Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Games review
As of Jul 13, 2026, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is rated 90/100 on OpenCritic (151 critic reviews), and 90/100 on Metacritic (122 critic reviews). Each source is shown in its own units, never blended into one score.
Is Animal Crossing: New Horizons worth it in 2026?
A 90/100 across both OpenCritic (151 reviews) and Metacritic (122 reviews) represents about as coherent a critical consensus as the medium produces, and the praise holds up under scrutiny: island customization from the ground up genuinely expands what the series offered before, a revamped challenge system gives players concrete incentives to explore fishing, bug-catching, fossil hunting, and terraforming rather than just wandering, and the relaxed tone is a deliberate identity rather than a production shortcut. That identity, however, comes with a structural cost that no amount of playtime fixes: progress is gated behind real-world days, meaning a player who puts in forty hours in a week will still hit locked content that skill and effort cannot unlock faster. This is not a niche complaint, it will frustrate anyone who plays for achievement loops, forward momentum, or completion, and buyers should weigh it honestly before purchasing.
Players who want a low-pressure, open-ended life sim they can dip into daily at their own pace, casual or experienced, any age, and who are comfortable letting a game unfold on its own schedule rather than theirs.
Progress is deliberately drip-fed over real-world days and cannot be accelerated through skill or extra playtime; if you are goal-driven or want to push through content in focused sessions, the game's pacing will feel like a locked door rather than a design choice you can work around.
ReviewPond's conclusion, drawn only from the verified scores and review themes below. Not a paid or editorial opinion.
Different sources measure different things, so each is shown in its own units and never merged into one number.
Pros
- relaxing peaceful gameplay5
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- Overall, playing New Horizons was well worth the wait. The game is relaxing, enjoyable, well thought out, and fantastic chilled out fun for all ages. Right now, we really need a di...
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a respite from the current state of the world. I find my general anxiety slowly subside as I run through my town, water my plants, and build furnit...
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons transports the player to another world, one where the hardships of life seem inconsequential.
- expanded content improvements4
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- Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an expanded, polished, next-generation reboot of a classic Nintendo game that's full of surprises.
- An impressive suite of improvements combine with a more clearly defined structure for Animal Crossing's finest outing to date.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons gives you more creative freedom and more to do on any given day while preserving what makes the series special.
- customizable island design3
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- Animal Crossing: New Horizons revitalizes the series formula with a fully customizable island that players get to design from the tent up.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons gives you more creative freedom and more to do on any given day while preserving what makes the series special.
- By bringing players into their own island, Animal Crossing: New Horizons works the series' charming, wholesome magic like never before.
- appeals to all players3
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- Overall, playing New Horizons was well worth the wait. The game is relaxing, enjoyable, well thought out, and fantastic chilled out fun for all ages. Right now, we really need a di...
- The best thing I can say about New Horizons is that I think it's going to win over some players who previously bounced off the franchise. And it will do so without losing any longt...
- A beautiful, welcoming game that is everything and anything you want it to be. This is one you'll play all year and beyond, and it's exactly what the world needs right now.
- engaging activities variety3
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- A new challenge system reinvigorates the familiar core, providing a wonderful incentive to explore all of Animal Crossing's myriad activities. This cheerful life sim is the next be...
- Animal Crossing has always been a series where every little thing leads to something productive.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons is beautiful and peaceful, offering safe harbour from the stresses of everyday life. There's so much to do and so much to see, so what's wrong with ma...
- series revitalization3
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- Animal Crossing: New Horizons revitalizes the series formula with a fully customizable island that players get to design from the tent up.
- There continues to be nothing quite like Animal Crossing, and New Horizons proves that there's life in the old Nook yet.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons is everything I hoped it would be, and it’s yet another stellar release that showcases a confident Nintendo at its best. It is excellent, and is easil...
Cons
- slow pacing2
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- Animal Crossing: New Horizons is everything I hoped it would be, and it’s yet another stellar release that showcases a confident Nintendo at its best. It is excellent, and is easil...
- After a few weeks with the latest Animal Crossing, our craving for catching rare bugs and improving our island hasn't calmed one bit. The series' first console release in over a de...
Themes and quotes are drawn from 20 sampled reviews with text; the scores above reflect all 273 ratings. Counts are how many of the sampled reviews mention each point.