How to Play Multiplayer - Animal Crossing: New Horizons Guide - IGN (2024)

This ACNH multiplayer guide explains how to play 2-4 player local couch co-op (aka Party Play), how to play local wireless and online, how to play with friends, how to add people to your best-friends list, and how to message and talk to friends. Plus a detailed break down on how the Call Islander and Best-Friends List NookPhone apps work alongside the real-life Nintendo Switch Online App (aka NookLink).

FAQ:

  • How to Unlock Online Multiplayer (It unlocks on Day 2 when Dodo Airlines is built!)
  • How to Add People as Best-Friends (once you try to play online you will automatically get the Best-Friends List app and the Chat Log app that allow you ).

Watch the complete video on how multiplayer works in ACNH below!

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Jump to:

  • Couch Co-Op Local Multiplayer (Party Play)
  • Local Wireless and Online Multiplayer
  • How to Invite Friends Online and Visit Friends' Islands
  • How to Add People as Best-Friends
  • How to Message Friends
  • How to Send Mail
  • Nintendo Switch Online App (NookLink)
  • How to Message Other Players
  • How to Voice Chat

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Multiplayer Guide

You need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to access any online multiplayer features.

  • Couch Co-Op Local Multiplayer (Party Play): Up to 8 players can live on one island; 4 players living on the same island can play together - at the same time - on a single system (couch co-op style). This is only for players who are sharing an island.
  • Local Wireless and Online Multiplayer: Up to 8 players can play together on one player’s island via online multiplayer or local wireless.

Note: Only one island can exist per Nintendo Switch console, no matter how many user accounts are registered to that Switch OR how many copies of the game are used on one console. One Nintendo Switch and one copy of the game is required for each unique island, as written on the Australian listing. This may pose a problem for you if you share a Nintendo Switch because you can still create your own character but you'll have to share the island.

Couch Co-Op Local Multiplayer (Party Play)

Up to 8 players can live on one island; 4 players living on the same island can play together - at the same time - on a single system (couch co-op style). Here's how to do it.

  • Have one player set up their life on the island (i.e gone to sleep after the welcome party) - establishing themself as the Resident Rep. They can never leave the island! Their account is locked to it.
  • Have any other account on the Switch can start the game and join the established island.
  • Remember, each person who lives on the Island can have their own house.
  • When new players join the island they’ll get a NookPhone that features a new app called “Call Islander."
  • This app is automatically added to the original Islander aka the Resident Rep’s phone.
  • You can use this app, at any time, to call other residents who live on the same island to come play with you! Up to 8 people can live on an Island BUT only 4 people can play via couch co-op at once.
  • Whoever made the call is automatically the leader and the rest are followers.
  • Because it's not split-screen the followers will automatically follow the leader, popping into the screen if they straggle behind.
  • Only the leader has full access to their pockets, can enter buildings, shop, and only the leader can pick up fruit and wood. Followers can still catch fish and bugs but those will automatically be stored in the recycle bin in Resident Services - to be retrieved later.
  • Fortunately, you can easily change the leader at any time during your play session by shaking your joy-con or doing this change from the Call an Islander app.

Note: if you’re sharing an island keep in mind that only the Resident Rep can make progress in terms of buildings and facilities.

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How to Remove Someone From Your Island

If you're over the idea of sharing an island, freedom is possible! But remember the person who named the Island i.e the Resident Rep cannot leave. But others totally can!

The person leaving the island needs to launch the game. When the home screen appears press the (-) to access Settings. Then select save data settings. From here the person can remove themselves from the island. This will cause them, their money and items, their property, and even villagers’ memories of them to disappear completely.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Couch Co-Op / Party Play Multiplayer

How to Unlock Online Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer unlocks on Day 2 when Dodo Airlines becomes available.

Up to 8 players can play together on one player’s island via online multiplayer or local wireless.

Local

  • If your friends are nearby and they each have their own Nintendo Switch and their own copy of Animal Crossing, you can visit each other’s island through local wireless play, meaning no internet connection is required.
  • Tip: You’ll want to be pretty close to each other to make sure the connection isn’t lost (within a few feet of each other is recommended).
  • Decide whose island all of you want to visit! The island host can go to Dodo Airlines and tell Orville they “want visitors” via “local play.” Or they can just hang around and wait to accept their friends.
  • To visit another player’s island go to Dodo Airlines and select “I wanna fly!,” “I wanna visit someone,” and “local play.”
  • He’ll search for a local island you can visit. Your friend’s island name should pop up and then you can fly over! We suggest doing this one player at a time because if multiple players are trying to fly over simultaneously your flight may get canceled, forcing you to repeat these steps.

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How to Invite Friends Online and Visit Friends' Islands

You cannot add Best Friends until you've played with them at least once so we'll start with how to play online. There's no way to send a direct invite to your Nintendo Switch friends. Instead you're "opening the gates" to your island. They don't get a notification about this but you do have some in-game messaging options (we'll discuss that in a bit).

Inviting friends online:

  1. Go to Dodo Airlines (unlocked on full day 2)
  2. Select "I want visitors."
  3. Select via online play (if they're in the same room as you, with their own Switches and own copies of ACNH you could select local).
  4. After connecting to the internet you can open your island to "All my friends!" "Only my Best Friends!"or "Invite via Dodo Code." See the chart below for details.
  5. When you want people off your island press the (-) symbol to end session. If you just want people to stop coming to your island you can go back to Dodo Airlines and ask Orville to "close the gate." Closing the gate does not remove players who are already there.

Visiting a friend's island:

  1. Go to Dodo Airlines (unlocked on full day 2)
  2. Select "I wanna fly!"
  3. Select "I wanna visit someone."
  4. Select via online play (if they're in the same room as you, with their own Switches and own copies of ACNH you could select local).
  5. After connecting to the internet you can "search for a friend" or "Search via Dodo code." See chart below for details.
  6. When you're ready to leave your friend's island hit the (-) symbol and return to your island or go to Dodo Airlines and head home.
Dodo Airlines Online Invites and Visits to Friends' Islands
I want visitors (inviting others)
All my friendsAll your Nintendo Switch friends can fly to your island
Only my Best Friends!Only your Best Friends can fly to your island.
Invite via Dodo CodeOnly my friendsOnly your friends who enter the Dodo Code can visit your island.
Only my Best FriendsOnly your Best Friends who enter the Dodo Code can visit your island.
The more the merrier!Anyone with the Dodo Code can visit your island. This is the only way to "invite" people you are not Nintendo Switch friends with.
I wanna fly (visiting others)
Search for friendOrville will look for islands (to see if any of you Switch friends opened the gates). If he finds several islands he asks you to select the one you want to go to. You'll even be able to see how many people are on the island already!
Search via Dodo CodeEnter the Dodo Code you have. Maybe a friend sent you their code directly or maybe someone you follow posted theirs on social media.

How to Add People as Best-Friends

The only way to get the Best-Friends List App, which allows you to add people as Best Friends is to play Online.

When you go to Dodo Airlines and ask to visit someone "far-away, Online" or ask for visitors "far-away, Online." Orville will add the Best-Friends List App and the Chat Log app to your phone.

To protect your island during Online Play certain tools, such as axes and shovels, are forbidden unless you're on a Best Friend's island.

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  1. Become friends on the Nintendo Switch.
  2. Play together online once. (The Airport unlocks on day 2. Remember this does not count the "tutorial day.")
  3. Use the Best-Friends List app to send them a Best-Friend request.
  4. They must accept you in order for you to become Best Friends.
  5. You can also manage/remove best friends from this app. Plus message them all at once.

Playing with Friends vs Playing with Best Friends

Here's how to play with friends and how the best-friends list can change things. Everything you get on another island will go into your pockets, allowing you to take it back to your island later!

Only Best Friends will have access to their Axe and Shovel.

Gameplay OptionsAll FriendsBest Friends
Gathering resources
Pick Fruit and Flowers / Plant Flowersyesyes
Catch Bugs and Fishyesyes
Pick up resources already on the groundyesyes
Strike stones (for clay, iron, money etc)noyes
Strike Trees for Woodnoyes
Dig for Fossils, clams, etcnoyes
Plant Treesnoyes
Shopping and Community Building
Shop and Sellyesyes
Use anything inside Resident Servicesnono
Talk to animal residentsyesyes
Enter homesyesyes

Other limitations: While visitors are on the island no one can decorate or terraform. No one can place items, only drop items.

How to Message Friends

Here are the ACNH messaging features. Orville will give you both the Best Friends App and the Chat Log app when you ask to play Online.

Both of these apps are integrated with the real life Nintendo Switch app > Animal Crossing New Horizons. So if you would rather type messages on your phone be sure to see the real-life app details on our How to Use NookLink page. This app also lets you import old designs from New Leaf and Happy Home Designer. This is only possible with this app.

Whether you have island visitors or are visiting an island yourself, you can use the Chat Log app to send messages to everyone as long as you're on the island together. It's basically a giant group text but your message also appears as a speech bubble above your head.

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When you're by yourself you can still send messages but ONLY to your Best Friends using the Best Friends App. You can ONLY send these messages when the recipient is online. Be sure to enable the communication feature by opening the Best Friends List app and hitting the (-).

How to Send Mail to Friends

Finally, the other form of communication in ACNH is good ol' fashion mail! Just head to Dodo Airlines and interact with the card stand on the right of Orville. From here you can send a letter to another resident (human or animal!), your future self, or any friend! They'll get the letter shortly after.

Note: You must play with this person at least once, online, to be able to send them letters. While you can send as many letters as you want you can only send an individual player 2 letters per day.

For more on online capabilities be sure to check out our pages on How to Use NookLink and How to Play Multiplayer.

Nintendo Switch Online App (NookLink)

The Nintendo Switch Online App can connect to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This connection is known as NookLink. NookLink lets you scan QR codes of custom designs from Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer but it also has some features specifically for multiplayer.

Just like the Chat Log app on your in-game phone, you can use your real phone to type out messages.

1. Open the Nintendo Switch Online App > Animal Crossing New Horizons (NookLink) > Chat Keyboard.

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2. When connected online you can message other Animal Crossing: New Horizons players using your smart phone keyboard.

How to Voice Chat

Open the Nintendo Switch Online App > Voice Chat. Make sure you're connected online.

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How to Play Multiplayer - Animal Crossing: New Horizons Guide - IGN (2024)

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