For Northern Hemisphere New Horizons players busy until spring comes.
From special decorative items to snow day projects, there's something that every kind of player can enjoy on their island in the depths of the winter months, whether that means embracing the season or finding little ways to escape the chill of the snow.
Updated on January 9th, 2023 by Stacie Rook: With the start of a new year and a new month, fresh seasonal items and events come to Animal Crossing: New Horizons (as per ScreenRant), allowing players to fully embrace the changing seasons in whatever manner best suits their playing style.
Build A Snowboy
With so much snow on the ground during the winter months, it seems only natural that New Horizons gives players the ability to craft their own snowman, referred to in-game as Snowboys. Each day, two small snowballs can be found on an empty patch of snow, which can then be rolled into shape.
Crafting the perfect Snowboy—with an ideal head-to-body ratio—can take practice, but upon doing so the completed Snowboy will gift its maker a seasonal DIY recipe. Snowboys can add winter cheer to an island no matter their configuration, though, and the abundance of snow means players will have plenty of chances to make ones that suit their island's aesthetic.
Buy A Winter Outfit
There's no better excuse to visit Mabel and Sable than to purchase a weather-appropriate outfit. The Able Sisters shop stocks plenty of warm and fashionable attire during winter, so players will have many outfit options perfect for weathering the cold, which will hopefully help them to avoid ive-aggressive comments from villagers.
In addition to the ready-made outfits on offer, players can put their own designs up for sale, giving their villagers the opportunity to buy something unique. Moreover, accessing the Custom Designs Kiosk in-store means players can access creations other players have made, further expanding all outfit options.
Catch Seasonal Critters
Part of the challenge of Animal Crossing comes when trying to fill out the Critterpedia, a database showing all available fish, bugs, and sea creatures that live on and around an island. Given that many are only available at limited times, finding every critter takes patience and perseverance.
One such animal available throughout the winter months is the Stringfish, a highly rare and valuable fish that can only be found on clifftop rivers between the hours of four PM and nine AM, which sells for a huge fifteen thousand bells. Finding out the specifics of seasonal critters can be a great help in catching them, allowing players to fill out any frustrating blank spots of the Critterpedia.
Cozy Up In Brewster's Cafe
Brewster is a fan-favorite character that operates his café in the museum, The Roost, at all hours of the day. Its warm atmosphere and famous blends of coffee make it the perfect place to relax in between island jobs, and the Amiibo phone means players can invite their favorite islanders to share a drink with them there.
Most Animal Crossing players never discover that there are also added benefits to visiting Brewster daily. Not only will his blunt demeanor slowly become more friendly, but by sitting down at the counter each day and ordering a drink, players will eventually be rewarded with gifts from Brewster, including a bag of coffee beans and a coffee plant.
Acquire Seasonal Nook Shopping Items
While the most expensive Animal Crossing items can be hard to save up for, it's easy to find something special—and more affordable—in the seasonal section of the Nook Shopping app. Seasonal Nook Shopping items can be purchased under the Special Goods tab via the machine in Resident Services, or through the Nook Shopping app on a player's phone.
Over the winter months, items appear to help players celebrate events from Groundhog Day to Lunar New Year, adding a special touch to memorable moments that players can use to decorate displays inside or outside their homes.
Craft Using Snowflakes
A benefit of the recurring snowfall that happens over the winter months in New Horizons is the ability to craft seasonal items using snowflakes. Large snowflakes that swirl around the island can be caught using a net and used to make all manner of icy objects.
The recipes for these winter DIYs can be obtained in a number of ways; from balloons, message bottles, or perfectly assembled Snowboys, and can help turn not only an island but also a player's home into a snowy wonderland. Not limited to furniture items, there are items of clothing, wallpapers, and flooring DIYs up for grabs for use with this versatile crafting material.
Take Part In The Fishing Tourney
The winter fishing tourney, run by keen fisher C.J., takes place during the second Saturday of January from nine AM until six PM and sees competitors trying to catch as many fish as possible within a three-minute time frame.
Players can take part in the tourney as many times as they'd like, earning points as they do so, which can be traded in for prizes. Participating in each season's tourney for the first time also earns players NookMiles, and a seasonally-appropriate port Title, which can be used as a great additional way to reflect the weather.
Cook Up A Storm
The cooking feature in New Horizons is a fresh feature for the Animal Crossing series, allowing players not only to make delicious dishes but also to grow some of the ingredients needed to do so.
Winter is the perfect opportunity for players to cook some warming dishes, which can be consumed when players are undertaking tasks where extra strength is required, or otherwise used to make a home look more inviting. The variety of dishes on offer, from baked potatoes to squid-ink curry, mean there's a meal for every occasion.
Get Away From The Snow With Kapp'n
Although the winter months have a lot to offer players in New Horizons, it's also possible to tire of so much snow. This is where Kapp'n comes in, who—for one thousand NookMiles—will take players to a mystery island each day. The mystery island could have a completely different climate, and/or be in a different time zone from a player's own.
A change of weather is not always guaranteed, but mystery islands often have fantastic treasures to offer players, showing why Animal Crossing would be one of the best video game universes to live in. Whether the treasures be hard-to-find fish, an abundance of shooting stars, or glowing moss and vines, mystery islands can help players find new goods for use on their islands, or just offer a break from all the snow.
Decorate For Valentine's Day
Towards the end of the winter months in New Horizons comes Valentine's Day, and whilst the game has no dedicated event to celebrate the holiday, players can purchase heart-shaped bouquets and boxes of chocolates via Nook Shopping.
Additionally, on the day players will receive a gift from both Isabelle and one of their villagers in their mailbox to mark the occasion. With the availability of these special items and the always-available range of cute furniture obtainable for players, decorating for Valentine's Day can be a fun and sweet way to celebrate as the winter months come to a close.
