When Animal Crossing: New Horizons first launched, Nintendo didn't anticipate how many hours fans would pour into the game. Animal Crossing has always been about taking it slow by putting in an hour or two of work every day, but because of stay-at-home orders, players were logging closer to ten to twelve hours per day into New Horizons. This led to more quickly seen burnout from many users than in past Animal Crossing installments, but that may be about to change when the fall update rolls out in just a few days.
October is the beginning of a beloved season for many. The spooky season and fall vibes are all the hype nowadays, and Animal Crossing is no stranger to it. Since New Horizons' release, many long-time fans of the franchise have compared the newest console installment to the mobile spinoff, Pocket Camp, which is argued to have many more themed items and seasonal decorations. Whenever October comes around, Pocket Camp pulls out all the stops to impress players, and perhaps New Horizons is finally taking a page out of its book because Animal Crossing's plans for the upcoming seasons look impressive.
The Fall Season and Halloween in New Horizons
Some fun fall activities have already been added to New Horizons such as collecting acorns and crafting them into adorable themed decorations. But with the fall update arriving very soon, even more activities will premiere, some of them that have been seen in Pocket Camp previous years. Pumpkin farming is sure to add some fall aesthetic to players' islands, and the internet will likely see some Animal Crossing pumpkin patch shoots in lieu of real-life ones this year. It might not make sense to purchase a costume this year, but players can head over to the Able Sisters for a selection of spooky outfits. Nook Miles can be traded for body paint and colorful contacts as well.
Depending on age range, there are many ways to spend the days around Halloween. Kids are usually out trick-or-treating, while parents might be taking their young ones out for their very first Halloween. Teens or young adults, on the other hand, often attend costume parties or scary movie nights. October is also a major time for horror movies to premiere in theaters. However it is that people choose to spend the 31st, though it's typically spent with groups of others, that won't be the case this year because of Covid-19. Just as it did back in March, Animal Crossing will once again be used to bring people together when it's not possible physically, but this time, in the form of Halloween fun.
Winter and Christmas Season in New Horizons
Whether it's because of sweater weather, hot cocoa, or happy holidays with loved ones, the fall season always leads into winter, another beloved time of the year. One can only hope that the pandemic will be over by the time the holidays arrive, but for many countries, this likely won't be the case. People may not be able to fly home to see their families this year, but Animal Crossing may be able to fill that gap to some degree.
Thanks to time-travelers, some may already know what winter in New Horizons looks like, but Nintendo is bound to release more when the time comes, judging by how frequently free content updates have been unveiled for the sim. Players can possibly expect craftable decorations coming along with Toy Day, and likely the option to dress up as the big guy in red to deliver gifts to villagers, similar to New Leaf's version of the celebration.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons technically doesn't celebrate different religions, at least the franchise hasn't in the past, but some players have been calling for the inclusion of Hannukah and Kwanzaa decorations in the game. Either way, it'll be a time friends and family can visit each other in-game if they're unable to in the real world.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available now for Nintendo Switch