Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out in 2020, marking the first major new installment in Nintendo’s popular life simulation series since 2012’s New Leaf. Its release coincided with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people found themselves with more free time than usual.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has quickly become one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch. If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, former Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aimé would jokingly ask what’s holding you back!

For years, this game was incredibly popular on the console. However, after a large update in 2021, it appeared Nintendo had moved on to other things. While this new update doesn’t add quite as much new content as the 2021 update, it significantly improves how the game runs.

While the New Horizons update for the new Nintendo Switch won’t force you to upgrade, it does offer improvements to an already fun game, which might make revisiting the island worthwhile. However, if you’ve grown tired of the island setting, this update probably won’t change your mind.

New Hardware, Old Horizons

If you haven’t played Animal Crossing in the last twenty years, it’s a unique life simulation game with a remarkably dedicated fanbase. The latest version, New Horizons, continued that success and provided comfort to many during difficult times. However, there’s one thing to keep in mind.

Okay, so I’ve been playing these Animal Crossing games for years, and honestly, after six years with the desert island theme of New Horizons, it’s starting to feel a little stale. I have such fond memories of growing up with New Leaf on my 3DS, and even though I enjoy New Horizons, I always felt the series really thrived with that cozy, slightly weird small-town atmosphere. It’s like, going from games like City Folk and New Leaf to the newer ones feels like switching from watching the mysterious, moody vibes of Twin Peaks to the bright, cheerful world of Sesame Street – they’re both great, but just… different!

Animal Crossing hasn’t felt quite the same for a long time, and while I was okay with that when New Horizons first came out, it’s been six years now. The game is still enjoyable, and if you’re new to it, playing it on the Switch 2 will be fantastic. However, if you’ve already spent countless hours in New Horizons, this upgrade is good, but probably not a must-have.

Six years on, it’s hard not to feel like the desert island theme is wearing rather thin.

The new Nintendo Switch offers a noticeably sharper picture. When played handheld, the resolution has been upgraded to 1080p, a significant improvement over the original Switch’s 720p. When connected to a TV (docked), it can now reach 4K resolution. The screen looks vibrant and colorful, making handheld gaming particularly enjoyable. While the game still runs at 30 frames per second in both modes, it’s still perfectly playable, though worth noting for those seeking a smoother experience.

Even the first game looked great, so this isn’t a huge surprise, but the visual improvements are definitely noticeable. If you upgrade to the Switch 2 and want to revisit your island, you’ll appreciate the added features in this update. The good news is it still runs perfectly well on the original Switch, too. Just don’t expect a consistently smooth frame rate.

Unleash Your Inner Interior Designer

A highlight of the New Horizons update for the Switch 2 is the increased control and customization it offers for your island. The new mouse controls might seem small, but they make decorating much more satisfying and give you a lot more freedom of movement.

While the controller works fine, switching to the mouse controls in the new version is a game-changer – you’ll never want to go back. Nintendo did a fantastic job making the transition between mouse and controller incredibly smooth. If you’ve collected a lot of decorating items, you’ll be able to move around so quickly that customizing your houses feels fresh and exciting again.

The new update lets you customize Kapp’n’s resort, which is fun, but it doesn’t offer much beyond what’s already available in the Happy Home Paradise DLC – in fact, it feels like a simpler version of it, especially since Happy Home Paradise is still sold separately. It’s a good way to show off the mouse controls, but if you’ve played Happy Home Paradise, you likely won’t find anything new or exciting here.

I’m really loving how much control I have when decorating with the mouse – it sounds silly, but it’s actually super satisfying! It makes a big difference being able to move things around so freely.

The game includes some neat little additions that aren’t revolutionary, but are still enjoyable. The megaphone, back from New Leaf, works similarly – you hold a button and say a villager’s name. It usually works well, and it’s really charming to see their reaction when you call out to them.

The update also adds a strafe, making it much simpler to dig and reshape your island. Plus, you’ll have more storage space! We’ve also lowered the cost of some services, so it’s easier to advance in the game.

To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade

For many players, the new Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be their first time playing. They’re in for a treat – there’s a huge amount of content to explore and enjoy! It’s the kind of game you can easily spend hundreds of hours playing.

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If you’ve played this game on Switch before, you won’t find a huge amount new here. It’s more of the same experience, with some nice additions, but nothing truly revolutionary. Luckily, it’s a fairly cheap upgrade – only about five dollars – if you already own the game.

Okay, so the whole desert island life is getting a little old, honestly. It really feels like we need a brand new Animal Crossing game to shake things up. But let’s be real, that’s probably not happening for a long time, so I guess this is the best we’re gonna get for now.

Closing Comments:

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition doesn’t offer a revolutionary experience, but it could be a nice addition if you’re upgrading your console. However, if you’re already bored with the island setting, this version won’t change your mind.

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2026-01-22 20:10