Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review

Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition refines the cozy life-sim with performance boosts, new features, and more, my full review.

There’s a rare kind of magic in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the kind that invites you to slow down, relax, and enjoy the small moments of a pixel paradise. Even years after its original 2020 release, the gentle rhythms of island life still have an incredible allure. In fact, I was so excited about the experience that I decided to start from scratch on the Nintendo Switch 2. I found the familiar comfort hasn’t changed, but nearly everything around it feels smoother, expanded and more thoughtfully refined with the latest version of the game.

"Whether you’re setting foot on your island for the first time or dusting off an old save, this version is the most complete way to enjoy Nintendo’s modern classic."

This isn’t a radical overhaul, and it doesn’t need to be to preserve the original’s immaculate vibes. Instead, Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is about polish: faster performance, cleaner visuals, smarter controls, and quality-of-life improvements that elevate the entire experience. Whether you’re setting foot on your island for the first time or dusting off an old save, this version is the most complete way to enjoy Nintendo’s modern classic. Throw on your favourite shades and a Hawaii shirt, and let’s explore all that Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition has to offer.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Details

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch

Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch 2

Developer: Nintendo EPD

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: Life simulation / Social simulation

Available game modes: Single-player; Multiplayer

ESRB Rating: Everyone (E)

A welcome return to island life

At its core, New Horizons still thrives on the same comforting loop gameplay loop: collecting resources, chatting with neighbours, decorating your home, and slowly shaping your island into something personal. What surprised me most was how quickly I slipped back into that mindset. Even after spending dozens of hours with the original release, this version made it easy to get lost again in the small joys: rearranging furniture, checking shops, fishing, or just wandering the beach collecting seashells at sunset.

"Even after spending dozens of hours with the original release, this version made it easy to get lost again in the small joys..."

For newcomers, the experience feels more welcoming and intuitive than ever, thanks to updates and enhancements on the Nintendo Switch 2. For returning players, the game does a great job of removing the rough edges that once made jumping back in feel overwhelming. It’s still deliberately slow-paced, but now offers refinements that let you connect to the best parts of the experience faster, with less friction.

Version 3.0 expands the possibilities

The free Version 3.0 update plays a major role in making this edition feel refreshed. Available on both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, it adds new activities and systems without disrupting the game’s laid-back tone.

Sailing Into Discovery with Kapp’n

One of the highlights is the return of Kapp’n. His boat tours whisk you away to mystery islands with different seasons, weather patterns, and rare materials. These excursions inject a welcome sense of discovery, especially for longtime players who thought they’d already seen everything.

Dream big on Slumber Islands

Another standout addition is Slumber Islands. With a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you can create up to three dream versions of your island, separate from your main save. These spaces are perfect for experimentation. You can terraform freely, test bold design ideas, or collaborate with friends online without worrying about undoing hours of careful planning. It’s a genuinely chill creative outlet within an already relaxing game.

Quality-of-life changes that matter

Some of the most impactful upgrades are also the quietest. One of my favourites is the expanded home storage, which now reaches up to 9,000 items. It makes a massive difference as I felt I was spending less time juggling and selling items. Now, inventory management is smoother, clutter is easier to handle, and decorating no longer feels like a stop-and-start process.

"Inventory management is smoother, clutter is easier to handle, and decorating no longer feels like a stop-and-start process."

These improvements are especially helpful for returning players. If your island has been sitting untouched for a while, the game offers more flexibility to clean up, reorganize, and ease back into creative mode without feeling buried under unfinished projects.

Nintendo Switch 2 enhancements shine

Where the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition really distinguishes itself is in performance and presentation. I found load times noticeably faster, and the game runs more smoothly across the board. Docked, the higher 4K resolution makes a clear difference. Text is crisper, environments look cleaner, and character models have a touch more clarity than before.

Joy-Con 2 mouse feature added

The addition of Joy-Con 2 mouse-style controls is another smart upgrade. Using the right Joy-Con for precision tasks like interior decorating, custom designs, or writing messages feels more intuitive and efficient. It’s not mandatory, but once I used it, I found it hard to go back, especially for selecting big groups of objects; it was a welcome improvement.

Megaphone a friend!

One of my favourite new touches is the in-game megaphone. Using the system’s built-in microphone, you can call villagers by name and have them respond instantly. It’s a small feature, but it genuinely saved time because I didn’t need to go searching around my island for someone. It also added a playful sense of immersion to the hustle and flow of building up my island.

Multiplayer feels livelier than ever

Social play has always been a cornerstone of Animal Crossing, and the Switch 2 Edition further strengthens it. Online multiplayer now supports up to 12 players on a single island, while local wireless play accommodates up to eight. When everyone is on Switch 2, visits feel busier, more energetic, and more communal.

"When everyone is on Switch 2, visits feel busier, more energetic, and more communal."

CameraPlay has also been added, offering a fun, personal layer by allowing compatible USB cameras to display you and your friends on-screen during multiplayer sessions. Seeing real reactions during events or island tours is a neat addition that I really enjoyed.

The most complete version of New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition doesn’t chase reinvention. Instead, it refines nearly every corner of an already beloved experience. Faster performance, sharper visuals, smarter controls, and thoughtful updates come together to create the best version of island life to date.

If you’re new to New Horizons, this is the definitive way to start.

"...it refines nearly every corner of an already beloved experience."

If you’re returning, it’s a gentle but compelling reason to fall back in love with your island all over again. What impressed me most was how effortlessly it pulled me back into its rhythm. Those quiet moments of creativity, connection, and calm that feel just as meaningful now as they did years ago. It remains a gently paced, peaceful, and intentionally low-pressure experience. In an era of games constantly demanding your attention, that sense of calm is exactly why Animal Crossing: New Horizons continues to endure.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition PROS

+Smoother performance and noticeably faster load times on Nintendo Switch 2

+Thoughtful quality-of-life improvements, including expanded storage and refined controls

+Version 3.0 additions meaningfully expand creativity and exploration

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition CONS

-Core gameplay remains largely unchanged, offering few surprises for long-time players

-Still intentionally slow-paced, which may not appeal to players seeking traditional challenge

-Some new features require a Nintendo Switch Online membership to fully enjoy

Overall Assessment of Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

Gameplay: 9 / 10

Graphics: 8 / 10

Sound: 9 / 10

Lasting Appeal / Replayability: 10 / 10

Overall Rating of Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: 36 / 40 (90%)

 Nintendo provided a copy of the game to conduct this review.

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About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina

Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!

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