Fans both old and new have been catching bugs, growing trees, and decorating their homes sinceAnimal Crossing: New Horizonscame out in 2020. No matter if islands have been restarted, or built into a sprawling metropolis, there are still someAnimal Crossingsecrets to discover.
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There are a lot of new aspects to the game as well as traditional and nostalgic ones from previous titles. Whether a veteran player or a newcomer to the Switch title, there are always littleAnimal Crossing New Horizonssecrets to learn! Here are some that we have found.
Updated July 05, 2025, by Holly Alice:Two years after the release, Animal Crossing remains as popular as ever. 2021 saw a huge update to the game along with an optional DLC where players can design vacation homes for animals, as well as new seasonal items coming out through the months. While a lot of players have explored every nook and cranny in the game, there are still moresecrets and hidden items that some have missed in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
20The 3:33 AM Alien Message
Most people playAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsduring the day. This is only logical, really, but the night is not only filled with different bugs, fish, and calming music but holds some secrets too.
At 3:33 AM on Saturdays, players watching their TV will be confronted with a UFO floating on the screen, interrupting the previous static. The alien comes forward and speaks in the same strange language as the villagers. The picture flicks between this and the UFO, and then at 3:34, it returns to the white noise.
19Wasps Hate Party Poppers
Listen, even veteran players will run into issues sometimes - such as the tree-dwelling wasps. Those dastardly clouds of insects will drop from trees when least expected, but there is another way to disperse them that doesn’t involve swiping them with a net.
So what is this magical defense?Party poppers! The very same that are sold by Nook’s Cranny! If a player holds one and shoots it at an incoming swarm, they will be frightened and disperse before getting a chance to sting sensitive players.
18Gyroids Come With Shelving
The Gyroids were a very welcomed return to theAnimal Crossingseries, and they had a swish makeover. There are more types of them this time around, and they’re customizable with new color palettes.
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But that’s not all - not only are they placable on top of furniture items, or on the floor, but they can be put on walls as decorative items as they will automatically have a small shelf. Fun fact: they can even slot nicely into standing items to make it look like they’re fused together.
17Good Horoscopes Mean Many Bells
Sometimes Isabelle will tell players that she’s been reading her horoscope again. This isn’t just idle chitchat - it means that in the game it will be a good luck day.
In past games, this had more sway as to the goings-on of village life, but inNew Horizonsit can be especially useful to bag a big load of Bells. Specifically, find the glowing spot that allows players tobury a bag of Bells. The more, the better. In a few days, it will blossom into a tree and willtriplethe amount of Bells buried. On these specific days, try and bury 99,000 Bells - then thank us later!
16Get The Animal Crossing Switch In-Game
There are quite a few Nintendo Switch items available for characters to decorate with, including different colored Switch Lites, and the original consoles. There is also the specialAnimal Crossingedition, too.
Some players worked out that there is a way to get it without spending the Bells, which is nice. If players actually have this Switch console, the item will get mailed to them automatically. Or, if the special Joy-Cons are attached to a Switch, this will also work to get the item for free.
15Fish And Bugs Can Have Different Styled Cages, Or None At All
The large encyclopedia of critters that are catchable inAnimal Crossingusually appear in cages, if placed down as an object. However, a lot of players were shocked to find out that was not the case for every bug and fish. In fact, creatures like the snapping turtle andthe odd horseshoe crabare placed with no cage at all!
There are actually a lot of bugs and sea creatures with unique cages. Ants live in an ant farm, the goldfish come in a bowl, crickets are in a wooden cage, and butterfly fish have cylinder tanks.
14Digging Up Entire Trees
Cutting down trees has always been part of the game, but now players can actually, easily, relocate them! All they need to do is eat a lot of fruit (up to 10). This powers up players to be able to do what would be impossible otherwise.
If players eat a lot of fruit and use a shovel on a full-grown tree, they will uproot it and put it in their pocket! This means fruit doesn’t need to be planted, and then waited on to see if it grows - trees can easily be removed or placed elsewhere. This alsosaves a lot of ax durabilityas players won’t need to meticulously chop each and every tree.
13A Recipe In A Bottle Shows Up Everyday
Every day, be sure to check the shores of the island because there will be a message bottle. Players get one daily and each bottle hasa DIY recipe cardinside along with a cute little letter from a far-off villager. There is also a bottle on the island added in theHappy Homes ParadiseDLC.
It is already a good idea to walk to the shores of the island daily to also see if there’s a visit from Gulliver or Gullivarrr. Also, fun fact: While the bottles certainly go with the island theme, message bottles were actually first introduced inAnimal Crossing: Wild World.
12Some Nook Miles Challenges Are Hidden Until They’re Achieved
There are Nook Mile achievements for almost everything in the game. More and more cards appear in the menu as players progress and unlock them, but there are some that will never be seen unless the action is already performed. This includes getting bitten by tarantulas or accidentally losing a balloon present in a river, lake, or ocean.
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So, be sure to try new things all the time! Don’t be afraid to write letters, dig holes, and get bitten by various creatures—scary as that sounds!
11Rocks Can Be Destroyed
Rocks are more than just a Bell resource inNew Horizons. With the crafting mechanics, players can harvest rocks for clay, iron, and more. Or, if the placement of the rock on the island isn’t right, it can be broken and will respawn somewhere else.
Just eat a lot of fruit. Once powered up by fruit, use the ax or shovel on the rock, and it will shatter and be destroyed. Players also don’t have to worry about where they will get resources from, as a new rock will appear on the island in a couple of days.
