Can a Player Leave Animal Crossing? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, absolutely! A player can leave Animal Crossing, whether you’re talking about a resident on your island or the overall game itself. The method varies depending on what kind of “leaving” you’re referring to. This guide will delve into all the ways a player can leave, remove themselves, or otherwise disengage from Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Understanding Leaving in Animal Crossing

“Leaving” in Animal Crossing can mean a few different things:

• A player resident leaving your island.
• A guest player leaving your island after a visit.
• A real-life player stopping playing the game entirely.

Let’s break down each scenario and explore the mechanics involved.

Residents Moving Out

One of the core aspects of Animal Crossing is the ever-changing roster of villagers who live on your island. Eventually, some villagers will express a desire to move on to new adventures. Here’s what you need to know:

• The Request to Leave: Approximately every two weeks, a villager will randomly ask you if they should move away. A thought bubble will appear over their head, signaling their contemplation of leaving.

• Your Choice Matters: You have the power to influence their decision. You can encourage them to stay, or you can bid them farewell and allow them to pursue their dreams.

• No Forced Departures: In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, villagers will never leave without your permission. They will always ask you first. This is a welcome change from previous games where villagers could pack up and leave without so much as a goodbye note.

• Manipulating Departures: While the initial villager selection is random, you can manipulate the system to encourage specific villagers to leave. This often involves a bit of time-traveling (changing the date on your Nintendo Switch) and persistence.

How to Encourage a Specific Villager to Leave

This is where things get a little tricky, but here’s the general process:

1. Wait for a Thought Bubble: Wait for a villager to have a thought bubble indicating they want to move out.
2. If it’s the Wrong Villager: If it’s not the villager you want to leave, say “no.”
3. Time Travel: Advance the game by one day.
4. Check Again: Look for another villager with a thought bubble. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the desired villager expresses a desire to leave.
5. Say Goodbye: Once the villager you want gone asks to leave, tell them it’s okay for them to move.

Important Considerations:

• New Villagers: The last villager to move in will not ask to leave until someone else moves in first.
• Birthdays: Villagers won’t ask to leave if their birthday is less than a week away.
• Moving Houses: A villager who is in the process of moving their house won’t ask to leave.
• Recent Departures: If a villager has recently moved out, another villager won’t ask to leave for at least five days.

Debunking Myths: How Not to Get Rid of a Villager

Contrary to popular belief, the following actions do not influence a villager’s decision to leave:

• Hitting them with a net: While amusing (or cruel, depending on your perspective), hitting villagers with a net has no impact on their desire to move.
• Ignoring them: Neglecting a villager won’t make them want to leave any faster.
• Complaining to Isabelle: Complaining to Isabelle about a villager has no effect on their departure. Isabelle’s complaints function resets their clothing and catchphrases.

Removing a Player Character

If you have multiple player characters on your island and want to remove one, the process is straightforward:

1. Switch Profiles: Start the game using the Nintendo Switch profile associated with the character you want to delete.
2. Title Screen: On the title screen, press the “-” (Minus) button to open the Settings menu.
3. Save Data: Select “Save Data.”
4. Delete Resident Registration: Choose “Delete Resident Registration.” This will completely erase the character from the island.

Important Note: This action is permanent and cannot be undone. Make sure you transfer any valuable items from the character’s inventory or house before deleting them.

Guest Players Leaving

When other players visit your island, they can leave in two ways:

• Leaving Quietly: The visitor can leave through the airport by speaking to Orville and selecting “I wanna head home.” “Silently” leaving means any progress made during the visit does not save and resets.
• Host Ending the Session: The host player can end the multiplayer session, which will automatically send all visitors home.

Real-Life Players Quitting

Sometimes, real-life players decide to stop playing Animal Crossing altogether. The game has systems in place to handle this:

• Weeds and Overgrowth: If you don’t play for a while, your island will become overgrown with weeds, and flowers may die.
• Villager Reactions: Villagers will comment on your absence when you return.
• Cockroaches: If you don’t play for an extended period, cockroaches will appear in your house.

The Enduring Appeal

Despite the potential for weeds, villager departures, and cockroach infestations, Animal Crossing continues to captivate players worldwide. Its charm lies in its simple yet engaging gameplay, the delightful interactions with villagers, and the endless possibilities for customization. The game’s ability to foster creativity and relaxation makes it a beloved title for players of all ages. Check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about the educational aspects of gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about players leaving in Animal Crossing:

1. Can Isabelle force a villager to move out?

No, Isabelle cannot directly force a villager to move out. Complaining to her resets a villagers clothing and catchphrases.

2. What happens if I don’t play Animal Crossing for a few days?

Your island will become overgrown with weeds, villagers may mention your absence, and you might find cockroaches in your house.

3. How often do villagers ask to leave?

Approximately every two weeks, a villager will be randomly selected to ask if they should move out.

4. Can a villager leave without asking?

No, in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, villagers will always ask before moving out.

5. Does ignoring a villager make them want to leave?

No, ignoring a villager has no impact on their decision to move.

6. What happens if I delete a resident registration?

The character is completely erased from the island, as if they were never there. This action is permanent.

7. Can I get a villager back after they move out?

Yes, you can potentially encounter them again on mystery island tours or at the campsite and invite them back to your island.

8. How can I speed up the process of getting a specific villager to leave?

You can use time travel (changing the date on your Nintendo Switch) to advance the game and check for thought bubbles more frequently.

9. Is it true that hitting villagers with a net makes them want to leave?

No, this is a myth. Hitting villagers with a net has no impact on their decision to move.

10. What happens if a guest player leaves quietly?

Any progress made during their visit that wasn’t saved (like items given or received) will be lost.

11. Why do none of my villagers want to leave?

If you have eight or fewer villagers, no one will ask to move out. Also, the last villager who moved in or a villager whose birthday is coming up won’t ask to leave.

12. What is “leaving quietly” in Animal Crossing multiplayer?

“Leaving quietly” refers to a visitor leaving through the airport without properly ending the multiplayer session.

13. Can I complain to Isabelle about a villager to make them leave?

No, complaining to Isabelle does not influence a villager’s decision to move out.

14. How long does it take to 100% complete Animal Crossing?

It can take hundreds of hours to fully complete all aspects of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

15. What should I do if a villager I like wants to leave?

Encourage them to stay! Tell them you’ll miss them and that you want them to remain on your island.