How to Skip Waiting in Animal Crossing: A Comprehensive Guide

The core appeal of Animal Crossing lies in its real-time progression, mirroring the ebb and flow of daily life. However, the sometimes slow pace can be frustrating when you’re eager to see your island develop, build specific structures, or have new villagers move in. The direct answer to skipping waiting is simple: time travel. By manipulating your Nintendo Switch’s internal clock, you can advance the in-game date and time, effectively skipping days, weeks, or even months. This guide will explain how to do this, provide important considerations, and answer common questions.

Understanding Time Travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Time travel, or time skipping, is a popular technique in Animal Crossing: New Horizons that allows you to bypass the natural progression of time. This method exploits the game’s reliance on your Nintendo Switch’s internal clock to determine the current date and time within the game.

How to Time Travel: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Save and Exit: Ensure you save your progress in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This is crucial to prevent losing any progress. Choose “Save and End” from the in-game menu.

2. Access System Settings: On your Nintendo Switch home screen, navigate to “System Settings.”

3. Date and Time: Scroll down to “System” and select “Date and Time.”

4. Disable Synchronization: Turn off the “Synchronize Clock via Internet” option. This prevents your Switch from automatically correcting the time using the internet.

5. Adjust Date and Time: Manually adjust the date and time to your desired point in the future (or past, if you wish to go back).

6. Launch Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Start the game again. Animal Crossing: New Horizons will now reflect the date and time you set on your Nintendo Switch.

Considerations Before Time Traveling

While time travel can be a convenient way to accelerate your island’s development, it’s essential to understand the potential consequences:

• Turnips: Time traveling backward can cause your turnips to spoil, resulting in a significant loss of Bells. Be cautious when moving back in time if you have turnips.

• Villager Dialogue: Villagers will acknowledge the time jump, and some may express concerns about your absence.

• Weeds: Skipping forward can lead to an increase in weeds on your island, requiring more time for weed removal.

• Cockroaches: Entering your home after a significant time jump might reveal cockroaches, which can be eliminated by stepping on them.

• Missed Events: You could miss limited-time events if you jump too far ahead or forget the specific dates.

• Impact on Immersion: While not a consequence in the traditional sense, some players find that time traveling diminishes the sense of organic progression and accomplishment.

Alternative Methods to Speed Up Progress

While time traveling is the most direct method for skipping wait times, there are other ways to accelerate your progress in Animal Crossing: New Horizons without altering your Switch’s clock:

• Focus on Nook Miles: Earning Nook Miles and Nook Miles+ allows you to purchase valuable items, island upgrades, and travel to mystery islands for resources.

• Prioritize Island Rating: Improving your island’s rating unlocks new features and attracts more villagers. Place furniture, plant flowers, and maintain cleanliness.

• Efficient Resource Gathering: Optimize your resource gathering by using the right tools and techniques. For instance, the “Pretty Good Tools Belt” can help you access resources faster.

• Engage in Trading: Use online forums or social media to trade items and resources with other players. This can help you acquire specific items faster than waiting for them to appear in your own game.

• Cook Recipes: Cooking recipes is a fun way to engage in the game, earn resources, and fill time during waiting periods.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I turn back time in Animal Crossing?

Yes, you can turn back time in Animal Crossing: New Horizons by adjusting your Nintendo Switch’s date and time settings to an earlier date. Just follow the same steps as described above for time traveling forward, but choose a past date instead. Remember to save your game before changing the date, particularly if you have turnips.

2. What happens if I don’t play Animal Crossing every day?

If you don’t play Animal Crossing: New Horizons every day, your island won’t fall apart. However, you might miss out on daily rewards like Nook Miles bonuses, new items in the shops, and unique interactions with villagers. Weeds may also accumulate, but these are easily removed.

3. Does Animal Crossing punish you for time skipping?

No, Animal Crossing: New Horizons doesn’t strictly punish you for time skipping. However, as mentioned earlier, there are a few potential side effects, such as spoiled turnips, increased weeds, and the appearance of cockroaches in your home. Villagers may also comment on your long absence.

4. What is the furthest you can time travel in Animal Crossing?

The Nintendo Switch’s system supports dates up to December 31, 2060. The game itself can progress into January 1, 2061, but going beyond this date may result in an error message. Keep your time travels within this range to avoid issues.

5. Will I lose villagers if I time travel?

No, villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons will not move out simply because you time travel. Villagers will only move out if you give them explicit permission to do so during a conversation when they express a desire to leave.

6. How many villagers can you have in Animal Crossing?

You can have a maximum of 10 villagers living on your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

7. How do you make a good island in Animal Crossing?

Creating a good island is subjective, but generally, it involves a balance of natural elements and decorations. Focus on landscaping, placing furniture, planting flowers and trees, and creating distinct areas with unique themes. Achieving a 5-star island rating is a common goal and involves meeting specific criteria related to development and aesthetics.

8. What to do when Animal Crossing gets boring?

When Animal Crossing: New Horizons gets boring, try exploring mystery islands, visiting dream islands (accessed through Luna), redecorating your island, or even starting a new island. You can also set new goals, such as completing your museum collection or achieving a specific island theme.

9. Can you finish Animal Crossing in one day?

No, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is designed to be played over a long period. There is no real “end” to the game. The gameplay revolves around daily tasks, seasonal events, and continuous island development.

10. What should I name my island in Animal Crossing?

Choose an island name that reflects your island’s theme or your personal preferences. Popular island names include nature-themed names like Ocean Beach, Coral Reef, or Moonlight. You can also name your island after a real-world location or create a completely unique name.

11. Can you make your island bigger on Animal Crossing?

No, you cannot increase the overall size of your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, you can modify the terrain using the Island Designer app to create cliffs and rivers, effectively altering the vertical landscape of your island.

12. What happens if you play Animal Crossing for 24 hours?

There are no special rewards or events for playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons for 24 hours straight. However, playing for an extended period allows you to complete various tasks, gather resources, and interact with villagers.

13. What are the risks of Animal Crossing?

The primary risks associated with Animal Crossing: New Horizons are related to excessive screen time and potential addiction. Parents and caregivers should monitor children’s playtime and encourage breaks.

14. How long do you have to ignore a villager in Animal Crossing?

Ignoring a villager is not the most effective way to make them move out in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Instead, focus on talking to other villagers and interacting with them more frequently. Wait for the villager you want to leave to have a “thought bubble” above their head, indicating they want to move.

15. Is Animal Crossing worth it to play alone?

Yes, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is definitely worth playing alone. While multiplayer features exist, the core gameplay experience is designed for single-player enjoyment. You can still develop your island, interact with villagers, and participate in events without ever needing to play with others.

Conclusion

Time travel offers a quick route to bypass waiting periods in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but it is important to understand the potential drawbacks. Consider alternative methods for speeding up your progress and remember that the charm of Animal Crossing often lies in the slow, steady pace of island development. The game is more fun when you can apply what you are learning. One fun way to learn is by visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org!