Animal Crossing: New Horizons earned a 90/100 Metascore from 111 critic reviews on Metacritic when its page was retrieved on October 7, 2026. Critics most often praise its soothing pace, broad island activities and creative freedom; the main caveat is that its open-ended control may not suit players who prefer a more directed experience. That score is for the original Nintendo Switch game, not the separate Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
How critics rated the original Nintendo Switch game
Metacritic displayed a score of 90/100, labeled “Universal Acclaim,” based on 111 critic reviews when the page was retrieved on October 7, 2026. Its breakdown at that time was 110 positive reviews (99%), one mixed review (1%) and no negative reviews (0%). Metacritic scores and review totals can change as listings are updated, so these figures describe the page at retrieval, not a permanent count. See Metacritic’s original Switch critic page.
Individual outlet scores add context, but they are separate reviews—not extra parts of Metacritic’s calculation.
| Outlet | Score | Version and date context |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic | 90/100 | Original Nintendo Switch game; 111 critic reviews displayed on October 7, 2026. Source |
| GameSpot | 9/10, “Superb” | Kallie Plagge’s review of the original game, published March 20, 2020. Source |
| Nintendo Life | 8.6/10 | Alex Olney’s review, marked as the European version and republished in January 2026 with discussion of Update 3.0.0 and the Switch 2 Edition. Source |
What critics praise
A relaxing pace with plenty to do
Review excerpts collected on Metacritic highlight the game’s gentle, low-pressure rhythm alongside a wide range of things to do. Critics describe a life sim built around gathering materials, crafting furniture, developing an island and choosing how to spend time there. The appeal is less about rushing through a fixed campaign than returning to a place that can gradually become your own. Read the listed critic excerpts.
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![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
Room to shape the island
Customization is a central strength in the reviews: players can collect resources, make items and change their surroundings. One Metacritic-listed excerpt sums up the breadth as “more to do, more to see, more to change, more to mould, and more to love”; another calls the game a “tranquil haven.” Those are publication-attributed excerpts on the aggregator page, not quotes verified here against named individual bylines.
What the praise may not tell you
The same freedom that makes island design appealing can be a drawback for players who want tighter direction. A Slant Magazine excerpt listed by Metacritic argues that giving the player so much control risks changing the series’ vision of community living. That is a minority view within the overwhelmingly positive aggregate, but it points to a genuine fit question: whether you want a self-directed creative routine or a more structured game. Metacritic’s critic listing.
Rank #2
- Share Your Paradise - Show off your island utopia to family and friends - or pack your bags and visit theirs.
- Get Building - Experience a robust new crafting system - collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools!
- Create Your Perfect Getaway - Craft everything from tools to creature comforts as you create and customize your island community.
- Explore Your Island - Collect bugs, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean.
- Play Together - Up to eight players can reside on an island; four residents of the same island can play together simultaneously on a single system.
How to read Switch 2 Edition reviews
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition has its own critic coverage. Keep those reviews distinct from scores for the original Switch release: some Switch 2 review excerpts discuss reduced loading times, 4K resolution and mouse mode for decorating, while also judging that the edition does not substantially change the underlying game. These are edition-specific reviewer assessments, not descriptions of the original Switch version. View Metacritic’s Switch 2 Edition critic page.
Nintendo Life’s January 2026 republication also discusses Update 3.0.0 and the Switch 2 Edition, so its 8.6/10 should be read with that later context rather than treated as a launch-era review score for a newly released edition. Read the Nintendo Life review.
Rank #3
![Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JAzQozLgL._SL160_.jpg)
- Take in-game photos of your designs and add them to your portfolio. Show them to other characters and you may get more requests to create vacation homes. Share the photos with other players using the in-game Showroom in the Happy Home Network app and they can tour your personally-designed resort islands or go tour theirs for some relaxation and inspiration.
- Purchase the Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise DLC from Nintendo eShop, or download and play it as part of an active Nintendo Switch Online plus Expansion Pack membership at no extra cost.
Is Animal Crossing: New Horizons worth playing?
The critic consensus makes a strong case if you enjoy relaxed play, collecting, crafting and shaping a virtual space at your own pace. The biggest question is not whether there is enough to do, but whether you enjoy setting your own goals and exercising substantial creative control. If comparing listings, check that the platform and edition match what you intend to play: an original Nintendo Switch listing and a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition listing are not interchangeable evidence of the same reviewed version.
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