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The main console game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, runs on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch Lite. The Switch 2 Edition of New Horizons works only on Switch 2. If you meant the mobile game, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete is a separate app for compatible smart devices. The platform details below reflect Nintendo’s official pages as checked on October 8, 2026.
Which system runs which version
| System | New Horizons version | Play modes Nintendo lists | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Standard version and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | Standard version: TV, tabletop, handheld. Switch 2 Edition modes: not stated | Only Switch 2 gets the Switch 2 Edition’s added features. |
| Nintendo Switch | Standard version only | TV, tabletop, handheld | Nintendo says a Switch 2 Edition game card runs in a Switch without the extra Switch 2 Edition features. |
| Nintendo Switch Lite | Standard version only | Handheld mode | Nintendo’s game page says software compatibility and play experience may differ on Lite. |
| Compatible smart devices | Not New Horizons: Pocket Camp Complete | Not applicable | Some app functions require internet access. |
Nintendo Switch 2
Switch 2 is the only system that runs both editions of New Horizons. The standard version plays as it does on Switch. The Switch 2 Edition, which Nintendo lists with a release date of January 15, 2026, adds the following:
- Enhanced resolution on Switch 2.
- Mouse controls.
- A megaphone that uses the console’s built-in microphone.
- Expanded online play: Nintendo describes online sessions for up to 12 people when everyone has the Switch 2 Edition.
Nintendo lists a physical Switch 2 Edition game card. Nintendo’s UK product page states: “Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is playable only on Nintendo Switch 2.” Treat it as a Switch 2 purchase, not a Switch-compatible upgrade.
Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite
Nintendo Switch
The standard New Horizons version plays on Switch in TV, tabletop, and handheld modes. If you insert a Switch 2 Edition game card into a Switch, the game runs without the Switch 2 Edition’s enhancements, so you do not lose access to the base game.
#1 Best Overall
- The console is also decorated with images of recognizable characters: Tom Nook and Nooklings Timmy and Tommy
- Includes a Switch console, Switch dock, Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R), and two Joy-Con strap accessories
- Game not included
Nintendo Switch Lite
Switch Lite is a handheld-only console, so New Horizons is played in handheld mode. Nintendo’s game page lists the Lite among supported systems but notes that play experience may differ on that hardware. Nintendo does not describe the difference in detail, so check current listings if a specific feature matters to you.
Multiplayer and player counts
| Feature | Standard New Horizons | Switch 2 Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Players on one system | 1 to 4 | Not stated |
| Local wireless or online play | Up to 8 | Online up to 12, when everyone has the Switch 2 Edition |
| Online requirements | Nintendo Account, internet access, and Nintendo Switch Online membership | Not stated separately |
These limits come from Nintendo’s product pages. Multiplayer and online service terms can vary by feature and region, so confirm them on Nintendo’s regional product page before you buy.
Pocket Camp Complete on smart devices
Pocket Camp Complete is an app for compatible smart devices. It is a separate mobile game, not a version of New Horizons, so progress and content do not carry over to the console game. Some functions require an internet connection.
Choosing the right version
- You have a Switch 2 and want the enhanced version: choose the Switch 2 Edition, and make sure your friends also have it if you want online sessions of up to 12.
- You have a Switch or Switch Lite: choose the standard version. It is the only version those systems can run.
- You want to play on a phone or tablet: choose Pocket Camp Complete, not New Horizons.
- You want to play online with friends on a standard version: set up a Nintendo Account, confirm internet access, and check that Nintendo Switch Online membership applies to your region.
Older Animal Crossing games
This guide covers only the current console game, New Horizons, and the mobile app, Pocket Camp Complete. It does not list every earlier Animal Crossing title or its current availability on older systems. Nintendo’s official Animal Crossing series page is the place to check those titles.
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Best Value
- This Nintendo Switch system takes design inspiration from the new Animal Crossing: New Horizons game with pastel green and blue Joy-Con controllers, white wrist straps, and a white Nintendo Switch Dock
- The console is also decorated with images of recognizable characters: Tom Nook and Nooklings Timmy and Tommy
- Includes a Switch console, Switch dock, Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R), and two Joy-Con strap accessories
- Game not included
Rank #4
- Build your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game.
- Switch 2 Edition: This game is the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. It includes the Nintendo Switch game plus upgrade pack, which includes enhancements for play on Nintendo Switch 2 system.
- Upgrade: You can purchase a Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade pack for this game (full version of game required to use this content; sold separately).
- If you and your friends all have the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, you can share your island in 12-player sessions online*—and with CameraPlay and GameChat** support, you can see and hear their reactions in real time!
Rank #3
![Animal Crossings New Horizons - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ErvUL40zL._SL160_.jpg)
- Build your community from scratch on a deserted island brimming with possibility; Create your personal getaway and customize your character, home, decorations, and even the landscape itself
- Collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools. Then, use what you create to give your island a personal touch
- Watch as the time of day and seasons match real life—even your hemisphere. Each day holds potential for surprises and discoveries
- Get to know the island residents, garden, fish, decorate, hunt for fossils, and more.
- Show off your paradise – play on the same system with a total of 4 people, or play together online or over local wireless for fun with up to 8 players
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
