How to Restart Animal Crossing: A Step-by-Step Guide
Are you stuck in a rut with your Animal Crossing game? Maybe you want to start fresh with a new island, new characters, and a new set of challenges. Whatever your reason, restarting Animal Crossing can be a bit overwhelming, but fear not! In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of restarting your game and help you get started again.
Direct Answer: How to Restart Animal Crossing?
Method 1: Delete Saved Data and Reinstall
To restart Animal Crossing, you’ll need to delete your saved data and reinstall the game. This will erase all your progress, so be sure to back up any important items or data you want to keep.
- Important: If you’re playing on Nintendo Switch, make sure to delete your saved data from the console itself, as deleting it on your Switch game card won’t remove the data.
Method 2: Soft Reset
Another way to restart Animal Crossing is to perform a soft reset. This won’t delete your saved data, but it will take you back to the title screen, effectively restarting the game.
- Important: Soft resetting won’t erase your progress, but it will reset any ongoing events, character relationships, or other game progress.
Method 3: Reset Character Data
If you want to restart without deleting your saved data, you can try resetting your character’s data. This will restore your character’s default appearance, skills, and abilities.
- Important: Resetting character data won’t reset your town, neighbors, or other progress.
Pre-Reboot Checklist
Before restarting Animal Crossing, make sure to:
- Save any important items, fish, or insects
- Make sure your character is fully awake and fed
- Finish any ongoing tasks or quests
- Back up your saved data (if using method 1)
Post-Reboot Setup
After restarting Animal Crossing, set up your new game with these steps:
- Choose your starting island (if playing New Horizons) or town
- Create your character (if creating a new character)
- Claim your starting area (if playing New Horizons)
- Visit the town square (if playing a previous version)
Tips for Restarting Animal Crossing
• Explore and customize: Take time to explore your new island or town, and customize your home and character to your heart’s content.
• Mingle with neighbors: Start building relationships with your new neighbors by giving them gifts, talking to them, and completing tasks for them.
• Join in on events: Attend seasonal events and participate in festivities to get exclusive items, rewards, and memories.
• Grow and expand: Plant gardens, grow flowers, and expand your home to unlock new features and upgrade your lifestyle.
Common Problems and Solutions
• Lost items: Check the game’s storage areas (e.g., the attic, storage bins) to see if you forgot to save items there. If you still can’t find an item, try resetting character data (method 3) or asking for help in online communities.
• Strange behavior: If your character is doing something odd, try quitting the game and reloading it to fix the issue.
• Frozen game: If the game freezes or crashes, restart the console or exit the game completely and try reloading later.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I keep my character’s progress even if I restart?
A: If you delete your saved data and reinstall (method 1), your character’s progress will be erased. If you soft reset or reset character data, your progress will not be deleted.
Q: What happens to my neighbors if I restart?
A: If you restart the game, your neighbors will not remain. They will be replaced with new residents when you restart.
Q: Can I restore my old character if I restart?
A: Unfortunately, once you restart, your old character is gone for good.
Q: Why can’t I find a specific fish/insect?
A: If you’re having trouble finding a specific fish or insect, try resetting your inventory or fishing rod/ bug net.
Q: Can I pause the game without saving?
A: Yes, you can pause the game using the options menu (Pause button) without saving.
Q: How do I switch between playing as my main character and my alternate character?
A: Switch between characters using the character select option in the title screen (New Horizons only).
Q: Can I reset the game’s weather or time of day?
A: Unfortunately, no, you cannot reset the weather or time of day in Animal Crossing.