Animal Crossing: New Horizons puts a strong emphasis on building a thriving community and fostering friendships. Whether it’s collecting furniture series or discovering unique fruits on different islands, interacting with other players is key to unlocking desirable collectibles. The game provides a safe and exciting platform to show off your hard work and island transformations without the fear of vandalism.
But the benefits don’t end there. Sharing your island with friends can actually be profitable. By inviting friends to visit your island or visiting theirs, you have the opportunity to earn additional Nook Miles every day. So, if you’re on a quest to find your Dreamie, having a network of friends will make it easy to accumulate Nook Miles. Adding friends to your list not only allows you to keep track of who’s online, but it also offers exciting bonuses worth exploring.
Prerequisites for Island Visits
Before embarking on island visits, there are a few prerequisites to consider. After creating your island, you must wait for at least one day for the airport to open and become accessible. Once the airport is operational, you can both visit other islands and host visitors. It’s important to note that to engage in these activities, players need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Visitors can either be players from your Nintendo Switch friends list or individuals who provide a Dodo Code. While Dodo Codes give you more control over who visits your island, playing online does carry some risks. Within the Animal Crossing community, instances of theft, trampled flowers, and general disruption of islands have occurred. However, it’s essential to remember that the community comprises different types of people, including helpful individuals who go out of their way to restore lost items. Exercise caution when inviting strangers to your island and granting them Best Friend status.
Opening Your Gates to All Friends
The simplest way to invite friends to your island is by visiting the airport and opening your gates to all of your Nintendo Switch friends. Keep in mind that while this method doesn’t require a code, it allows anyone on your friends list to visit your island. Use this option at your discretion.
- Visit Dodo Airlines and interact with Orville. Choose “I Want Visitors.”
- Select “Via Online Play.” This method allows you to invite local players as well, but for the purposes of this guide, we’ll focus on online play.
- Upon connecting to the internet, you’ll be presented with the following options:
- All My Friends!
- Only My Best Friends!
- Invite via Dodo Code
Choose “All My Friends” to open your gates to everyone.
Image used with permission by OnSpec Electronic, Inc.
Inviting Friends via Dodo Code
Another method for inviting friends is by using Dodo Codes. This option allows visitors to join your island only if they possess a valid code.
- Follow the same steps as above, but when prompted by Orville, select “Invite Via Dodo Code.”
- You’ll then be presented with three options:
- Only My Friends
- Only My Best Friends
- The More, the Merrier!
After making your selection, a five-character code consisting of letters and numbers will be generated. Share this code with others, enabling them to visit your island.
The “Only My Friends” option restricts visits to players on your Nintendo Switch friends list. “Only My Best Friends” allows exclusively designated Best Friends to visit, while “The More, the Merrier!” grants access to any player, regardless of their friend status.
How to Visit Another Player
Visiting another player is a straightforward process, offering two methods: Via Dodo Code or through your friends list.
- Speak to Orville and select the “I Wanna Fly!” option.
- Choose “I Wanna Visit Someone” and select “Via Online Play.” Confirm your intention to connect to the internet by responding with “Roger.”
- Orville will then present you with two travel options:
- Search for a Friend
- Search via Dodo Code
By selecting “Search for a Friend,” you can join the islands of any friends currently online. Opt for “Search via Dodo Code” if prompted to enter a specific code.
Image used with permission by OnSpec Electronic, Inc.
The Best Friends System
Understanding the Best Friends system is crucial as it offers unique advantages.
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there’s a distinct difference between regular friends and Best Friends. While friends can visit your island, only Best Friends possess the ability to use tools capable of altering your island landscape.
To access the Best Friend app on your NookPhone, play the game online for the first time. Once you’ve identified a “Best Friend,” that player can freely travel to and from your island, borrowing tools and impacting your community with axes or shovels. You’re not limited to just one Best Friend; anyone who has previously visited your island can be classified as a Best Friend within the app.
Here’s how to add friends and manage your Best Friend list:
- To add a friend, simply meet with them while playing the game. If you wish to upgrade their status to Best Friend, you’ll gain additional benefits such as the ability to message each other in-game and exchange fun gifts.
- Use your NookPhone to keep track of and manage your Best Friend list. Being in the same place at the same time within the game will prompt their name to appear on your phone. From there, you can choose to add them as a Best Friend.
- Each island visit rewards you with Nook Miles, providing a great opportunity to earn additional points in the game. These rewards can be traded in for popular items like Nook Miles Tickets.
Remember, building a network of friends adds depth and excitement to your Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience.
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