Summary
Animal Crossingis one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises, but it is not without its shortcomings, as some fans have brought to light an issue that makes it impossible to create an island covered in trees while maintaining a five-star rating. WhileAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsencourages players to decorate their islands to their hearts' content, the game’s island rating mechanic sometimes limits the amount of customization possible when pursuing a perfect score.
Creativity has been a core part of Nintendo’s brand and culture for a long time, andAnimal Crossingis one of the prime examples of it, as each game in the series focuses on crafting a unique village and filling it with diverse residents. While it added lots of new elements to the usual formula, such as the ability to place all types of furniture outdoors and terraform the land,Animal Crossing: New Horizonsalso came with some limitations that frustrated players.
In this case, Reddit user slyyris posted a complaint about the game’s island rating system to its official subreddit, stating their frustration that placing too many trees hurts their island’s rating, making it impossible to deck it out the way they want. The user shared some screenshots of in-game dialogue telling them that the abundance of trees on their island is hurting their score and causing theirAnimal Crossingvillagers to get lost.
New Horizons' Island Rating System Frustrates Animal Crossing Fans
Referring to themselves as a lover of forestcore/cottagecore, aesthetic concepts that involve handcrafted or natural structures built within an expansive forest, the user expressed frustration toward the game’s limitations when it came to creating an island with that theme. Sincethe island rating system inAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsrequires the player’s island to meet specific criteria for a high score, such as having a limited number of trees, it can make certain aesthetics difficult to achieve without tanking an island’s score.
Others took to the comments to agree with the original poster, stating that the rating system felt antithetical to the game’s focus on decoration and customization, since it imposes arbitrary restrictions on how players can decorate and still achieve a high score. While it seems unlikely that Nintendo will make any major changes to it by this point, a rework of the island rating system is yet another of manythings fans seemingly hope to see in the nextAnimal Crossinggame.
While the system does tend to limit players who prefer cozier or more minimalist designs, the island rating mechanic does allow for some impressive island creations, such asone modeled to look like a stage from theMario Partyfranchise. There has yet to be any solid confirmation about a potential new game in theAnimal Crossingseries, but with the Switch 2 seemingly on the way, it is likely that fans will have something fresh to play in the future.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
WHERE TO PLAY
Escape to a deserted island and create your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. Your island getaway has a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. you’re able to hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean. The time of day and season match real life, so each day on your island is a chance to check in and find new surprises all year round.Show off your island utopia to family and friends—or pack your bags and visit theirs. Whether playing online** or with others beside you***, island living is even better when you can share it. Even without hopping on a flight, you’ll meet a cast of charming animal residents bursting with personality. Friendly faces like Tom Nook and Isabelle will lend their services and happily help you grow your budding community. Escape to your island getaway—however, whenever, and wherever you want.
