Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Games review
As of Oct 22, 2026, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is rated 90/100 on Metacritic (122 critic reviews), and 90/100 on OpenCritic (152 critic reviews). Each source is shown in its own units, never blended into one score.
Different sources measure different things, so each is shown in its own units and never merged into one number.
Is Animal Crossing: New Horizons worth it in 2026?
Boasting matching 90/100 scores across more than 100 critic reviews on both Metacritic and OpenCritic, Animal Crossing: New Horizons stands out as a widely praised life sim. Sampled reviewers highlight its creative freedom and gameplay improvements, particularly the ability to design a customizable island from the tent up alongside a new challenge system that encourages exploring abundant activities. Many critics also celebrate the title as a relaxing, chilled-out escape for all ages. However, sampled reviews caution that the game features slow pacing, meaning its gradual rhythm will not suit every play style.
Players seeking an open-ended, relaxing life sim centered on creative island customization and a wide variety of activities.
Slow pacing noted by sampled reviewers, which may frustrate players who prefer brisk progression.
AI-generated editorial synthesis of the source scores and sampled review themes, not a hands-on test. Reviewer experiences and allegations are not independently verified facts.
Pros
- gameplay improvements6
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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 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.
- relaxing escape5
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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.
- creative freedom5
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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.
- 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...
- What makes Animal Crossing an appealing franchise is that I’m able to meet it on my own terms, even if those terms are the polar opposite of the ones I brought to the game in 2020...
- abundant content4
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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: New Horizons gives you more creative freedom and more to do on any given day while preserving what makes the series special.
- Animal Crossing games have always delivered a compelling version of self-quarantine, and this one overflows with quantity, without sacrificing quality, to do so at a scale series f...
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. Each score above uses its source's displayed count. Theme counts are how many of the sampled reviews mention each point.
Rated near Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Closest scores in games, on the same source.