How to get started in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you'll face a multitude of tasks to do and complete in order to develop your village. In this guide, we'll explain how to get started in Animal Crossing, and how to optimize your resources.

When you start the game, you'll find yourself with a tiny tent. To build your house, you'll need bells. In addition, you'll need lots of resources to construct tools and other buildings. Here are 10 things you need to do to get started with Animal Crossing.

1. Collect tree branches and wood

Tree branches are one of the most important resources in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, especially at the start of the game, since the player simply needs to pick up from the ground or shake the trees until a branch falls. Tree branches can be used to make several basic tools: a net, a fishing rod, a basic axe and so on.

Once you have access to the Flimsy axe, you'll be able to harvest wood. To harvest wood, hardwood or softwood, use a Flimsy axe or a stone axe and strike the trees with A.

* It's important to note that there doesn't seem to be a limited number of branches for each tree. If no branches fall after several attempts, change trees.

* It's important to note that a Flimsy axe and a stone axe don't have the same functionality as an axe. The stone axe will allow you to harvest the wood without destroying the tree, unlike the axe. 

2. Pick up weeds:

Weeds are found on the ground and are very accessible at the start of the game. They can be used to make various decorations and materials. 

3. Harvest iron nuggets, gold nuggets and clay nuggets

When you have a shovel, hit the rocks in your village with a shovel or axe. You'll find iron ore, stone and clay. Gold ores, on the other hand, are much rarer to find. These resources are essential at the start of the game to accomplish certain tasks and build more robust tools.

* Tip: Remember to dig holes behind you (see photos below) so you don't slip, and make sure there's a clear space around the stone so that resources or bells have room to fall. For more tips on extracting resources, visit our guide about rocks in ACNH. 

4. Collect/sell fruit and shells at the Nook's Cranny:

The fruits on the trees in your village and the shells on the beach are very easy to find at the start of the game. They can be very useful for making furniture or Cooking DIY Recipes later in the game, for example. You can also sell them at the Nook's Cranny store to make a few bells. 

5. Looking out over the beach

Take a stroll along the beach every day and look for a message in a bottle containing a DIY Recipe or a Cooking DIY Recipe. You may also be lucky enough to find a coconut. 

6. Catching fish and insects

Once you've got a fishing rod and a net, fish and hunt as many insects as possible. This will help you progress through the game. What's more, selling fish and insect at Nook's Cranny can earn you lots of bells. 

7. Expand your inventory:

This will allow you to carry many more items and tools. To find out how to expand your inventory, go to our inventory guide page.

8. Digging cracks in the ground

Look for the small star-shaped marks on the ground and dig them with a shovel to find a fossil or a gyroid. You can then speak to Blathers at the museum to have it appraised. Sell it at the Nook's Cranny store if the museum already has the fossil. These fossils can earn you lots of bells. 

9. Plant several fruit trees

Don't hesitate to plant your own fruit to grow more trees. Trees can be extremely useful. To find out about the many benefits trees can offer you, and how to grow bell trees, refer to our guide about trees. 

10. Visit the mysterious islands

Don't hesitate to visit other islands. You'll find lots of surprises: resources, new fruits, DIY recipes and more! Many surprises await you! You'll also be able to collect many more resources if you've reached the maximum number of nuggets per rock in your village. 
* Make sure you're well equipped with all your tools before you set off. 

* Bonus

Once your home is built, you'll have access to storage. You'll be able to store lots of items, including decorations, furniture and, above all, your resources. By storing all your accumulated resources, you'll make sure you don't run out of anything when it's time to build tools, for example.

Here are our 10 tips for getting started in Animal Crossing: New Horizons! Don't forget to play at least once a day, as this can be very beneficial. For a complete list of things to do every day in Animal Crossing, go to our daily activities guide.