Animal Crossing: New Horizons is not simply a game – it’s an entire virtual lifestyle that allows users to live out exciting stories on a custom-designed island. As players navigate the island, interact with the distinctive characters, and maneuver the many features and tools, one feature stands out in importance: the ability to sleep in bed and pass time. Understanding how to effectively utilize sleep not only impacts game progression but adds a compelling layer of reality to the game. Setting the fundamental basis of understanding entails getting comfortable with Tom Nook’s Workbench, the Dodo Airlines, and familiarizing one’s self with the general game dynamics.
Before you begin playing Animal Crossing New Horizons, it’s essential to note that the game operates in real-time, meaning the in-game time reflects your local time. You initially start your life on a deserted island, and you will need to develop it into a thriving community of anthropomorphic animals. This progress requires you to engage in various activities such as fishing, bug catching, and fossil hunting. You will also need to build and upgrade structures using the in-game currency known as Bells and Nook Miles.
Navigating Around the Island
In Animal Crossing New Horizons, you can run around freely and interact with various elements. You can shake trees to find fruits or other items, hit rocks for materials, and fish or catch bugs to earn Bells. There are several establishments you can visit, like Tom Nook’s Resident Service or the Museum. You can also visit other islands using Dodo Airlines.
Interacting with Characters
Interactions with other characters are crucial in Animal Crossing New Horizons. Each animal has a unique personality and will respond differently depending on what you say or do. You can give them gifts, engage in tasks they request, or simply chat with them to build strong relationships.
Using Game’s Tools
In the game, there are several tools that you will need to collect resources and build your island. You will require a fishing rod to catch fish, a net for bugs, a shovel for digging up fossils or hitting rocks, an axe for cutting trees, and a watering can for growing flowers. All these tools can be crafted at Tom Nook’s DIY Workbench after the collection of the necessary materials.
Using Dodo Airlines and Tom Nook’s Workbench
Dodo Airlines is your primary mode of visiting other islands. It can be used for multiplayer interactions, mystery tours, or revising deserted islands to plunder their resources. To fly, talk to Orville at the Dodo Airlines desk.
Tom Nook’s Workbench is where you’ll craft most items. You can find DIY recipes on beaches, in bottles, from villagers, or through various tasks and challenges. Go to the Workbench, select the item you want to craft, and if you have the required materials, you can create that item.
How To Sleep and Pass Time in Animal Crossing New Horizons
Unlike other games, you cannot physically sleep in beds or pass time in Animal Crossing. The game moves in real-time, so the concept of passing time doesn’t exist as in other games. However, you can pretend to sleep when you lay in the bed but you can’t skip to the next day like in some games. If you want to change the time or date, you can do this from your Nintendo Switch system settings. This is known as “Time Travel,” but beware, as it can have unintended consequences in your game!
Sleeping in Bed and Passing Time
Acquiring or Building a Bed in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
To sleep in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you first need a bed. Beds can be acquired in two ways: buying or crafting. To buy a bed, head to Nook’s Cranny, the little store run by Tommy and Timmy. You can purchase a variety of items here, including beds if they have them in stock.
Should you prefer to craft a bed, you’ll need to gather the necessary resources and recipes. If you’re lucky, you may get a DIY recipe from a villager, a balloon, or in a message bottle. Once you have the recipe for a bed (such as a simple wooden bed), you can select it in your DIY Recipes app and gather the necessary materials (for example, wood and an iron nugget). Use the workbench to craft your new bed.
Placing and Interacting With Your Bed
Once you have your bed, you’ll want to place it in your tent or house. To do this, open your pockets by pressing the X button, select the bed, and choose the “Place Item” action. You can then move around to position the bed where you like. To interact with the bed and actually sleep, approach the bed and press the A button. While you can’t technically sleep to pass time in the game, engaging with the bed will allow you to dream and visit others’ islands or allow others to visit yours.
The Importance of Sleep in Game Progression
Sleep doesn’t directly affect the progression of the game. However, it introduces dreaming, an important feature that allows you to explore Dream Islands – clones of other players’ islands where you can explore and take inspiration without affecting the original island. To access the Dream Suite, you first must own a bed and have upgraded your tent to a house.
Adjusting Time in Nintendo Switch System Settings
Now, if you want to pass the time in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you need to adjust the time settings in your Nintendo Switch system. Navigate to the Switch’s System Settings (the gear icon on the home menu), then scroll down to the System section, choose Date and Time, and turn off the option for Synchronize Clock via Internet. You can then manually adjust the date and time. When you next log into Animal Crossing, your island will reflect the date and time you have set. This can allow you to experience events or activities that occur at specific times or seasons in the game. But be aware, this is often considered ‘time traveling’ within the Animal Crossing community and may have certain gameplay effects, such as weeds growing on your island or villagers considering moving away.
As the lights of your virtual home in Animal Crossing: New Horizons dim and your character curls up in bed, a sense of satisfaction sets in. By understanding sleep mechanics and time manipulation within the game, players can control not only the rhythm of their gameplay but also create unique narratives for their characters. It’s through these minuscule adjustments and interactions that the game comes to life, creating a personalized and immersive experience. With every visit to Tom Nook’s Workbench, every flight with Dodo Airlines, and each night’s sleep, your virtual island not only grows, but it becomes a distinct entity reflecting your design. That’s the true charm of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
My name is Ashley Newby and I want to put integrity back into esports and get the hype surrounding them paramount once more. During my teenage years, I happened to stumble across a Street Fighter tournament online and I was hooked.
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