Which island should you pick in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

One of the early decisions you need to make in Animal Crossing: New Horizons might seem a little daunting. When you are first starting the game, you will need to decide on which island you want to live on. You will have to choose one island from four different options, but the differences between them can be hard to spot.

The most important thing to understand is that all the islands are roughly the same, in that they will have similar areas to build on, related resources available. The main differences will be how the rivers and cliffs are laid out.

Rivers and cliffs will be impassable in the early game. You need a Vaulting Pole to get over rivers, and a Ladder to get up cliffs. Because of this, you will more than likely be stuck in a smaller area at the start of the game. Make sure you don’t pick an island with a tiny starting area, as this will limit your early resource gathering. 

It is also a good idea to try to get an island with a pond, as that can be important for some fish types, and you don’t want to be reliant on the Mystery Islands or your friend’s islands to be able to catch them.

Most of the islands will be roughly the same, with minor differences in how they are laid out. If you have a long term vision for your island, then pick the one that inspires you most, or that seems like you can work with it the best in the long term.

If you found this guide helpful, we have other guides you might also like. From whether you can relocate Resident Services, how to get more residents, the maximum number of residents you can have on your island, and how to get your hands on those pesky floating balloon presents. We can also tell you everything you want to know about Nook Miles Tickets, how to get different types of fruit, and how to get your hands on the Pretty Good Tools Recipes.