How to Start a Local or Online Multiplayer Game (Animal Crossing: New Horizons)

Complete these steps

Start Animal Crossing: New Horizons from the HOME menu.

What do you want to do?

• Play with people from my island (local, single-system play with up to four players)

  Note: When playing with multiple players on the same system, one is the Leader and the other players are Followers.

  1. At any point during gameplay, press the ZL Button to access the NookPhone.
  2. Select Call Resident. This is the icon that looks like a yellow flag.
     • This will become available when there are two or more players that live on the island.
  3. Select the player(s) that you want to play with. Select Confirm, then OK Aceptar OK OK .
  4. Choose the appropriate controller type for each player.
     • Nintendo Switch 2 controller options

       Nintendo Switch 2 controllers

       • For players using a single Joy-Con 2 each, hold the controller horizontally and press the SL and SR buttons on top.
       • For players using both Joy-Con 2 controllers, hold them vertically and press the L and R buttons on top.
       • For players using the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, press the L and R shoulder buttons.

       Nintendo Switch controllers

       • For players using a single Joy-Con each, hold the controller horizontally and press the SL and SR buttons on top.
       • For players using both Joy-Con controllers, hold them vertically and press the L and R buttons on top.
       • For players using the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, press the L and R shoulder buttons.
     • Nintendo Switch controller options
       • For players using a single Joy-Con each, hold the controller horizontally and press the SL and SR buttons on top.
       • For players using both Joy-Con controllers, hold them vertically and press the L and R buttons on top.
       • For players using the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, press the L and R shoulder buttons.
  5. Read through the information on the screen, then select CloseCerrarFermerFechar to begin playing.
  6. When you are finished playing together, have the Leader access the NookPhone, select Call Resident, then End Session to end the multiplayer session.
• Local Play (local wireless play with multiple consoles, up to eight players)
  1. Have all players go to the Airport on their island (airplane icon on the island map) and speak with Orville.
     • This building opens on the second day of in-game playtime.
  2. One player needs to open the gate to their island to host the session.
     • How to host a local wireless multiplayer session
       1. Select I want visitors.
       2. If it’s your first time using this feature, read through the information and select I understand.
       3. Select Via local play, then select Roger.
       4. Select Fling ‘em open! to open your island up to all local visitors.
          • If you want to open the gate to specific players only, select Let’s set a code to set a four-digit Dodo Code. You will need to share the code with anyone who wants to visit your island.
  3. The other players will visit that island.
     • How to visit another player's island via local wireless connection
       1. Have all other players select I wanna fly!
       2. Select Via local play, then select Roger.
       3. When Orville asks if you want to visit the host player's island (he will provide the island name), select Let’s fly.
       4. If the host player set a four-digit Dodo Code, enter the code when prompted.
  4. If this is anyone's first time playing multiplayer, they'll be prompted to review information on how to chat with other players.
     • Press the R Button whenever you want to text chat with other players.
  5. When all expected visitors have arrived, the host player can return to Dodo Airport, talk to Orville, and select Please close the gate. This will stop any new visitors from coming to the island.
  6. When a visitor is ready to leave, they can return to Dodo Airport, talk to Orville, and select I want to go home to return to their own island.
     • The host player can also press the (-) Button at any time and select End session to automatically close the gate and send all visitors back home.
• Online Play (over the Internet with up to eight players, up to 12 in Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)

  Note: To use CameraPlay with the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition while playing with others, invite them to a GameChat room.

  1. Have all players go to the Airport on their island (airplane icon on the island map) and speak with Orville.
     • This building opens on the second day of in-game playtime.
  2. One player needs to open the gate to their island to host the session.
     • How to host an online multiplayer session
       1. Select I want visitors.
       2. Select Via online play, or select 12-player session if everyone playing owns the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
          • If it’s your first time using this feature, read through the information and select I understand.
       3. Select Roger!
       4. Select All my friends! to open your island up to anyone that you’ve added to your Nintendo Switch 2 Friend List or Nintendo Switch Friend List.
          • If you want to open the gate to specific players only, select Invite via Dodo Code to receive a five-digit Dodo Code. You will need to share the code with anyone who wants to visit your island.
          • If this is your first time using this feature, the Best Friends List app will be automatically added to your NookPhone.
  3. The other players will visit that island.
     • How to visit another player's island online
       1. Select I wanna fly!
       2. Select Via online play
          • If it’s your first time using this feature, read through the information and select I understand.
       3. Select Roger!
       4. Select Search for a friend to locate players from your Nintendo Switch 2 Friend List or Nintendo Switch Friend List that are accepting visitors.
          • If the host gave you a five-digit Dodo Code for their island, select Search via Dodo Code and enter the code when prompted.
       5. When Orville asks if you want to visit the host player’s island (he will provide the island name), select Let’s fly to visit the island.
  4. You will receive a notification when any new visitors arrive.
  5. If you are in a GameChat room while playing the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, you will receive a prompt about using CameraPlay.
  6. When all expected visitors have arrived, the host player can return to Dodo Airport, talk to Orville, and select Please close the gate. This will stop any new visitors from coming to the island.
  7. When a visitor is ready to leave, they can return to Dodo Airport, talk to Orville, and select I want to go home to return to their own island.
     • The host player can also press the (-) Button at any time and select End session to automatically close the gate and send all visitors back home.
• Slumber Island (over the Internet with up to eight players, up to 12 in Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)

  Note: To use CameraPlay with the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition while playing with others, invite them to a GameChat room.

  1. One player needs to host the session from their Slumber Island.
     • How to host an online multiplayer session on a Slumber Island
       1. Create a Slumber Island or access one you already created.
       2. Once on the Slumber Island, talk to Luna and select Invite Others. The game will make some preparations and save.
       3. Select Regular session, or select 12-player session if everyone playing owns the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
       4. Select Invite friends to open your island up to anyone that you’ve added to your Nintendo Switch 2 Friend List or Nintendo Switch Friend List.
          • If you want to open the gate to specific players only, select Invite via Doze Code to receive a five-digit Doze Code. You will need to share the code with anyone who wants to visit your Slumber Island.
  2. The other players will visit that Slumber Island.
     • How to visit another player's Slumber Island online
       1. Enter your home in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and lie down on any bed furniture.
       2. Select It's slumber time.
       3. Luna will appear and ask what you want to do. Select Someone else's island.
          • If this is your first time using this feature, she will give you an explanation of how Slumber Islands work. Select Demonstrate away! if you'd like to create your first Slumber Island, or select Visit another's island to skip it for now and visit another player's island.
       4. Select Find a friend's island to locate players from your Nintendo Switch 2 Friend List or Nintendo Switch Friend List that are accepting visitors.
          • If the host gave you a five-digit Doze Code for their island, select Search by Doze Code and enter the code when prompted.
       5. Select That's it! Let's go! after locating the Slumber Island you want to visit.
  3. If you are in a GameChat room while playing the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, you will receive a prompt about using CameraPlay.
  4. When all expected visitors have arrived, the host player can talk to Luna and select Check my host status, then Suspend the invitation. This will stop any new visitors from coming to the Slumber Island.
  5. When a visitor is ready to leave, they can return to their bed, lay down, and select Yeah, I'll wake up to return to their own island. This option is also available by pressing the (-) Button.
     • The host player can also press the (-) Button at any time and select End Session, then Time to wake up to automatically send all visitors back home and wake up from the Slumber Island, or I want to keep playing to continue working on the Slumber Island alone.