Animal Crossing is a Nintendo Switch sensation: 8 top tips to play the zen game

Animal Crossing: New Horizons only arrived last week for the Nintendo Switch, but the beloved franchise is already topping the charts and winning hearts and minds. The slow-paced, anxiety-free island life simulator just might be the perfect antidote to the realities of social distancing and quarantine during the coronavirus spread.

But as you jump into Animal Crossing, a few nuggets of wisdom will go a long way in those early days. Plus, for those unfamiliar with the series, some direction can help you navigate a game with little more structure than "collect everything you see." So here are a few tips and tricks for players of all kinds, whether Animal Crossing is already at home in your Switch or still on your horizon.

Once you put these tricks into action, Animal Crossing: New Horizons will truly begin to open up to you. Keep discovering and crafting, keep chatting with your island friends and most of all, keep destressing while you do it.

Now you know how to jump start your island getaway in Animal Crossing, check out some other tips for getting the most out of your Nintendo Switch and the seven other games you need to play on the console.