So you just got Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Awesome choice. I remember booting it up for the first time – that little plane flying over the ocean got me hooked. But figuring out how to play Animal Crossing can feel overwhelming when you're staring at that empty island. Don't sweat it though. After 500+ hours across multiple islands (yeah, I restarted twice), I'll walk you through everything from catching your first fish to redesigning cliffs.

Getting Your Island Adventure Started Right

First things first – when you load up the game, you'll create your character. The customization options are decent, but don't stress too much. You can change your hairstyle and clothes later. The big decision? Picking your island layout. This matters more than you'd think. Look for rivers that aren't too jagged and resident services centrally located. My first island had the plaza crammed in a corner – total pain when decorating.

Tom Nook will give you a tent to place. Put it somewhere you won't hate later because moving it costs 30,000 Bells. Then start gathering resources:

• Branches: Shake trees (press A repeatedly)
• Wood: Hit trees with flimsy axe (but don't use stone axe on fruit trees unless you want them gone!)
• Stone/Clay/Iron: Hit rocks with shovel (dig holes behind you first so you won't get pushed back)

Your first goal is paying off your 5,000 Nook Miles relocation fee by completing tasks like catching bugs or fish. Miles are like a second currency – you'll use them constantly.

Essential First-Day Checklist

Oh, and plant those fruit! Non-native fruits sell for 5x more than your native ones. I made 100,000 Bells my first week just from pear trees.

Your First Week Survival Guide

By day two, Blathers shows up. Give him 15 creatures to unlock the museum. Seriously, donate everything first – selling rare bugs early is such a regret. Meanwhile, Tom Nook upgrades your tent to a house. Your loan jumps to 98,000 Bells but you get storage and decorating options.

Here's where learning how to play Animal Crossing gets strategic:

Smart Money Moves

• Turnip Stonks: Buy turnips from Daisy Mae (Sundays 5AM-12PM). Track prices AM/PM at Nook's Cranny. Sell when above 150%
• Hot Items: Check Nook's daily – crafted items sometimes sell for 4x materials cost
• Diving: After buying wetsuit (1,300 Nook Miles), sea creatures sell better than fish

I ignored turnips for months. Big mistake. My sister made 2 million Bells in one week timing the market.

Advanced Island Domination Tactics

After a week, you'll unlock terraforming via Island Designer app (cost: 6,000 Nook Miles). This changes everything. Suddenly how to play Animal Crossing becomes less about chores and more like playing god with topography.

My biggest terraforming tips:

• Build rivers strategically – waterfalls look great but sound effects get annoying fast
• Leave 3x3 spaces for rocks to respawn if you break them
• Use custom paths under furniture to prevent item sliding

Villager Management 101

Villagers arrive via campsite or mystery islands. Their personalities actually matter – too many peppy types get annoying. To kick someone out:

1. Ignore them completely for 15 days OR
2. Complain to Isabelle about them daily (faster but feels mean)
3. When they have a thought bubble, persuade them to leave

Dream villagers like Raymond (cat) or Judy (bear cub) take patience. Took me 27 mystery island trips to find Ankha!

Multiplayer: Friends, Foes & Funny Moments

Playing online? Open your gates via airport. Visitors can:

• Fish/catch bugs (great for hemisphere-exclusive creatures)
• Shop at your stores
• Trade items (use fencing to protect valuable areas)

But word of caution – let randos in and they might trample flowers or shake money trees. Happened to my bamboo garden. Now I only allow friends.

Event Calendar Essentials

Time your play around these major events:

Annoyances & Solutions Every Player Faces

Even perfect islands have issues. Here's real talk from my gameplay:

Tool Durability Sucks

Golden tools still break after 200 uses. My solution? Craft 5 flimsy fishing rods at once. Costs less than one gold rod replacement.

Flower Chaos Prevention

Flowers spread like weeds after rain. Put transparent custom designs on ground around gardens to block growth. Life-changing trick.

Your Animal Crossing Questions Answered

I've dumped 800+ hours into this game. Here are actual questions my friends ask about how to play Animal Crossing:

Q: Why won't my fruit trees grow?

A: They need 2 empty spaces in every direction. Saplings planted too close stay stunted forever. Learned this after ruining an orchard layout.

Q: Can I get rid of cockroaches in my house?

A: Step on them! After not playing for a month, they appear. Takes about 10 squishes per room.

Q: How do shooting stars work?

A: On clear nights, Isabelle may announce meteor showers. Listen for twinkling sounds, hold no tools, look up with right stick, press A when star flashes. Wish on 20+ for max fragments next day.

Q: What's the point of ordinances?

Early Bird (6AM open) / Night Owl (10PM close) adjust shop hours. Bell Boom increases prices but also spending. Beautiful keeps flowers tidy.

Secrets the Game Doesn't Tell You

Want to level up your island rating fast? Place 50+ fences and 100+ decorations. But here's what guides won't mention:

• Press B while crafting to speed up animations (saves hours long-term)
• Bury 10,000 Bells in glowing spots for 30,000 return trees
• Mail yourself fruit daily – it stacks storage without house upgrades

The best part about mastering how to play Animal Crossing? Creating something uniquely yours. My island has a tiki bar made from shell furniture and a hidden UFO crash site. Took weeks but worth every bell.

Final tip: Don't rush. I burned out trying to "complete" everything in two months. This game shines when you log in daily for 30 minutes, chat with weird animal neighbors, and maybe rearrange some flowers. It's digital gardening with extra steps.

Now go make that island paradise. And if you catch an oarfish, display it proudly – those things are ridiculous looking.