Animal Crossing: New Horizons has taken the world by storm, and it’s easy to see why. The game offers a unique blend of creativity, exploration, and relaxation that’s hard to find elsewhere. However, as with any game, there may come a time when you want to start over from scratch. Perhaps you’re not happy with the way your island is shaping up, or maybe you want to try a different approach. Whatever the reason, you may be wondering: can you restart your island in Animal Crossing?
Understanding Island Progression
Before we dive into the specifics of restarting your island, it’s essential to understand how island progression works in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. When you start a new game, you’ll begin with a deserted island and a few basic tools. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock new items, characters, and features that will help you build and customize your island paradise.
Your island’s progression is tied to your Nintendo Switch Online account, which means that your progress is saved automatically. This also means that you can’t simply delete your save data and start over, as this would affect all of your Nintendo Switch games.
Island Reset: What You Need To Know
So, can you restart your island in Animal Crossing? The answer is a bit complicated. While there isn’t a straightforward “reset” option, you can start a new island from scratch. However, this will require some effort and planning on your part.
To start a new island, you’ll need to create a new Nintendo Switch Online account or use an existing one that doesn’t have an Animal Crossing: New Horizons save file. This will allow you to start a new game from the beginning, with a fresh island and a new character.
However, keep in mind that this will also mean that you’ll lose access to your old island and all of the progress you’ve made. This includes any characters you’ve befriended, items you’ve collected, and customizations you’ve made to your island.
What You’ll Lose When You Restart
Before you decide to restart your island, it’s essential to understand what you’ll be giving up. Here are a few things to consider:
- Character relationships: Any friendships you’ve formed with the game’s characters will be lost when you restart. This means that you’ll have to rebuild relationships with your favorite characters from scratch.
- Item collection: You’ll lose access to any items you’ve collected, including rare or limited-edition items. This can be a significant loss, especially if you’ve spent a lot of time and effort collecting these items.
- Island customizations: Any customizations you’ve made to your island, including landscaping, furniture, and other decorations, will be lost when you restart.
Alternatives To Restarting
If you’re not happy with your island’s progression, there are a few alternatives to restarting that you might want to consider. Here are a few options:
- Island editing: Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a range of island editing tools that allow you to customize and shape your island. You can use these tools to make changes to your island’s layout, add new features, and remove unwanted items.
- Character movement: If you’re not happy with the way your characters are arranged on your island, you can use the game’s character movement feature to relocate them. This can help you create a more balanced and harmonious island community.
- Item storage: If you’re running out of space on your island, you can use the game’s item storage feature to store unwanted items. This can help you declutter your island and make it feel more organized.
When To Restart Your Island
So, when should you restart your island in Animal Crossing? Here are a few scenarios where restarting might be the best option:
- You’re not happy with your island’s layout: If you’re not happy with the way your island is shaped or laid out, restarting might be the best option. This will give you a fresh start and allow you to create an island that’s tailored to your needs and preferences.
- You’ve made a mistake: If you’ve made a mistake that’s affected your island’s progression, restarting might be the best option. This could include accidentally deleting an important item or character, or making a mistake that’s affected your island’s layout.
- You want to try a different approach: If you want to try a different approach to building and customizing your island, restarting might be the best option. This will give you a fresh start and allow you to experiment with new ideas and techniques.
Conclusion
Restarting your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a big decision, and it’s not one that should be taken lightly. Before you make the decision to restart, it’s essential to understand what you’ll be giving up and what you hope to achieve. By considering your options carefully and weighing the pros and cons, you can make an informed decision that’s right for you.
Ultimately, the decision to restart your island is up to you. If you’re not happy with your island’s progression, or if you want to try a different approach, restarting might be the best option. However, if you’re happy with your island and don’t want to lose your progress, it might be better to stick with what you have.
| Pros of Restarting | Cons of Restarting |
|---|---|
| A fresh start and a new island | Losing access to your old island and progress |
| The ability to try a different approach | Losing character relationships and item collections |
| A clean slate and a new beginning | Having to rebuild relationships and collect items from scratch |
By considering the pros and cons of restarting your island, you can make an informed decision that’s right for you. Whether you decide to restart or stick with what you have, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the game.
Can I Restart My Island In Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
You can restart your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but it’s not a straightforward process. To do so, you’ll need to delete your island data and start from scratch. This will erase all your progress, including your character, home, and island layout.
Before you restart, make sure you’re prepared to lose all your progress. You won’t be able to recover any of your data once it’s deleted. If you’re sure you want to start over, go to the System Settings on your Nintendo Switch, select “Data Management,” and then choose “Delete Save Data.” Select the Animal Crossing: New Horizons save data and confirm that you want to delete it.
What Happens To My Nintendo Switch Online Subscription If I Restart My Island?
Restarting your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons won’t affect your Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Your subscription is tied to your Nintendo account, not your game data. You’ll still be able to access online features and cloud saves even after you restart your island.
However, keep in mind that restarting your island will delete any cloud saves associated with your game data. If you want to keep your cloud saves, make sure to disable cloud saving before you delete your island data. You can do this by going to the System Settings on your Nintendo Switch, selecting “Data Cloud,” and then turning off cloud saving for Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Will I Lose My In-game Items And Currency If I Restart My Island?
Yes, restarting your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons will delete all your in-game items and currency. This includes any furniture, decorations, clothing, and other items you’ve collected or purchased. You’ll also lose any Nook Miles, bells, or other currencies you’ve earned.
If you want to keep some of your items, you can try to transfer them to other characters or storage before you restart your island. However, this can be a time-consuming process, and you may not be able to transfer everything. It’s generally easier to start from scratch and rebuild your collection.
Can I Restart My Island If I Have A Loan With Tom Nook?
Yes, you can restart your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons even if you have a loan with Tom Nook. However, keep in mind that restarting your island will delete all your progress, including any payments you’ve made on your loan.
When you start a new game, you’ll begin with a new loan from Tom Nook. You’ll need to start making payments again from scratch. If you’re trying to pay off a large loan, it may be better to continue playing your current game rather than restarting.
Will Restarting My Island Affect My Friends List Or Online Multiplayer?
Restarting your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons won’t affect your friends list or online multiplayer. Your friends list is tied to your Nintendo account, not your game data. You’ll still be able to visit and interact with your friends’ islands even after you restart your own.
However, keep in mind that restarting your island will delete any island data associated with your friends. If you’ve visited or interacted with your friends’ islands, you may lose some of that data. Your friends won’t be affected, but you may need to re-add them to your friends list or re-visit their islands.
Can I Restart My Island If I Have A Seasonal Event Or Update In Progress?
Yes, you can restart your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons even if you have a seasonal event or update in progress. However, keep in mind that restarting your island will delete all your progress, including any event-exclusive items or rewards.
If you’re in the middle of a seasonal event, it may be better to wait until the event is over before restarting your island. This will give you a chance to complete any event tasks or collect event-exclusive items. Once the event is over, you can restart your island and start fresh.