Why Is My Island Only 2 Stars? A Comprehensive Guide to Island Ratings 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.
If you’re an avid Animal Crossing: New Horizons player, you’ve likely been striving to achieve that coveted 5-star island rating. However, many players find themselves stuck at a 2-star rating, wondering what they’re doing wrong. The simple answer is: your island hasn’t yet met the specific criteria for a higher rating. A 2-star island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons means you’ve made some progress, but there are key areas where your island needs improvement to reach 3 stars and beyond.
The primary reason you are capped at 2 stars is directly related to your villager count. The game limits the rating based on the number of villagers living on your island. Specifically, if you have only 7 villagers on your island, you will not be able to obtain a rating higher than 2 stars.
But it’s not just about the number of villagers, so let’s dive into all the reasons you might be stuck at a 2-star rating and what you can do about it.
Understanding Island Rating Factors
Animal Crossing: New Horizons uses a point-based system to determine your island rating, looking at both development and scenery aspects. While the exact numbers are hidden from players, we know what factors contribute to those scores.
Villager Count
As mentioned above, this is the most critical factor for achieving a 3-star rating and beyond. While having at least 7 villagers allows you to move past a 2-star rating, you need a minimum of 8 villagers to even be eligible for a 4- or 5-star rating. Therefore, if you have less than 7 villagers you will be capped at 2 stars no matter how much you decorate and upgrade other aspects.
Development Points
This category encompasses the built environment of your island. It includes:
- Outdoor Furniture: Placing a variety of furniture outside your home is critical. The game looks for different kinds of furniture, so don’t just spam one item. Aim for at least 27 different types of furniture items placed outside, not inside your home or villager homes.
- Infrastructure: Bridges and inclines improve your island’s accessibility and contribute to your development score. Building 2 bridges and 2 inclines is required to reach a 3-star rating.
- Buildings: Upgraded stores, including Nook’s Cranny, and the museum add to your island’s development points.
Scenery Points
This category focuses on the natural beauty of your island and includes:
- Plant Life: Planting flowers, trees, and shrubs contributes significantly. Aim for a variety of fruit trees from different islands. Planting plenty of flowers, including hybrid flowers, will raise your scenery score.
- Fencing: Adding fences around your island and areas such as homes, buildings, and recreational areas enhances your island’s aesthetic appeal and boosts your rating. Place at least 50 pieces of fencing to hit a 3-star rating and consider placing more for higher ratings.
- Weeds: While a few weeds aren’t a huge issue, having too many will negatively impact your score. Try to remove them regularly.
Negative Conditions
There are a few negative conditions that can prevent you from achieving higher ratings:
- Dropped Items: Having too many items dropped on the ground (not placed as furniture) can also hinder your progress. If there are 15 or more dropped items on the ground, your island is capped at a maximum of a 4-star rating.
- Too Many Weeds: An abundance of weeds will negatively affect your scenery points.
- Lack of Variety: Having too much of one thing (example: only one type of tree and no other plants) will decrease your overall scenery points and island rating.
How to Get to 3 Stars
To move past a 2-star rating, you need to focus on the following key areas:
- Invite More Villagers: The most crucial step is to get to at least 7 villagers.
- Place Furniture: Aim for at least 27 different types of furniture placed around the island, outside your home.
- Build Infrastructure: Construct 2 bridges and 2 inclines.
- Plant Trees and Flowers: Plant plenty of flowers and a variety of fruit trees (including those from other islands).
- Build Fences: Place at least 50 pieces of fencing around your island.
- Remove Weeds: Keep weeds on your island under control by removing them frequently.
By addressing these areas, you’ll be well on your way to a 3-star island rating and the subsequent unlock of the Island Designer app.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some commonly asked questions about island ratings and how to improve them:
How many villagers do I need for a 3-star island?
You need at least 7 villagers on your island to achieve a 3-star rating.
How many villagers do I need for a 5-star island?
You need 10 villagers to achieve a 5-star island rating.
How do I check my island star rating?
You can check your island rating by talking to Isabelle at Resident Services, but only after your 6th villager has moved in.
What happens when you get a 3-star island?
Once you achieve a 3-star island rating, K.K. Slider will come to perform his first concert, and Tom Nook will give you the Island Designer app, allowing you to terraform your island.
What is the tree limit in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
The maximum number of trees allowed on your island is 220. This includes all types of trees: hardwood, cedar, fruit (including coconuts), and bamboo.
Is there a limit to how many wishes you can make on shooting stars in one day?
While you can make as many wishes as you like, the limit for the number of star fragments you’ll receive in a single day is 20.
Do weeds lower your island rating?
Yes, having too many weeds will lower your island rating by affecting the scenery points. It is therefore important to keep them under control.
How many different types of furniture should I place outside?
You should place at least 27 different types of furniture items outside your home for the best chance at a high island rating.
Can dropped items affect my island rating?
Yes, having 15 or more dropped items on the ground will cap your island’s rating at 4 stars. So, make sure to either place furniture properly or store unwanted items in your storage.
Can my island rating go down?
Once you’ve unlocked the Island Designer app, your island rating will never decrease below 3 stars. You can safely drop your rating without losing the ability to terraform.
When does K.K. Slider perform?
K.K. Slider performs in your town every Saturday evening between 6 p.m. and midnight.
What does the golden watering can do?
The golden watering can can water 180 tiles before needing to be replaced. It also has a chance to create special hybrid flowers when used on non-hybrid flowers.
What flower appears on a 5-star island?
The Lily of the Valley flower will appear on a 5-star island and continues to grow as long as you maintain a 5-star rating.
How do you get non-native fruit from Isabelle?
Isabelle will give you a basket of non-native fruit if you are new to the game and complete some simple tasks she gives you.
What happens after K.K. Slider’s first concert?
After K.K. Slider’s first performance, you are free to continue working towards achieving your goals and expanding your island. This includes completing your museums, Critterpedias, paying off loans, and aiming for a 5-star rating!
By understanding these factors and focusing on the areas that need improvement, you’ll be able to go from a 2-star island to a 5-star paradise in no time. Keep playing, keep creating, and enjoy the journey of transforming your island!