Expanding Your Island Paradise: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting More Than 5 Residents in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
So, you’ve settled into your island life in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH), built your humble abode, and maybe even befriended your initial two islanders. But you’re craving a more vibrant community, a bustling haven of diverse personalities. How do you go beyond just a handful of residents and transform your island into the lively place of your dreams? The answer is multifaceted, requiring progression through the game’s initial stages and understanding the mechanics of villager recruitment.
The simple answer is: To get more than 5 residents in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you need to progress through the main storyline, upgrade Resident Services, build a campsite, and then sell plots of land to new villagers. Let’s break this process down step-by-step:
- Initial Start: You begin the game with yourself and two other villagers. You will quickly encounter Tom Nook and follow his initial tasks.
- Upgrading Resident Services: Your first major goal is to upgrade Resident Services from a tent to a proper building. This upgrade is crucial as it unlocks key features needed for further villager recruitment. This requires completing certain tasks, like building Nook’s Cranny.
- Building a Campsite: Once Resident Services is upgraded, talk to Tom Nook again. He will introduce you to the idea of crafting a campsite. Building the campsite is the next crucial step, as it will allow random villagers to visit your island.
- Selling Land Plots: After the campsite is built, speak to Tom Nook and select the option to sell land for new houses. Tom Nook will give you the house plot kits, and when you have these placed you will be able to acquire more villagers. You can sell up to 10 plots of land.
- Inviting Villagers: You invite villagers to move into these plots. Villagers can be encountered in a few ways:
- Campsite Visitors: When a random villager visits your campsite, talk to them and invite them to live on your island.
- Mystery Island Tours: Use Nook Miles Tickets to visit deserted islands. You’ll encounter a random villager on each one. Invite any you like to move to your island (as long as you have an empty plot of land).
- Amiibo Cards: If you have amiibo cards, you can invite specific characters to your campsite. These villagers can then be convinced to move to your island.
- Other Players’ Islands: If a villager on another player’s island is packing up to leave, you can visit that island and invite that villager to your own provided you have an empty plot of land.
Frequently Asked Questions About Villagers in ACNH
Expanding your island’s population can be complex. Here are 15 common questions, to make your villager recruitment journey smooth:
1. What is the maximum number of villagers I can have in ACNH?
The maximum number of villagers you can have on your island is 10. This excludes special characters like Tom Nook, Isabelle, and Blathers.
2. How do I get 10 residents in Animal Crossing?
To get 10 residents, you will need to purchase and place down a total of 8 land plots after your initial two villagers are in. Talk to Tom Nook about selling land. Fill all the 10 plots via campsite visitors, mystery island tours, Amiibo cards or other players islands. Once you reach the maximum of 10 villagers, if you wish to add a new one another one will have to move out.
3. Why can’t I find any villagers on mystery islands?
Villagers only appear on mystery islands if you have an empty plot of land. Once you invite a villager from a mystery island, you will need to sell a plot of land before more will appear.
4. Can I invite a villager to live on my island if I already have 10?
No, you cannot invite a villager to your island if you have 10 residents. To bring in a new one, a current resident must first move out.
5. How many villagers can I invite per day?
You can invite one villager per day from a mystery island. You can also invite villagers from your campsite, or other players’ islands, if an opportunity arises.
6. When can I get my 6th villager?
After your initial two villagers move in, one villager will move in each day if you have an empty plot of land. This continues until you have six. After reaching six you will have to invite more villagers to your land yourself.
7. Do I need a certain amount of villagers to achieve a 3-star island rating?
Yes, you will likely need a minimum of 7 residents to hit a 3-star rating and unlock the K.K Slider concert event.
8. How do I get rid of a villager I don’t want?
There are several methods:
- Ignoring Them: If you completely ignore a villager, they will eventually decide to move out.
- Talking to Isabelle: While Isabelle cannot directly remove them, complaining about a villager repeatedly can sometimes encourage them to leave.
- Amiibo Card Replacement: Using an Amiibo card to invite another villager to your campsite will also allow you to move out an existing resident.
9. Who are the rarest villagers in ACNH?
Some of the rarer villager species include: Octopus (5), Non-Animal Villagers (6), Tiger (7), Cow (8), Bull (9), Lion (9), Rhinoceros (9), and Alligator (9).
10. Can villagers enter my house?
Yes, villagers can visit your house if you’re inside when they arrive.
11. Can I steal villagers from other islands?
You cannot directly “steal” villagers, but if a villager on another player’s island is already in boxes (packing to move out), you can visit their island and invite them to live on yours, if you have an empty plot.
12. How often do villagers ask to leave?
After a villager moves out, there’s a 15-day cooldown before another villager asks to leave. If a villager asks to leave, but you ask them to stay, a 5-day cooldown begins before another villager asks.
13. Does Tom Nook count as a villager?
No, special characters like Tom Nook, Isabelle, Blathers, and others do not count towards the 10 villager limit.
14. What if all my plots are filled and I want another villager?
If you want to invite a new villager, you’ll need to have one of your current villagers move out first. This can be achieved through the methods detailed above (ignoring them, complaining to Isabelle, or using an Amiibo card to kick one out.)
15. What is the difference between campsite villagers and mystery island villagers?
Campsite villagers are random visitors, and the first one will be a forced invite. Whereas Mystery Island villagers are characters that you will encounter during a random trip to another island. There is no difference in terms of ability to be invited, but they are encountered in different ways.
Conclusion
Expanding your island community in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a core part of the game’s experience. By understanding the steps required – upgrading Resident Services, building a campsite, and selling plots of land – you can grow your island’s population to the maximum of 10 diverse and quirky villagers. Remember that patience and persistent interaction are key to achieving your ideal island paradise. Happy island designing!