Nintendo wantsAnimal Crossingfans to know just how well-represented they’ll be in next year’sAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. Over a dozen new images were shared by Nintendo recently, with most of them focusing one of the most important parts ofAnimal Crossing- the player. The screenshots help show just what fans can expect fromAnimal Crossing: New Horizons' character customization system. At first glance, it appears to be familiar in style but significantly more robust overall.
The vast majority of the screenshots focus on just a single unique player-character, showing them with customized clothing, hair, and faces. For example, there are examples of fishermen, bug catchers, gardeners, lumberjacks, and fruit pickers. The fisherman has aqua socks, a fishing vest and cap, and even a cooler slung on their back. That’s in addition to their fishing pole, of course. The other characters are similarly thematically adorned, comfortable in their respective roles.Nintendo is making clearthatAnimal Crossing: New Horizonswill have customization options for everyone.
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Most of the other character screenshots show characters in more casual clothing. They’re dressed as if the player was creating someone like themself in the game. For example, there are two boys in casual clothing. One boy has a sports jersey and jeans on, flip flops, and a red backpack. The other boy has a pair of slip-on sneakers, cords, and a t-shirt with a long-sleeve shirt wrapped around his waist. SinceAnimal Crossing: New Horizonshas8-player co-op, every player should be able to look awesome and unique.
In addition to the player-character screenshots, there are also a handful of others. For example, there’s a look atTom Nookand his nephews, Timmy and Tommy. There’s an image of K.K. Slider on his stool, guitar in hand. And then there are three environmental screenshots featuring player-characters interacting with NPCs. One image has a character in front of their workbench next to Tom Nook, another has them vaulting a stream, and the last has the character in front of their tent, next to a campfire.
While at first glance these new images may not be the most immediately exciting that Nintendo has ever released, it’s important to remember that this is whatAnimal Crossingis all about. It’s aboutcreating a characterthat represents the player in this odd and fun world. It’s about creating a personality for this character - an identity that’s unique to them. And then it’s about collecting and selling a billion fruit along the way.
Animal Crossing: New Horizonsreleases May 21, 2025, exclusively on Nintendo Switch.
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