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On the Radar | Revisiting Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Update 3.0 have us obsessed all over again
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Animal Crossing: New Horizons is both six years old and also brand new. The iconic cozy life-sim we all became obsessed with back in 2020 has accumulated several refreshes that have added in new content, with the huge Update 3.0 joining a whole new Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. It's still the same game, with your same town (should you choose to keep it), but with all-new activities to tackle.
What better way to start the year than relaxing in your very own island paradise, making it your own, and hanging out with friends both real and animal-shaped alike? We've taken a chill pill for January, and have been spending this month revisiting Animal Crossing: New Horizons for a deep dive into a game that's never been far from our hearts.
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Six years later, the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 and Update 3.0 have hooked me back into this cozy world thanks to these five fresh features
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I haven't played Animal Crossing: New Horizons since 2020 - here's why the 3.0 update has lured me back in
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - On the Radar
01 | Third update's the charm
I haven't played Animal Crossing: New Horizons since 2020 – here's why its new 3.0 update has lured me back in: Dropped off playing daily for a while? No problem. In fact, now's the best time return to the island! Update 3.0 brings loads new to the game, stacked on top of heaps of smaller additions across the years.
02 | New beginnings
Deleting my Animal Crossing: New Horizons island has changed the way I play, and it feels like returning to 2005's Wild World: Sometimes you just need a fresh start, and for some, Update 3.0 is the perfect time to do just that. But, make sure you remember how to get your paws back on those tools from Tom Nook.
03 | Time together
Time ticks on in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and I'm both reassured and sometimes overwhelmed that this series never sits still whether I'm obsessed with playing or taking a break: Deleting might not always be the way. Animal Crossing is a space that persists even when you're not playing it yourself, across New Horizons and even the earlier games.
04 | Something new
Six years later, the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 and Update 3.0 have hooked me back into this cozy world thanks to these five fresh features: There's loads new in the cozy life-sim at the moment whether you're playing the new hardware's special upgrade or simply Update 3.0. We count down the best of the bunch.
05 | Neigh-borly spirit
The best Animal Crossing: New Horizons villagers are highly personal, so we put our cartoon heads together to show our besties some love: How to rank the best villagers when who you even have on your island is so personal? Getting the team together, of course. The Animal Crossing inhabitants across GamesRadar+ spotlight their faves.
06 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons guide
Full Animal Crossing: New Horizons guide for island life: For a game as open as this one, sometimes a little bit of extra direction can be helpful, from suggestions on how to build the island of your dreams to how the many, limited, somewhat random events actually work.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ NewsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Platforms Nintendo
Oscar Taylor-KentSocial Links NavigationGames EditorGames Editor Oscar Taylor-Kent brings his years of Official PlayStation Magazine and PLAY knowledge to the fore. A noted PS Vita apologist, he's also written for Edge, PC Gamer, SFX, Official Xbox Magazine, Kotaku, Waypoint, and more. When not dishing out deadly combos in Ninja Gaiden 4, he's a fan of platformers, RPGs, mysteries, and narrative games. A lover of retro games as well, he's always up for a quick evening speed through Sonic 3 & Knuckles or yet another Jakathon through Naughty Dog's PS2 masterpieces.
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Animal Crossing: New Horizons gets a $5 Switch 2 upgrade and a big free update with co-op islands and an NPC resort – 4 years after we thought Nintendo abandoned it
Six years later, the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 and Update 3.0 have hooked me back into this cozy world thanks to these five fresh features
I haven't played Animal Crossing: New Horizons since 2020 - here's why the 3.0 update has lured me back in
Nintendo's surprise Animal Crossing: New Horizons update isn't winning over everyone: "Isn't this just more Happy Home Paradise?"
Time ticks on in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, whether I'm obsessed with playing or taking a break
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update 3.0 - Everything you need to know
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