Animal Crossing: New Horizons returns on Nintendo Switch 2 in a form that feels familiar, yet smoother and more refined. This isn’t a reinvention of Nintendo’s beloved life-sim, nor does it attempt to rewrite what made the original so comforting and enduring. Instead, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition focuses on polish, performance, and quality-of-life improvements that make island life feel more enjoyable than ever. Even after sinking dozens of hours into Animal Crossing: New Horizons, this latest refresh instantly pulled me back in. For newcomers, this is easily the definitive way to experience Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the first time. For returning residents, it’s a welcome excuse to reconnect with old neighbours and rediscover the magic and fun of building your own pixel paradise. Let’s dive into all the new enhancements and improvements in my full review.
The latest free update adds even more reasons to return
While the core “island life simulator” premise remains unchanged, the free Version 3.0 update offers plenty of new surprises. Available for both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 versions of the game, the free update expands what you can do without disrupting the game’s relaxing rhythm. Whether you’re jumping back in after a long break or starting fresh, this update adds new systems and activities that enhance the existing experience. This, combined with the exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 enhancements make for one enticing getaway package. Let’s dive in and explore the new additions and what they bring to the table.
Kapp’n brings exploration back to the spotlight
One of the latest update’s additions is the return of Kapp’n, who now offers boat tours to a variety of islands. These trips take you beyond your own shores to destinations that feature different seasons, weather conditions, and rare resources. The biggest addition is Slumber Islands, which lets you push your creativity to new heights.
Slumber Islands let you dream big
With a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you gain access to Slumber Islands, a feature that allows you to create up to three dream versions separate from your main island. You can experiment with new ideas, gather inspiration, and explore creatively without impacting your home island. Here you are free to terraform, build, and decorate using items you’ve already unlocked, letting your imagination run wild. You can also connect with friends online, host visitors on your own Slumber Island, travel to theirs to explore, and create together in this shared dream space.
Settling back into the island rhythm
If you are a returning player like I am, you don’t need to worry if your island feels a little overgrown. New options introduced
alongside the new free update make it easier to manage clutter, organize items, and get back into the creative flow. One addition I love is the expanded storage access and streamlined inventory management. It really helped reduce friction when decorating or reorganizing, making it easier to focus on the fun parts of island life. These improvements go a long way in making Animal Crossing: New Horizons feel more welcoming for islanders, new and returning.
Expanded storage and creative freedom
The update also delivers meaningful quality-of-life improvements that longtime players will immediately appreciate. Home storage capacity has been significantly expanded up to 9,000 items. This gives you far more room to stash furniture, clothing, crafting materials, and seasonal items. Smoother access to storage makes decorating interiors and redesigning outdoor spaces feel faster and less cumbersome.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition details
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch 2
Developer(s): Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Life simulation / Social simulation
Modes: Single-player; Multiplayer (local wireless, online)
ESRB Rating: Everyone (E)
Nintendo Switch 2 Edition exclusive features
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition introduces many thoughtful enhancements that subtly but meaningfully improve the experience. The first is the improvement in overall visuals and load times. The game now runs at a higher resolution, up to 4K when docked. Even in handheld mode, I noticed this right away: environments look sharper, UI elements are cleaner, and character models are more detailed. Everything also feels much snappier; maps loaded in much faster on the Nintendo Switch 2, getting me back to my adventures in less time.
Joy-Con 2 mouse control support
Another smart upgrade is the integration of the Joy-Con 2 controller‘s mouse feature. Indoor decorating, custom design creation, and even writing on bulletin boards benefit from mouse-style controls using the right Joy-Con 2 controller. I found that this added more precision to fine adjustments, making them easier, intuitive, and less time-consuming.
Megaphone a friend
A particularly clever upgrade to island communication that I really enjoyed is the in-game megaphone. It uses the Nintendo Switch 2’s built-in microphone, allowing you to call villagers by name and have them respond immediately. It’s a small touch, but one that’s far more convenient. It saved me plenty of time by avoiding the need to search the island for a specific resident. Instead, they almost instantly reveal their location by calling back to you. A small but much-appreciated touch that really moved my island fun along.
Enhanced social play remains a highlight
Multiplayer also receives some welcome upgrades. In the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, up to 12 players can visit a single island online, while local wireless play supports up to eight players at once. When everyone is playing on Nintendo Switch 2, these expanded online lobbies make shared island visits feel busier, more social, and far more lively than before.
CameraPlay adds another layer of personality by letting you connect a compatible USB camera and appear on-screen during multiplayer sessions. It’s a fun touch that captures real reactions of players as you explore or attend events together.
The most polished Animal Crossing experience yet
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition doesn’t attempt to reinvent the formula. Instead, it refines it. Performance is smoother, visuals are sharper, and quality-of-life improvements quietly enhance nearly every aspect of an already excellent game.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Everything fans love about Animal Crossing, now more polished | Slow pace won’t appeal to everyone |
| Enhanced resolution and smoother performance | No major gameplay overhaul for returning players |
| Excellent customization and creative freedom | |
| Improved social and multiplayer features |
If you’ve never experienced Animal Crossing: New Horizons before, this is the best way to do so. If you’re returning after time away, the upgrades make island life feel refreshed without losing the charm that made it special in the first place. This is Nintendo’s most comforting and replayable games, and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition represents its most complete version yet. It’s still deliberately slow-paced and light on traditional challenge, but that gentle approach is exactly what makes it so enduring.
Overall assessment of Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Gameplay: 4.5/5
Graphics: 4 /5
Sound: 4.5/5
Lasting appeal/Replayability: 5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5 (90%)
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