What’s the Point of Sleeping in Animal Crossing?
The act of sleeping in Animal Crossing: New Horizons might seem like a fundamental part of daily life, but its function is quite unique compared to other games. Simply put, sleeping in Animal Crossing primarily serves as a gateway to the Dream Suite and a method for skipping the opening tutorial. Beyond this, it does not advance the game’s clock, recover your character’s energy, or provide any other gameplay-related benefits. The game’s clock runs in real-time with your Switch’s system clock. While it might initially seem like a missed opportunity, the lack of sleep-related mechanics actually fits perfectly into the game’s laid-back and open-ended design. Instead of being a necessary task, sleeping becomes a voluntary action that leads to unique experiences in the game, predominantly related to the Dream World.
The Gateway to Dreams: The Dream Suite
How the Dream Suite Works
The primary purpose of sleeping in Animal Crossing is to access the Dream Suite, a feature that opens up a completely new dimension of gameplay. Upon lying down in any bed within your in-game home, you’ll be transported to a realm managed by the mystical character Luna. Here, you can upload a dream version of your island, allowing other players to visit it at any time, regardless of whether you are actively playing. You can also visit dream islands of other players, experiencing their unique creations without the worry of making permanent changes. This feature allows you to experience other people’s creativity and gain inspiration for your own island design.
Exploring Dream Islands
When visiting a dream island, you’re free to explore and interact with objects. You can pick up items, talk to villagers, and generally enjoy the island. However, any changes or items you pick up in a dream are not carried over when you wake up. Dream items also don’t show up in your catalog. It’s important to remember that the dream world is a snapshot of the island at the time the island owner uploaded it. Therefore, you won’t encounter real-time events, or experience any changes the owner made after uploading the dream. It’s essentially a safe and consequence-free way to wander through other players’ islands without the direct interaction found on a standard multiplayer visit.
Uploading Your Dream Island
You can update your dream island as many times as you want, but it’s crucial to consider that each update replaces the previous version. This means that your island will be presented to the world as it was when you last updated. There are no costs associated with updating your dream, so you’re free to do so as often as necessary. Having a regularly updated dream is a good way to showcase your island’s progress to other players.
The Tutorial Skip: A Brief Early Game Function
Sleeping in the Very Beginning
Before the Dream Suite is unlocked, sleeping has one other function; to advance players past the very beginning. When you first move onto your new island, you’ll be asked to craft furniture and set up your house. Once this is done, you’ll be prompted to sleep in your bed, which will move you past this tutorial section, allowing you to explore your island as you please. This is a mandatory step in the initial phases of the game and only has to be done once.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does sleeping in Animal Crossing advance the in-game clock?
No, sleeping in Animal Crossing does not advance the in-game clock. The clock in Animal Crossing: New Horizons runs in real time based on your Nintendo Switch’s system clock. This means that game events occur at the same time as in the real world (with a 1:1 ratio), and it’s not affected by sleeping or the passage of your character.
2. What happens if you stay up all night in Animal Crossing?
There are no special effects or rewards for staying up all night in Animal Crossing. The only consequence might be a slight decrease in your character’s energy levels, meaning they may have to stop and rest for a second longer after completing actions.
3. Can you take items from dreams in Animal Crossing?
Yes, you can pick up and carry items in dream islands, but these items will disappear when you wake up. They are essentially “dream” items and are not added to your actual inventory or catalog.
4. Is there anything to do at night in Animal Crossing?
Yes, there is plenty to do at night in Animal Crossing! You can water your flowers, find fossils, weed your island, and in the summer months, catch lots of bugs and some fish that only come out at night. You may also encounter neighbors walking around, see a UFO, and purchase from Redd who will also visit.
5. Why is Animal Crossing so relaxing?
Animal Crossing is often described as relaxing due to its lack of pressure and its design that easily fits into your lifestyle. There’s no fixed schedule you must adhere to, and every day, there’s a new item worth more bells, and a money rock to provide you with additional income.
6. Is Animal Crossing good for depression and mental health?
Studies, such as those from Oxford University, show that relaxing games like Animal Crossing can reduce stress and provide escapism. Social interaction through the game has also been linked to lowering loneliness and anxiety, especially during challenging times.
7. What are some fun, but less common, activities in Animal Crossing?
Besides the usual tasks, you can enjoy: Kapp’n’s boat tours, discover food recipes from your villagers, talk to Brewster every day for gifts, listen to K.K. Slider, dance in the water, and catch turtles in the river.
8. What kind of fish can you catch at night in Animal Crossing?
Some fish you can catch at night in the Northern Hemisphere include: Stringfish (river cliffs), Football Fish (ocean), Dace (river), Koi (pond), and Freshwater Goby (river). The specific fish available can change based on the season and time of year.
9. Can you visit your own island in a dream in Animal Crossing?
Yes, you can visit your own island as a dream by using your Dream Address. This allows you to explore your island from another perspective and see how others might experience it.
10. Do you need Luna’s bed to dream in Animal Crossing?
No, you do not need a specific bed to access the Dream Suite. You can go to sleep from any bed in your home. Upon waking, you’ll be transported to Luna’s Dream Library, where you can either visit dreams or manage your own.
11. What happens at 5 a.m. in Animal Crossing?
The game’s new day begins at 5 a.m. each morning. Construction projects will be finished, and any home loan upgrades that were in progress will be completed. This is when all of the daily items are reset, including the shop and the daily rock.
12. Is there a punishment for time skipping in Animal Crossing?
There are minimal penalties for time skipping in Animal Crossing. Some players may find that cockroaches spawn in their homes when they skip ahead, however this is easily addressed.
13. What happens if you don’t play Animal Crossing every day?
You won’t miss much by not playing every day. The game is designed to be casual, so the major loss is the chance to obtain unique items and complete tasks for that day. It also means progress is slower.
14. What are the rarest bugs in Animal Crossing?
Some of the rarest bugs in Animal Crossing include the Giraffe Stag, Scarab Beetle, Goliath Beetle, Horned Hercules, Horned Elephant, Tarantula, Golden Stag, and Scorpion.
15. What is the rarest creature to catch in Animal Crossing?
The rarest creatures to catch in the game include Coelacanth, Golden Stag, Dorado, Mahi Mahi, Giraffe Stag, Golden Trout, Stringfish, and Horned Hercules. It is also widely believed that octopuses are the rarest villager type, with only three possible species.