Can You Have 2 Residents in Animal Crossing? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you absolutely can have multiple residents on a single island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. In fact, up to eight players can reside on the same island, sharing the virtual paradise you create! This allows families and friends to experience the game together, building a vibrant community and sharing in the daily joys of island life. However, it’s important to understand how this works, the different roles players can have, and the limitations that come with having multiple residents. This article dives deep into how multiple residents function in Animal Crossing, answering your burning questions and helping you maximize your island experience.

How Multiple Residents Work

Having more than one resident on your island in Animal Crossing is a core part of the game’s design. Here’s a breakdown of how it operates:

• One Island, Multiple Players: A single copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons on a single Nintendo Switch console supports up to eight individual user profiles, each representing a different resident on your island.
• Resident Representative: The first player to start the game and move to the island becomes the Resident Representative. This role carries certain privileges and responsibilities, such as the ability to progress the main story and make major island decisions.
• Shared Island: All residents share the same island. Resources, villagers, buildings, and the island’s overall progress are shared. Each resident, however, has their own home that they can customize independently.
• Simultaneous Play: Up to four players can play together on the same island simultaneously on one Nintendo Switch system. This feature requires additional controllers. Other players can join the game by pressing the + or – button while playing or by using the phone app within the game.

Player Roles and Limitations

Understanding the distinctions between player roles is crucial. While sharing the island is the primary focus, the Resident Representative and other residents do not have equal abilities.

Resident Representative

• The first player who establishes a home on the island is designated as the Resident Representative.
• They have the power to advance the main storyline, trigger island improvements, and initiate the placement of bridges and ramps.
• The Resident Representative also makes the most crucial decisions about the island’s layout and can choose where new buildings are located.

Other Residents

• Other players who join the game after the Resident Representative are considered secondary players.
• They can explore the island, collect resources, interact with villagers, and customize their homes.
• However, they are limited in their ability to affect major island development and cannot:
  • Choose the location of bridges or ramps.
  • Relocate buildings (except for their own home).
  • Advance the main storyline as efficiently as the Resident Representative.
  • Make decisions about which villagers move in.
  • Initiate the process of building community buildings.

Sharing the Island: Teamwork and Community

Even with these limitations, the experience of having multiple residents on your island can be very rewarding. It encourages teamwork and creates a real sense of community.

• Collaborative Projects: Secondary players can donate bells to complete bridges and ramps, making teamwork essential for island upgrades.
• Resource Gathering: Players can work together to collect resources, making tasks more efficient and enjoyable.
• Creative Freedom: Each resident can create their own personalized space within the shared island, leading to diverse and vibrant island life.
• Shared Experiences: Playing with others adds a social dimension to Animal Crossing, from casual bug-catching sessions to attending in-game events together.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I have more than one island on a single Nintendo Switch?

No, you cannot have multiple islands on a single Nintendo Switch. The game saves to the system, not the cartridge, meaning regardless of how many game copies you have, you are limited to one island per Switch. However, if you have both a cartridge version and a digital download of Animal Crossing, you can have two separate islands.

2. How do I add a second player to my island?

To add a second player, create a new user profile on your Nintendo Switch if you haven’t already. Then, start the game using the new user profile. The new resident will start from scratch and will be able to move onto the island. Other players can join in existing game, by opening the phone app in the game by pressing the zr or zl button on the controller. then, select “Call Resident”, and select the resident that you want to play with.

3. Can I change who is the Resident Representative?

No, it is not possible to change the Resident Representative. The first player who moved to the island remains in that role throughout the game. To change the Resident Representative you must delete the save file and restart.

4. Can secondary players invite villagers to move to the island?

Yes, secondary players can invite villagers to the island. However, the Resident Representative is the one who ultimately makes the decision of where the new villager’s house is placed.

5. What are the limitations of secondary players?

Secondary players cannot choose the location of bridges or ramps, relocate buildings except for their own home, and are limited in their ability to advance the main storyline and make major decisions for the island’s development.

6. Can multiple players play together simultaneously?

Yes, up to four players can play together on the same island at the same time, on one Nintendo Switch. This requires additional controllers. Up to eight players can play together using local wireless or online.

7. Do I need a second copy of the game to have multiple residents?

No, you do not need a second copy of the game to have multiple residents on a single island. The game saves to the system, allowing multiple user profiles to share the same game and island. However, you will need a second copy of the game if you wish to play with different islands on 2 separate switches.

8. Can I transfer my island to a new Nintendo Switch?

Yes, you can transfer your island to a new Nintendo Switch. Make sure both systems are updated to the latest version of the game, and follow the prompts from the games menu screen. Be aware that the transfer will move the whole island and will not allow for the original switch to play on it again.

9. How many villagers can live on my island?

You can have up to ten villagers living on your island in addition to the player characters.

10. What if I want to restart my island?

To restart your island, you need to delete your save data in the Nintendo Switch system settings. This will erase all progress, allowing you to start a new island from scratch.

11. Can I play Animal Crossing offline?

Yes, the entire game is mostly offline. The main single-player experience is designed to be played offline. Online features are needed to visit other players’ islands.

12. How many homes can a single resident have?

Each resident can only have one home. You create another character by choosing “New Save File” on the main menu in the game.

13. What are the different villager personality types?

Villagers come in eight different personality types: sisterly, normal, jock, cranky, smug, snooty, peppy, and lazy.

14. Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to play with others?

You need Nintendo Switch Online to play with others online. Local play is available without Nintendo Switch Online and requires both players to be using a Nintendo Switch in the same physical location.

15. Is it worth it to restart my island?

Restarting your island is a big decision and it’s entirely up to you. If you are not happy with the layout, the villagers you have, or you simply want a fresh start then restarting is an option. However, be aware that you will lose all progress, so think carefully before deleting the data.

Conclusion

Having multiple residents in Animal Crossing: New Horizons enhances the gameplay experience, allowing for shared adventures and collaborative island development. While there are distinctions between the Resident Representative and other residents, everyone can participate in creating a thriving island community. By understanding the functionalities, limitations, and opportunities that multiple residents bring, you can make the most of your island paradise and create memorable moments with friends and family.