Summary
- Some players are frustrated with the Island Evaluation system in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, feeling it restricts their creative visions.
- Players are asking Nintendo to remove evaluation restrictions that conflict with their desired island themes.
- While some celebrate a five-star rating, others feel it limits their ability to create their dream islands.
One Animal Crossing: New Horizons player is calling on Nintendo to get rid of the current Island Evaluation system, and others are taking notice. Even after more than four full years since its release on Nintendo Switch, Animal Crossing: New Horizons continues to frustrate these players by nudging them to create islands that may not fit their visions.
The fifth main installment in the Animal Crossing series, New Horizons transports each player to their own special island, where they can buy, find, and craft a wide variety of objects and place them almost anywhere. One of the game's features is the Island Evaluation, which assesses the amounts of natural and hand-made objects on the island and issues a rating on a five-star scale. While players are free to design their islands however they see fit, some game features, like getting K.K. Slider to perform, are locked behind milestones related to the number of stars achieved in the evaluation.
While getting a five-star rating in New Horizons can be cause for celebration, some players, like Reddit user slyyris, would rather see Nintendo get rid of the restrictions caused by evaluations. Aiming to create a forestcore/cottagecore island, the player has shared a collection of images showing Isabelle's assessment that their island has too many trees and an overly rural feel, which are two aspects that the player actually wants their island to have. In her assessment, Isabelle even dramatically spins yarns of villagers fearfully becoming lost in heavily wooded areas, tugging at the player's emotions in an attempt to steer them away from building the island the way they want.
Animal Crossing Players Are Tired of Island Assessments
That's not the only complaint the assessments have received recently. Players in the comments have shared frustrations on both sides of this issue, from those who feel a perfect five-star island in New Horizons is too cluttered to those who would prefer to pack their island paradises with even more landmarks and decorations than Isabelle would approve of. While there's no mandate that players must chase after a five-star rating, one player pointed out that encouraging players to include a specific amount of hand-built structures and natural objects "is kind of incompatible with the decoration aspect of the game."
Since it's been a few years since New Horizons has seen a major content update, it's unlikely that Nintendo will be making any adjustments to how Island Assessments are handled in the game. However, with the rumors of a new Animal Crossing game on the horizon, reevaluating the evaluation system to give players more freedom to build their dream worlds may be something that Nintendo will consider, given enough feedback from the community.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Released
- March 20, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Escape to a deserted island and create your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. Your island getaway has a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. You can hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean. The time of day and season match real life, so each day on your island is a chance to check in and find new surprises all year round.
Show off your island utopia to family and friends—or pack your bags and visit theirs. Whether playing online** or with others beside you***, island living is even better when you can share it. Even without hopping on a flight, you’ll meet a cast of charming animal residents bursting with personality. Friendly faces like Tom Nook and Isabelle will lend their services and happily help you grow your budding community. Escape to your island getaway—however, whenever, and wherever you want.
- ESRB
- Everyone / Comic Mischief, Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
