Animal Crossing: New Horzions has only been out for a day, but the series' newest entry has already captured the attention of fans all over the world. As the first main title on the Nintendo Switch, players are free to explore, complete different tasks, and do whatever they want in-game. While everyone can progress at their own pace, taking certain steps the first few days will greatly benefit players in the long run.

As a real-time simulation game, there isn't a traditional way to complete Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, completing specific tasks during the first week will speed up the process at which players can develop their personal island. To that end, this guide will cover the essential things that should be done during the first seven days.

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Day 1 Goals

  1. Pick the player character's campsite and two locations for their other two villagers.
  2. Talk to Tom Nook for some objectives like collecting Tree Branches and Fruit. After finishing, head back to the party and take a nap.
  3. After waking up, talk to every one of the villagers for a chance at free furniture or recipes.
  4. Talk to Nook again to obtain some flimsy recipes then create a Flimsy Fishing Rod and Flimsy Bug Net.
  5. Using the fishing rod and bug net, collect 5 different fish or bugs for Nook's research. Finish this task to get an axe and watering can recipe from Nook who also calls Blathers the Owl to set up a museum somewhere.
  6. Place Blathers' Museum somewhere players will cross frequently, such as in the center.
  7. Pay off Nook's mortgage of 5000 Nook Miles or 50,000 Bells by completing other objectives and tasks.
  8. Optional - Increase inventory space by one row with the Pocket Organization Guide for 5000 Nook Miles and/or the Tool Ring which lets players quickly switch between tools by pressing up on the D-pad for 800 Nook Miles.
  9. Players should harvest resources from the 4 rocks around town using an axe. After collecting stones, clay, iron nuggets, and bells, start hitting trees with the axe to obtain wood, softwood, and hardwood. If the player's axe breaks, craft a new one using wooden sticks.

Day 2 Goals

  1. Bring 15 different species to Blathers who will grant the Flimsy Shovel and Vaulting Pole recipe in exchange.
  2. Dig 3 holes to plant seeds of fruit not native to the player's town received from Mom.
  3. Dig at any cracked spots on the ground to find Fossil Pieces for Blathers in the future.
  4. Harvest resources again from the rocks and trees.
  5. Bring 30 wood, 30 softwood, 30 hardwood, and 30 iron nuggets to Timmy the raccoon so he can build a store. If the player doesn't have enough resources, they can wait until Day 3.
  6. Use Tom Nook's first free Nook Ticket to visit a random island for more resources, possible non-native fruit, and one animal that can be invited to live on the player's island later on.
  7. Buy Pretty Good Tool Recipes for 3000 Nook Miles if the store is already being built.

Day 3 Goals

  1. Gather enough resources to build the store if the player didn't have enough on Day 2.
  2. Harvest more resources, make some better tools, and stockpile enough of everything for the next few days.
animal crossing nh fruit

Day 4 Goals

  1. Donate all current fossil pieces to the newly opened museum then sell extras or other unwanted items to the store.
  2. Players should talk to Tom Nook for a wooden bridge recipe and build the first free one where it will get the most traffic on their island.
  3. Place and build 3 housing plots, preferably near each other but their positioning isn't a deciding factor.
  4. After finishing the second plot, unlock and build a ladder to access steep cliffs on the island which hold some furniture like flowers but also new fossils and bugs.
  5. Build or acquire 6 pieces of furniture for each plot.
  6. Go back to Tom Nook once the job's done and new villagers will arrive soon.
  7. Continue harvesting more resources.

Day 5 Goals

  1. Meet new neighbors on the island by walking to their house and chatting.
  2. Unlock customization options for furniture and other projects by taking Tom Nook's seminar.
  3. Go harvest even more resources, especially the rocks since a Golden Nugget can rarely drop.

Day 6 Goals

  1. A free day: Animal Crossing: New Horizons players can talk to new neighbors, harvest resources, buy a Nook Ticket to another island, or do anything else they want.

Day 7 Goals

  1. Inspect the Resident Services building currently being built over Tom Nook's tent which will be finished in several days.
  2. Go talk to the final neighbor at the player's third housing plot.

After Week 1

If every step is followed, the Resident Services building will be open on Day 9 which allows more bridges and ramps be built in exchange for bells. Remember to check back every day for new developments on the island. At the minimum, players only need to invest 20 minutes a day to keep things rolling, but they are free to spend as much time as they desire.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available now for the Nintendo Switch.

MORE: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Players Are Continuously Resetting the Game 

Source: Polygon