Night Owl Ordinance: Staying Up Late in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The Night Owl Ordinance in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a feature that caters to players who prefer to play later into the evening. When enacted, this ordinance adjusts the island’s daily schedule, extending the hours of operation for businesses and keeping your villagers awake later. Specifically, the Nook’s Cranny store will remain open until 11 pm and the Able Sisters shop until 10 pm. This gives night owl players more time to shop, interact with villagers, and enjoy the game after traditional business hours. The ordinance costs 20,000 Bells to enact and, like the other ordinances, only one can be active at a time.

Understanding the Night Owl Ordinance

The core purpose of the Night Owl Ordinance is to adjust the game’s schedule to align with the playing habits of those who typically play during the later hours. Without the ordinance, Nook’s Cranny closes at 10 pm and Able Sisters closes at 9 pm. This can be problematic for players who have work, school or other commitments during the day. With the Night Owl Ordinance, players have an extra hour to buy and sell goods at Nook’s Cranny and to browse the selection at the Able Sisters shop. These extra hours provide significant convenience and increase access to essential game functions like shopping, selling, and interacting with island residents.

Impact on Villager Activity

Beyond just extending shop hours, the Night Owl Ordinance also impacts the activity of your villagers. They will stay up later into the night, creating opportunities to find them exploring the island or hanging out in their homes. If you enjoy the social aspect of Animal Crossing, then this can be an appealing benefit. You’ll find more villagers active late at night to talk to. This differs from the game’s default behaviour, where the majority of villagers usually retire for the night by around 10 PM. If you are a night owl this is really a great aspect to the ordinance. It lets you continue interacting with the game at the times you enjoy. Additionally, you may see a few active villagers even in the early morning hours before they finally go to sleep.

Who Benefits Most from the Ordinance?

The Night Owl Ordinance is most beneficial for:

• Players with Late Schedules: Those who cannot play during typical daytime hours benefit greatly from the extended shop and villager availability.
• Weekend Gamers: If you typically play on the weekends, this ordinance can be ideal because it allows you to continue playing later and gives you a larger play window.
• Social Players: Players who prioritize interaction with villagers will find this ordinance makes it easier to find them active at night.
• Completionists: This ordinance provides more time to accomplish daily tasks, such as shopping for specific items or making last minute sales.

Night Owl Ordinance vs. Other Ordinances

It is important to remember that you can only have one ordinance active at any time. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how the Night Owl Ordinance stacks up against the other three available ordinances:

• Bell Boom Ordinance: This ordinance increases both the buying and selling prices by 20%. This means you will be earning more for your goods but will also be paying a higher cost when purchasing items from stores. This is often considered the most useful ordinance for players looking to amass wealth.
• Beautiful Island Ordinance: This ordinance focuses on keeping your island pristine. It reduces weed growth, prevents trash from being fished up, and encourages villagers to water your flowers. It’s beneficial for players who have difficulty maintaining their island.
• Early Bird Ordinance: This ordinance moves store opening times to earlier in the morning. Nook’s Cranny opens at 7 am, and Able Sisters opens at 8 am. This is advantageous for early risers who wish to play before most players are typically online.

The Night Owl Ordinance contrasts with the Early Bird Ordinance as they provide opposing times. The decision of which ordinance to use depends heavily on your play style and schedule. It is often a matter of weighing the benefits of the ordinance with the times that you are able to play.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Night Owl Ordinance

1. What specific time does Nook’s Cranny close with the Night Owl Ordinance?

With the Night Owl Ordinance, Nook’s Cranny closes at 11 PM.

2. What specific time does the Able Sisters close with the Night Owl Ordinance?

With the Night Owl Ordinance, the **Able Sisters** shop closes at **10 PM**.

3. How much does it cost to enact the Night Owl Ordinance?

Enacting the Night Owl Ordinance costs 20,000 Bells.

4. Can I have multiple ordinances active at once?

No, you can only have one ordinance active at a time.

5. How does the Night Owl Ordinance affect villager activity?

Villagers stay up later, giving you more opportunities to interact with them at night.

6. What are the key differences between the Night Owl Ordinance and the Early Bird Ordinance?

The Night Owl Ordinance shifts activity towards the evening while the Early Bird Ordinance shifts activity to the early morning hours.

7. What does the Bell Boom Ordinance do?

The Bell Boom Ordinance raises all buying and selling prices by 20%.

8. What does the Beautiful Island Ordinance do?

The **Beautiful Island Ordinance** reduces weed growth, prevents trash from being fished up, and encourages villagers to water flowers.

9. If I don’t have the Night Owl Ordinance, what time do stores close?

Without the ordinance, **Nook's Cranny** closes at **10 PM** and the **Able Sisters** closes at **9 PM**.

10. Can I change ordinances, and does it cost money?

 Yes, you can change ordinances at any time by talking to Isabelle. It costs another **20,000 Bells** each time you switch.

11. Is there a way to make money after Nook’s Cranny closes without the ordinance?

  You can use the drop box next to Nook's Cranny to sell items, but they are sold for a reduced price, so it's generally not recommended.

12. How does the Night Owl Ordinance help players who play at night?

 It provides a larger play window, allowing night players to shop, sell and interact with villagers when they are available.

13. Does the Night Owl Ordinance make it easier to buy rare items?

  It doesn't affect the items sold, but it provides more time to shop, increasing your chances of finding rare items.

14. Does the Night Owl Ordinance affect any other part of the game?

The ordinance primarily affects shop hours and villager sleep schedules.

15. Does the Night Owl Ordinance influence how quickly Nook’s Cranny upgrades?

No, the Night Owl Ordinance does not directly affect Nook's Cranny upgrades. The upgrade is based on 30 days of the store being built, 200,000 bells spent or earned, and Mabel visiting at least once.

Conclusion

The Night Owl Ordinance is a useful feature in Animal Crossing: New Horizons that is very valuable for players with late schedules, weekend players, or for those who simply prefer the nighttime ambiance of their island. The extended business hours and the late-night activity of your villagers provide a more flexible and inclusive gaming experience. It is vital, however, to consider the implications and benefits of all ordinances before making your decision. The ordinance that is best for you depends entirely on your playstyle and your individual goals in the game.