Players dove straight back into Animal Crossing: New Horizons after it received a major update, and they are uncovering more and more each day as they explore the new additions.One of the new entries is Kapp'n, a long-time NPC who ferries villagers to new and mysterious islands that hold secrets for players to enjoy. In New Horizons, there are many variations of mystery islands that Kapp'n can access; ones in each season, with different weather, crops, and other items! Which is the best mystery island in ACNH in terms of loot and experience?These islands have a few similarities as none of them have fossils underground or wasps in the trees, but they all have a message bottle containing a DIY or cooking recipe washed up on the beach, and a Gyroid fragment buried somewhere on the land.
10 Normal Island
The 'worst' of the new mystery islands is the one like yours. It has the same season with correlating seasonal bushes, and the same fruit trees... but these islands are still worthwhile due to a couple of things.
Every mystery island – no matter the season or weather – has a DIY recipe bottle washed up on the shores, and a Gyroid fragment buried underground. There is a range of flowers that can be found on these islands too, not just the native types that grow on the home island.
9 Winter Island
There are islands in every season, and one of those is Winter. While the snowy, temporary home away from home can be pleasant, winter drags on a little too long for more players' liking anyway.
Visiting the frosty island will allow players to collect snowflakes, as well winter fish and bugs that can spawn. The bushes that can be found on the winter isle are Camellia and Holly, as their blooming periods cover the winter season.
8 Bamboo Island
Another kind of polarizing variant is the bamboo mystery island. The roster of islands that Nook Miles Tickets can take players to includes a bamboo forest anyway, so this island is nothing new. However, this time around, it can be helpful.
The new bamboo island that Kapp'n somehow has access to can be set during the spring season. This means that Young Spring Bamboo is harvestable, as well as getting the seasonal bamboo DIY recipes washing up along the beach. Stock up on those stacks, islanders!
7 Raining Island
This one can be mistaken for a clone of the original island – except with rain. Which raining island sort of is, to be honest. This time, though, the weather is wet and stormy.
The 'rain' island has the usual Gyroid fragment, as well as a full-sized one somewhere on the island, just waiting to be dug up! The weather also means that any fish and bugs that spawn during rain and storms can also appear, specifically the coelacanth and snail. Also, sharks and the elusive Barreleye fish have a higher spawn rate during rain, too.
6 Cherry Blossom Island
The better of the two Spring seasonal islands is the Cherry Blossom one. A magical time in spring where all the trees turn and boast pink leaves, this is the favorite time of the year of many players.
While usually locked to just between April 1st – 10th, players can now stock up on the Cherry Blossom Petals that float around on this island, as well as pick up the seasonal DIYs from the beach. Remember, fish and bugs that are locked to the spring season can be caught here, such as the Cherry Salmon, Snapping Turtle, and Tadpoles.
5 Fall Island
The Fall themed islands are definitely the best in terms of the seasonal offerings – there's so much useful stuff available! There can be some variation between these islands, but they all have red trees, brown grass, and an autumnal feel.
Along with the fall bugs and fish, these islands can be covered in mushrooms (including Rare Mushrooms underground) or can have Acorns lying around. These can be difficult to collect on a normal island as there are only five mushrooms that spawn per day, and Acorns or Pine Cones can take forever to fall when shaking trees.
4 Tropical Island
This island holds the new foliage that has been added in the huge 2.0 update to New Horizons. Three new leafy variations are available to be collected from a 'tropical' themed island that is covered in palm trees.
Players can scoop up the new white and pink Plumeria bushes, glowing moss (that take the same form as weeds, with multiple growth stages), and also the newly added vines. These can be used in many new DIY recipes or can be used as a more natural option instead of a ladder.
3 Crop Island
Another incredibly valuable type for the 2.0 update is the Crop Islands. At first, they look much like the 'normal' island, as they have regular trees and weeds, but crisscrossing the island is brown paths with crops growing on them.
Every crop type has been discovered – the previously-added pumpkins, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tomatoes, and carrots. Players can harvest all of the vegetables and dig up the sprouts too, to bring back to their home and replant. This is possibly the most valuable island given the selling price of cooked food and the fact that Leif only rotates stock every week.
2 Money Island
Now, the crop islands may have been valuable but they don't come close to the Money Island. That's right, it's an island covered in trees that grow Bell Bags.
In case players weren't aware, up to 10,000 Bells can be planted in glowing spots to produce a Bell tree. The tree will then produce three bags of the amount planted. This island only produces 1000 Bell bags, sadly, but also has a Bell rock that can be bashed for cash, too.
1 Shooting Star Island
The best island that has been added, by far, is the Shooting Star/Star Fragment island. A rare one that a lot of players still haven't found yet, it provides the most coveted of treasures.
The rocks on this island spit out zodiac star fragments, which can be super helpful as they're seasonal. There is a non-stop meteor shower going on, so players can wish upon as many stars as they like, and collect the fragments from their beach the next day. Oh, and the DIY bottle on this island can hold a Celeste recipe!
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available now on Nintendo Switch.