Fall has officially begun in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, though players may not see their trees' leaves change color as quickly as they'd like. It will take the better part of a month before New Horizons islands in the Northern Hemisphere begin to resemble the changing seasons players might see outside their windows.
Each season brings many Animal Crossing events that offer unique rewards and activities. September kicks off's ACNH fall events with Flick's Bug-Off, Moon-viewing Day, Chuseok, Acorn and Pinecone season, and the grape harvest festival. These and October's eventually lead to Halloween, a more significant event many fans look forward to celebrating with festive decorations. As time es, the leaves continue to change color and match the fall themes of these holidays.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons' seasons change slowly, however. While the game's fall season officially began on September 1, leaf colors change gradually during its early days. Grass becomes a less vibrant green but doesn't adopt the full fall appearance until later. Similarly, the trees will begin to appear orange and brown but fail to obtain vibrant red shades for several weeks; New Horizons' islands develop the true fall color scheme in late October, just in time to fit the Halloween theme. Thankfully, this gives players plenty of time to perfect their fall setups before the leaves change.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Leaf Changes Are Noticeable In October
The late-October leaf color changes may be disappointing to dedicated decorators, but it's in line with ACNH's emphasis on time's ing. Many activities are restricted to daily cycles, with no way to accelerate the game's progression without manipulating the Nintendo Switch's clock, and the same can be said for Animal Crossing's fall. It happens when it happens, and players can only plan around that.
The changing of Animal Crossing's leaves also matches up with events besides Halloween. Animal Crossing's Mushroom season begins November 1, during which players can collect mushrooms growing beneath trees. These can then be used in recipes only collectible during that time. Similarly, Maple Leaf season begins November 16 and ends November 25. Players can find leaves on the ground and shake trees for extra rewards.
Decorating for Halloween and fall should occupy Animal Crossing: New Horizons players for the immediate future. Later October and November will bring vibrant colors to Animal Crossing's islands, rewarding players with a spectacular aesthetic to celebrate the season.
