Navigating the Past: A Deep Dive into Time Traveling Backwards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Time travel is a fascinating mechanic in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, allowing players to manipulate the in-game clock to progress faster or relive specific moments. However, going backwards in time has distinct consequences that every player should be aware of. The simple answer is that time traveling backwards in Animal Crossing sets your game to the earlier date you choose. However, it isn’t as simple as just changing the date; several elements in your island life will be affected. These effects aren’t necessarily game-breaking, but they do require some understanding to navigate successfully. Most significantly, your turnips will rot instantly and you will experience an increase in weeds, wilting flowers and an infestation of cockroaches. Let’s dive deeper into the specifics of going back in time within Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

The Immediate Impacts of Backward Time Travel

When you decide to journey into the past in Animal Crossing, the game’s clock will immediately adjust to the date and time you set. This change triggers a series of immediate effects:

• Rotten Turnips: This is perhaps the most well-known and frustrating consequence. Any turnips you’re holding in your inventory or stored at your home will immediately spoil as soon as you travel back in time. This is a preventative measure by the game to keep the turnip economy from being abused through time manipulation. It’s a complete loss of investment, forcing you to discard the now-worthless produce.
• Weeds Growth: The game’s internal clock tracks each “day”. Every morning, at 6 am, three new weeds will appear around your island, if you travel back, the game essentially registers more days as having past and causes more weeds to sprout. Time traveling backwards can quickly result in a weedy island unless you consistently stay on top of removal.
• Wilted Flowers: While not as immediate as rotten turnips, time traveling backwards may cause the flowers across your island to wilt. This means they will no longer bloom and will require watering. Neglecting to do so can result in your beautiful floral arrangements looking rather sad.
• Cockroaches Infestation: Backtracking in time can lead to an unexpected visitor to your home: cockroaches. You’ll find these pests scurrying about in your house, signaling that the game has registered a jump backward in time. These are not difficult to get rid of, you just simply need to step on them, but can be an unpleasant surprise.

While these are immediate consequences, it’s essential to remember that they are not game-breaking. You won’t lose your progress, items, or villagers. The game is designed to punish the act of backtracking in time, primarily as a measure to regulate aspects of gameplay such as the turnip market and island progression, rather than to negatively impact your game permanently.

Long-Term Effects and Considerations

Besides the instant impacts, time travel backwards can subtly affect long-term island management:

• Island Clean-Up: Due to the weed growth, you might need to dedicate time to clearing your island. This can be a chore if you frequently use time travel or have extensive landscaping that requires weed removal.
• Flower Care: Revitalizing wilted flowers requires diligent watering which can be time consuming for large displays.

However, there are elements that remain unaffected. Your progress with villagers, your home expansions, your catalog, and any items you’ve collected are all safe from the effects of traveling backwards.

Is Time Travel “Cheating”?

The debate around time travel in the Animal Crossing community is a contentious one. While Nintendo doesn’t explicitly punish players for time travel and even acknowledges it within the game through dialogue, there is still discussion of whether it constitutes “cheating”. The core of the debate lies in the concept of the game’s intended pace. Many players argue that time travel unravels the carefully constructed in-game economy and progress milestones, causing players to progress far quicker than intended. However, at the end of the day it is your game and you’re free to play it however you choose with the only real impact being some minor cleaning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, with a focus on going backward in time:

1. Will I lose villagers if I time travel backwards?

No, your villagers will never move out unless they ask you first. Time travel, in either direction, won’t cause them to leave your island against their will.

2. Do I keep my items when I time travel backwards?

Yes, you keep all of your items (except turnips) when you time travel in any direction.

3. Will time traveling backwards reverse my progress on my house?

No, time travel does not reverse any progress. Your house upgrades and customizations will all remain intact.

4. Does time travel impact shooting stars?

While time travel can impact when shooting stars appear, backtracking doesn’t necessarily reset any star fragments you might have collected. However, random events reset on Monday morning, so if you make wishes on a Saturday and time travel, you will not receive the star fragments on Sunday.

5. What’s the most common negative consequence of time traveling backwards?

The most common negative consequence is the immediate spoilage of turnips. This can be costly and very frustrating for anyone who does not realize the implications of backwards time travel.

6. Will I lose the fruits on trees if I time travel backward?

No, the fruits on your trees will remain. You won’t lose any of your hard work.

7. Does time travel backward impact the appearance of new villagers moving in?

No, going backward will not prevent new villagers moving into empty lots, nor move out existing villagers.

8. Will moving villagers in boxes disappear if I go backwards in time?

Yes, if a villager is in boxes and you travel backwards in time they will move to their new island, and your island’s plot will be available again for a new villager to move into.

9. Can I use time travel to undo a villager moving out?

No. Once a villager has moved out you cannot use time travel to bring them back.

10. What is the furthest I can time travel?

The furthest date supported by the system is December 31, 2060. Going beyond this date will result in an error message.

11. Can I go forward and then backwards in time?

Yes, you can freely move backwards and forwards as much as you like, but always be aware of the potential consequences like spoiled turnips.

12. Does backward time travel affect my Nook Miles achievements?

No, time travel does not affect your Nook Miles achievements, or your progress toward them.

13. What happens if I time travel past the Sunday turnip deadline?

If you travel past Sunday, your turnips will rot as it is the end of the week in the turnip market cycle.

14. Will time travel affect DIY recipes?

Time travel has no effect on the DIY recipes that are available. It will neither bring back, or cause the loss of DIY recipes.

15. Is time travel bad for my mental health?

Playing Animal Crossing can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. However, for some, the game can become a source of stress when people worry about keeping pace. If you are feeling this, time travel can be a useful method to progress without worrying about missing anything. It is essential to maintain a balanced approach when playing.

Conclusion

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, specifically going backwards, comes with its own set of consequences. Understanding these ramifications, particularly the dreaded rotten turnips, is crucial for a smoother and more enjoyable experience. The game’s design encourages a measured pace but ultimately leaves the choice of how to play to you. Whether you decide to go back to the past to correct an error, or simply because you can, remember to weigh the risks and rewards. Happy island living!