, I'm more than happy to bring some over for you.

Original poster
BellsShellsFishBugs · 06/05/2023 22:10

Always9Oclock · 06/05/2023 18:30

Lots of tasks to do eh? Haha you work for Tom Nook now! Wink

Once you get through the first few days, then get your island to 3 stars, there's a lot more you can do and it becomes more enjoyable.

It's a great game and would also recommend the over 25s group on Facebook.

Haha it seems so! Can I spend 40hours a week there instead of at my actual job please?

I am enjoying it even more now that I've reset the switch time so I'm not rushing to get things done in half an hour before the shop shuts but that also means I'm staying up far too late and I need my beauty sleep And for the first few days I was shaking and chopping every single tree which takes ages but I eventually figured out I didn't actually need to do that.

OP posts:
Original poster
BellsShellsFishBugs · 06/05/2023 22:14

SecretVictoria · 06/05/2023 18:10

You will only get three types of fruits, unless you go to another persons island. You get your own island fruit, the fruit your mum sends and a sister fruit on a mystery island; this doesn’t show up as often though.

Flowers are a bit different, you get your own, more on mystery islands, the ones sold in the shop and Leif brings different flowers/shrubs too.

I’m currently annoyed as haven’t made anything on my turnips this week after a couple of good ones.

Show quote history

Ah ok I can stop wasting my miles on tickets to other islands then. I've just been to 3 islands and was annoyed to find nothing but cherry trees! I have cherry pear and coconut so will wait till I can visit people, thanks for the info!

OP posts:
Original poster
BellsShellsFishBugs · 06/05/2023 22:16

LighthouseCat · 06/05/2023 17:55

I absolutely love Animal Crossing. I'm so proud of my island - it's got a farm, a Parisian style boulevard, a campsite which overlooks waterfalls, a secret trail through the woods, beach cafes and a harbour area overlooking a lake (which has a little island in the middle of it). I've done up all my residents houses to match their personalities (eg Grisley lives in a cabin in the woods). My DD got me into it. I didn't think I'd enjoy it much! We visit each other's islands. Her island is really amazing. I think it's such a good 'cosy' game where you can be creative or productive if you feel like it, or you can just potter about. I also love Harvest Moon for the same reasons. I'm slightly envious of those just starting out - so much fun to come : )

Oh wow that sounds great! Does the island get bigger?

OP posts:
LighthouseCat · 07/05/2023 17:45

No, sadly you can't extend it. I've just built it up with the terraforming feature which enables you to change the landscape (make rivers, lakes, hills, paths etc). My island is chocca! I want an area for breeding flowers but just can't squeeze it in. Maybe it's time the recycling centre and outdoor gym went 😂

SquirrelSoShiny · 08/05/2023 18:37

Did any of you buy the upgrade? Paradise island or something it was called. If so was it worth it?

ZoraMipha · 08/05/2023 18:49

I think the idea of Animal Crossing is that it does reflect the mundanity of daily life in some ways and it's just a bit of mindless escapism. It can be repetitive for sure.

If you find yourself feeling stressed by that rather than relaxed, maybe it's not the right game for you.

Gingerlygreen · 08/05/2023 20:09

@SquirrelSoShiny I've got it, it's worth it if you like designing the interiors of the homes, that's all it is plus there's a shop so you get a choice of an extra 3 things to buy per day although it's stuff that appears in the original shop.

You can collect moss and vines from there each day too.

Once you've designed 30 homes on it you can then customise the villagers homes on your own island, you can't expand them though whereas on Happy Home Paradise you can make the rooms bigger and add an upstairs.

I quickly got bored of it though, I prefer designing my island and not interiors.

Gingerlygreen · 08/05/2023 20:11

@LighthouseCat I did a Muscle Beach and built my gym on the beach with a little dj area and tiki bar.

Original poster
BellsShellsFishBugs · 09/05/2023 18:13

ZoraMipha · 08/05/2023 18:49

I think the idea of Animal Crossing is that it does reflect the mundanity of daily life in some ways and it's just a bit of mindless escapism. It can be repetitive for sure.

If you find yourself feeling stressed by that rather than relaxed, maybe it's not the right game for you.

I actually find it very relaxing and enjoy the peaceful escapism and all the little tasks. The frustration was due to only playing the game at night and not being able to get things done before the shop closed but now that someone told me about changing the time on the switch settings I can enjoy daytime on the island even if it's the middle of the night in real life.

OP posts:
LighthouseCat · 11/05/2023 10:56

SquirrelSoShiny · 08/05/2023 18:37

Did any of you buy the upgrade? Paradise island or something it was called. If so was it worth it?

Yes, I did. It's great but somehow not as amazing as i thought it would be. If you like doing up houses (which I do) you'll likely really enjoy it

LighthouseCat · 11/05/2023 10:57

Gingerlygreen · 08/05/2023 20:11

@LighthouseCat I did a Muscle Beach and built my gym on the beach with a little dj area and tiki bar.

Genius. I'm going to move my gym to the beach! I did get rid my wheat field the other day (which was so satisfying to run through ; ) and will start my flower breeding programme there - I want the elusive green moms!

Gooseysgirl · 07/06/2023 16:02

Just found this thread...closet Animal Crossing player 👀 It began as a big joke a couple of years ago when DD got it for her birthday and they set me up on it for their own entertainment because I hadn't a clue what I was doing... FFW two years later and I am the only one regularly playing 🤣 I am so sad that I joined my DH to our island and I play for him too!! I would quite like my own island (feck the rest of them waltzing on every couple of months to enjoy all my hard work and stealing dosh from my money trees!) but I haven't a clue how to set it up.

Gamegirl29 · 08/06/2023 19:28

I started playing in lockdown and after 450 hours and all of the critters I got bored. I started it up again 10 days ago but wish a new island.

Debating whether to get Nintendo online. I’m having to share the switch with my husband though. Sad times.

Gamegirl29 · 09/06/2023 16:11

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

ErmWhatever · 09/06/2023 16:49

I bought it in lockdown and played it around 4 hours a day for 6ish months then nothing at all since then. I'm too ashamed to go back and face my villagers. Poor neglected bastards. Might bite the bullet and play this weekend. I'm dreading the weeds the most.

Seriously though. I've never felt such joy and serenity from a video game that ACNH brought me, and will be forever grateful to it coming out when it did.

Swipe left for the next trending thread