acnh tom nook and isabelle on an island waving to welcome new residents

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) is a game that thrives on creativity, patience, and strategic planning. Whether you’re just starting your island adventure or looking for ways to optimize your gameplay, this guide covers essential tips to help you make the most of your time in the game!


1. Maximize Your Daily Routine

To get the most out of each in-game day, follow this daily checklist:

  • Hit all rocks – One will be a money rock that gives up to 16,000 Bells per day.
  • Shake trees – Some trees will drop Bells, furniture, or wasp nests (carry a net!).
  • Check Nook’s Cranny & Able Sisters – New furniture, clothing, and wallpapers are available daily.
  • Dig up fossils – Identify them at the museum or sell duplicates for extra Bells.
  • Find the glowing spot – Bury 10,000 Bells for a guaranteed 30,000 Bell money tree.
  • Check villagers’ houses – Some may be crafting DIY recipes you can collect.
  • Look for NPCs – Gulliver, CJ, Flick, Label, and others appear randomly with special rewards.

2. Master the Stalk Market (Turnips) for Big Profits

Turnips, sold by Daisy Mae every Sunday morning, are the best way to make big Bells fast. Here’s how to play the stalk market:

  • Buy turnips on Sunday – Prices vary, so check your purchase price before committing.
  • Track selling prices – Nook’s Cranny changes its turnip price twice a day (AM & PM).
  • Join online communities – Use Discord, Reddit, or Twitter to find high-price islands to sell your turnips.
  • Sell before Saturday – Turnips rot on Sunday, making them worthless.

3. Use Time Travel Strategically (Optional)

If you don’t mind bending the game’s natural flow, time traveling can help speed up progress:

  • Skip construction wait times – Move buildings or grow trees faster.
  • Farm seasonal DIY recipes – Jump between months to collect event items.
  • Cycle villagers faster – Move out unwanted villagers quicker.

Note: Time traveling can mess with turnip prices and special NPC visits, so use it wisely!


4. Get Rare Villagers with Amiibo and Mystery Islands

Finding your dream villager can be tricky, but here are the best methods:

  • Use Mystery Islands – If you have an open plot, use Nook Miles Tickets to find new villagers.
  • Invite campsite visitors – Some villagers randomly visit your campsite.
  • Amiibo cards – Scan an Amiibo at Resident Services to invite specific villagers.
  • Villager trading – Join online groups to swap villagers with other players.

5. Optimize Your Island Layout

Once you unlock terraforming, you can fully customize your island. Here are some layout tips:

  • Centralize essential buildings – Keep Nook’s Cranny, the Able Sisters, and the Museum near Resident Services for easy access.
  • Plan neighborhood sections – Group villager houses together for a more structured look.
  • Use bridges and inclines wisely – They cost a lot, so place them where they improve travel the most.
  • Add pathways – Stone, brick, or dirt paths make your island look more realistic and organized.

6. Decorate with a Theme for a 5-Star Rating

If you want to reach a 5-star island rating, follow these decoration tips:

  • Use a consistent theme – Examples include cottagecore, citycore, jungle, and futuristic.
  • Plant flowers and trees – Variety helps increase your island’s rating.
  • Add furniture outside – Place DIY and store-bought items to make areas feel more lived-in.
  • Limit dropped items – Too many scattered items lower your rating.

7. Unlock Hidden Features & Rewards

  • Golden Tools – Earn these by completing tasks like catching all bugs or fishing every fish.
  • Secret K.K. Slider Songs – Request “K.K. Birthday” or “K.K. Song” on Saturdays for special tracks.
  • Pirate Gulliver – Help the pirate version of Gulliver to earn rare pirate-themed items.

Final Thoughts

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a game meant to be played at your own pace. Whether you're farming Bells, designing the perfect island, or hunting for your dream villagers, these tips will help you get the most out of your adventure.

What’s your favorite ACNH tip? Share it in the comments below!

acnh tom nook and isabelle on an island waving to welcome new residents

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) is a game that thrives on creativity, patience, and strategic planning. Whether you’re just starting your island adventure or looking for ways to optimize your gameplay, this guide covers essential tips to help you make the most of your time in the game!


1. Maximize Your Daily Routine

To get the most out of each in-game day, follow this daily checklist:

  • Hit all rocks – One will be a money rock that gives up to 16,000 Bells per day.
  • Shake trees – Some trees will drop Bells, furniture, or wasp nests (carry a net!).
  • Check Nook’s Cranny & Able Sisters – New furniture, clothing, and wallpapers are available daily.
  • Dig up fossils – Identify them at the museum or sell duplicates for extra Bells.
  • Find the glowing spot – Bury 10,000 Bells for a guaranteed 30,000 Bell money tree.
  • Check villagers’ houses – Some may be crafting DIY recipes you can collect.
  • Look for NPCs – Gulliver, CJ, Flick, Label, and others appear randomly with special rewards.

2. Master the Stalk Market (Turnips) for Big Profits

Turnips, sold by Daisy Mae every Sunday morning, are the best way to make big Bells fast. Here’s how to play the stalk market:

  • Buy turnips on Sunday – Prices vary, so check your purchase price before committing.
  • Track selling prices – Nook’s Cranny changes its turnip price twice a day (AM & PM).
  • Join online communities – Use Discord, Reddit, or Twitter to find high-price islands to sell your turnips.
  • Sell before Saturday – Turnips rot on Sunday, making them worthless.

3. Use Time Travel Strategically (Optional)

If you don’t mind bending the game’s natural flow, time traveling can help speed up progress:

  • Skip construction wait times – Move buildings or grow trees faster.
  • Farm seasonal DIY recipes – Jump between months to collect event items.
  • Cycle villagers faster – Move out unwanted villagers quicker.

Note: Time traveling can mess with turnip prices and special NPC visits, so use it wisely!


4. Get Rare Villagers with Amiibo and Mystery Islands

Finding your dream villager can be tricky, but here are the best methods:

  • Use Mystery Islands – If you have an open plot, use Nook Miles Tickets to find new villagers.
  • Invite campsite visitors – Some villagers randomly visit your campsite.
  • Amiibo cards – Scan an Amiibo at Resident Services to invite specific villagers.
  • Villager trading – Join online groups to swap villagers with other players.

5. Optimize Your Island Layout

Once you unlock terraforming, you can fully customize your island. Here are some layout tips:

  • Centralize essential buildings – Keep Nook’s Cranny, the Able Sisters, and the Museum near Resident Services for easy access.
  • Plan neighborhood sections – Group villager houses together for a more structured look.
  • Use bridges and inclines wisely – They cost a lot, so place them where they improve travel the most.
  • Add pathways – Stone, brick, or dirt paths make your island look more realistic and organized.

6. Decorate with a Theme for a 5-Star Rating

If you want to reach a 5-star island rating, follow these decoration tips:

  • Use a consistent theme – Examples include cottagecore, citycore, jungle, and futuristic.
  • Plant flowers and trees – Variety helps increase your island’s rating.
  • Add furniture outside – Place DIY and store-bought items to make areas feel more lived-in.
  • Limit dropped items – Too many scattered items lower your rating.

7. Unlock Hidden Features & Rewards

  • Golden Tools – Earn these by completing tasks like catching all bugs or fishing every fish.
  • Secret K.K. Slider Songs – Request “K.K. Birthday” or “K.K. Song” on Saturdays for special tracks.
  • Pirate Gulliver – Help the pirate version of Gulliver to earn rare pirate-themed items.

Final Thoughts

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a game meant to be played at your own pace. Whether you're farming Bells, designing the perfect island, or hunting for your dream villagers, these tips will help you get the most out of your adventure.

What’s your favorite ACNH tip? Share it in the comments below!

By Erin Burton

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