Animal Crossing: New Horizons lets you start a new life on a desert island. But it’s not so deserted in the end, after all, you can explore the island in multiplayer together with your friends. We want to explain how it works, what options there are, what Dodo codes are for, and what the Nintendo Switch Online app has to do with NookLink.
Daftar Isi
How many players can you play with?
The question can be easily answered for each mode:
- local split screen: up to 4 players
- Local multiplayer with multiple consoles: up to 8 players (each player needs a separate console)
- online multigamesA: Up to 8 players (active Nintendo Switch Online membership required)
Basic terms for multiplayer
dodo code: If you want to restrict who can come to your island or you are not friends with the person, you can generate a one time use code at the airport when you open the gates. This is valid until the next time you close the doors or end the game.
Best friends: With the app of the same name on your NookPhone in the game, you can turn the friends you play with into best friends. They can then use all the tools on their island and vice versa and can chat with each other at any time. To add a new best friend, you must select the application, choose the friend and send the request. It then sees the incoming requests in the app.
send letters: You can also send letters to your best friends. Go to the airport and interact with the post office next to the counter. For 200 Sterni you can send a letter that will reach the recipient the next day. You can not only write the message freely, but also choose the stationery and a gift.
How do you unlock multiplayer?
If you start the game, you will notice that you cannot select the multiplayer mode from the beginning. Both local multiplayer and online multiplayer must be unlocked first.
This is how you change it local split screen free:
- Play the entire tutorial with the first character and receive Tom Nook’s NookPhone.
- Finish the game by pressing less and save the game. Then go to the console menu and close the whole game.
- Start it again but choose a different local profile.
- It does the whole process of creating a character again.
- The tutorial is shortened this time and you get your NookPhone in the first conversation with Tom Nook.
- Then you have the “Call Residents” app to choose from and you can play together.
This is how you change it local multiplayer with more than one console and the online multiplayer free:
- Complete the tutorial on the first character.
- After that, you just have to keep playing until the second day on the island arrives.
- Then the airport opens and you can travel to other players’ islands with Dodo Airlines.
How does local split screen co-op work?
If you have activated local split screen, you can switch to it at any time using the “Call Residents” app on your NookPhone. A total of eight players can open their home on one console, but only four can play split-screen at the same time. Multiplayer mode can be played with only one Joy-Con per player
Everyone follows the leader.: The one who called the others will automatically become the leader at first, and everyone else will be the supporters. The leader can do everything that would otherwise be possible in a single game. Also, the camera always points at the leader. If you want to change it, you need to shake the old one with the controller or change it on the NookPhone under “Call Residents”. The leader is marked with a yellow arrow above his head.
Sponsor Restrictions: As a sponsor, you can only use limited features. This includes using tools and moving furniture. However, you cannot use the NookPhone and the bag. He also cannot start conversations with characters. All the items you collect end up in the odds and ends box at the service center. If a follower goes too far out of frame, they will be teleported back to the leader.
Exit split screen: To end the split screen, the leader must select the “Call the inhabitants” application again. From there, she can select “Close” or “Save and Exit.”
How does local multiplayer work with multiple consoles?
As soon as day 2 has dawned for you and your friends’ island, you can use the airport. There you have to talk to Bodo and choose if you want to visit someone or receive someone.
to visit someone: If you want to go to someone else’s island, then you have to say “I want to fly”. to choose. From there, click “Visit someone.” and select local mode. After that, the game will search for a local island to travel to.
welcoming someone: If you want to welcome someone to your island, you must first “welcome residents”. to choose. There, you select the local mode and then decide whether to open the door for everyone or just those who also know the Dodo code. You must enter the Dodo code yourself and it is a four digit numeric code.
Play as host: As soon as another player arrives on your island, the restrictions are limited. You can no longer place or pick up furniture, decorations, fences, fish, or bugs. Otherwise, you can do whatever else is possible.
play as a guest: You have the same restrictions as a host. However, there are additional restrictions if you are not the best friend of the host. So you can’t use the ax and shovel. The great advantage that you have as a guest is the opportunity to go shopping on the other island in the store and in the tailor shop and take advantage of the daily offer.
Exit local multiplayer: All players must exit the island manually. To do this, guests must go to the airport and check out there. It is easier to use the minus button. There you can choose directly that you want to leave the island. When all the players have left, the host can close the doors again and use all the game features as usual.
How does online multiplayer work?
In order to play online with others, you must also play until the second day. From that point you can visit the airport and talk to Bodo there to catch a flight to other islands.
to visit someone: If you want to go to someone else’s island, then you have to say “I want to fly”. to choose. From there, click “Visit someone.” and select online mode. There you have again the option to travel to an island from your friends list, from your best friends or via the Dodo code. The game then searches for a corresponding island that you can travel to.
welcoming someone: If you want to welcome someone to your island, you must first “welcome residents”. to choose. There you select the online mode and then decide whether to open the door for people on your friends list, your best friends or only for those who also know the Dodo code. The five-digit Dodo code is automatically generated for you and consists of numbers and letters.
Play as host: As soon as another player arrives on your island, the restrictions are limited. You can no longer place or pick up furniture, decorations, fences, fish, or bugs. Otherwise, you can do whatever else is possible.
play as a guest: You have the same restrictions as a host. However, there are additional restrictions if you are not the best friend of the host. So you can’t use the ax and shovel. The great advantage that you have as a guest is the opportunity to go shopping on the other island in the store and in the tailor shop and take advantage of the daily offer.
Exit online multiplayer: All players must exit the island manually. To do this, guests must go to the airport and check out there. It is easier to use the minus button. There you can choose directly that you want to leave the island. When all the players have left, the host can close the doors again and use all the game features as usual.
Using the Nintendo Switch Online app correctly
corner linkNote: To make many of the online features easier, you can download the Nintendo Switch Online app for your Android and iOS smartphones. If you connect this to your Nintendo Account, you can select the Animal Crossing specific service “NookLink”.
You have to connect this to Animal Crossing: New Horizons:
- Go to the Animal Crossing: New Horizons main menu on your Switch and press the minus button.
- Then select the NookLink settings and click “Connect to NookLink”.
- Launch the Nintendo Switch Online app on your smartphone and select Animal Crossing under Game Specific Services.
- Click connect NookLink and the game connects to the app.
Chat by text message: If everything is connected, you can use text chat through your smartphone. To do this, open the Switch Online app, launch NookLink, and select text chat. If you play with others, you can enter the text and send it. Your message can now be seen in the game.
voice chat: You can also start a voice chat from the Nintendo Switch Online app. As soon as you are on another island, a new group will open, which you can join directly as soon as you open the app on your smartphone. There they can talk to each other normally through headphones or the microphone of their mobile phone.
More about Animal Crossing: New Horizons
That’s all you need to know about Animal Crossing multiplayer. With our additional guides, we show you which fish are available in the game and which bugs you can sell for good money. If you like to speculate, it’s worth taking a look at our guide to beets.