How to Play Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Start a “New Save File”., Talk to Rover., Give your Name and Gender., Name your town., Set your appearance., Become a Mayor., Build your home., Talk to Tom Nook., Pick where you want to build your home., Get out of that tent., Plant the Town Tree...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Start a “New Save File”.
When you first load up Animal Crossing on your 3DS, you will be prompted to start a new save file.
Then, you will find yourself on a train with a stranger who approaches you.Image:
Play Animal Crossing_ New Leaf on Nintendo 3DS Step
1.jpg , This cat, Rover, will initiate conversation with you.
While seemingly inconsequential at times, every response that you choose will have an impact on the game. , First, you give your name, then you’ll have the option of correcting your name should you want to change it, or prompting Rover on your name being “Cool” or “Cute”.
Choosing “Cool” will default you to male gender and choosing “Cute” will default you to female gender.
It will take you to another dialogue option where you can either confirm the assumed gender or tell Rover that he got it wrong. , Rover will ask where you’re heading, which is your opportunity to name your town.
Once you have the name confirmed, Rover will show you a map and ask if that’s the town you’re talking about.
Rover will show you four maps total and you must choose one of them.
Map type is simply up to your preference.
Any given map will always have a river that goes through your town and a couple of ponds.
In these maps, you’ll see the locations of the Town Hall, event square, Re-Tail, and current villager houses (though you won’t know where new villagers might choose to move in). , From here, Rover will ask you a series of questions about your travel.
These answers dictate what kind of face your character will have.
There are 12 different face types in total (these different face types include different eyes, noses, and hairstyles).
While later on in the game you have the potential to change your hairstyle and eye color, you cannot change the face type that you have.
Once you’re done speaking with Rover, the train will drop you off your town. , If you are the first person to move into the town, which you will be if you’re the first one to play the game, then Isabelle and a handful of villagers will greet you.
They assume that you’re they’re new mayor! There’s no way of getting out of this, so just enjoy your newfound mayoral status.
If you aren’t the first person to move into the town, then you simply become another resident. , The game will direct towards the Town Hall, so continue speaking with Isabelle, your assistant.
The Town Hall is noted on your map by a purple building.
Head there using the directional stick.
Enter, and talk to Isabelle by pressing “A”.
She’ll tell you that you need to build a home, and will refer you to Tom Nook. , Tom Nook is located at Nook’s Homes on Main Street, which is just past the train tracks at the north end of your town.
Once you’re on Main Street, you can see Nook’s Homes on the map as a blue building with a pink home icon on top of it.
Go in there and talk to Nook in order to get a building! , Once you’re ready, Nook will walk back to town with you in order for you to pick a spot for your home.
You can pick anywhere you want, as long as there’s enough room.
When you’re standing on a spot you like, talk to Nook again and he will give you a preview of what your house would look like there. , Tom Nook is a bit stingy; he’ll only starts you off with a tent and says you’ll need to pay him 10,000 bells in order to upgrade to a house. 10,000 bells is a lot for a beginner, so you’ll need to farm for bells by selling fruit (Part 3) or digging for fossils (Part 4). , Planting the Town Tree isn't optional, but it is a nice event to really solidify your new status as mayor of this town.
Isabelle will prompt you during the ceremony to plant the tree, which you will accomplish via pressing “A”. , Get fruits by standing next to a fruit-bearing tree and pressing “A” to shake the tree and cause the fruit to fall to the ground.
Then press “Y” next to each fallen fruit to pick it up and put it in your inventory. , Head over to Re-Tail once your inventory is full, denoted on your map by a pink recycle sign, and sell it all off! , Fossils require a bit more work.
First, you need a shovel.
You should be able to purchase a shovel from the Convenience Store on Main Street for 500 bells.
While you do want to be saving bells, the purchase of any tool (including bug net and fishing rod) should be considered an investment that’s well worth your while.
When you buy the shovel, you can opt to hear instructions on how to use it. , To find fossils, look for little star marks on the ground in your town.
Once you see one, equip the shovel by dragging it onto your character from the inventory screen. , Stand next to the star and press “A” to dig.
If you hit your mark, your character will dig up a fossil! , However, these fossils are beyond your knowledge, and you’ll need to go get them appraised before they’re worth selling for bells.
In order to appraise fossils, head over to the museum on Main Street.
The museum is on the far left of the map.
If it’s daytime, the owl inside will be sleeping, but it’s no problem to wake him up by talking to him.
He’ll introduce himself as Blathers and explain a bit about the museum if it’s your first time talking to him.
Once prompted, ask him to assess your fossils.
Blathers will then tell you what types of fossils you have. , In order to unlock features such as public works projects and ordinance, you will need to reach 100% approval rating as mayor.
In order to see what your approval rating is, speak with Isabelle when she is standing behind the counter in Town Hall and ask her about citizen satisfaction.
She will also give you tips on how to increase your rating. , Changing the town tune can be found as an option in conversation with Isabelle.
This is 3 points.
Points are handed out first time only. , Re-Tail has empty spots in its store for villagers and you to sell goods.
If you want to sell something, simply have it in your inventory and then stand next to one of those empty spots and press “A”.
Reese, the llama that runs the store, will ask if you have something you’d like to put up.
Say yes, choose the item you want, set a price, and you’re set! This is 3 points.
Points are handed out first time only. , This is also found as an option in conversation with Isabelle.
This is 3 points.
Points are handed out first time only. , The bulletin board is located next to the train station.
Anyone who visits your town can read bulletin board posts, so while it doesn’t matter what you write, it’s good form to keep it tasteful and leave out personally identifying information.
This is 3 points.
Points are handed out first time only. , We've already been over assessing fossils.
You may remember that the other option when speaking with Blathers is to make a donation.
Blathers will accept any fish, bug, assessed fossil, or genuine (not the fakes the Redd sometimes sells) art that isn't already on display.
This is 3 points.
Points are handed out first time only. , Pulling weeds keeps the town looking nice and nets you points in approval.
To pull a weed, stand next to it and press “Y”.
Once you start playing regularly, you’ll see less weeds in your town; that’s a good thing! This is 1 point per weed. , Water flowers by equipping the watering can and pressing “A” when next to a flower.
You can water a flower when it’s perfectly healthy or if it’s dying (greyed out).
You’ll know a flower has been watered because afterwards it will shine with little water sparkles.
This is 1 point per day. , Sometimes, when you fish, you will get junk items.
Every time you get one, which is random, you’ll get a point.
This is 1 point per trash. , This involves finding all of the villagers in your town and speaking with them once by pressing “A” when standing next to them.
You’ll net one point per villager.
Plus, once you’ve introduced yourself, you have the potential to receive requests from them.
You’ll get 1 point each. , You can send letters to any villager by grabbing some stationary, sold in the Convenience Store.
Then, from your inventory panel, tap on the paper and choose write a letter.
You’ll be prompted to choose who you want to send the letter to.
Once you choose a recipient, you’ll get to type the message.
Villagers often like when they get sent letters, especially if you attached a present! They will, however, also show anyone else they can find the letters that you send them, so be aware of that.
You will get 1 point each. , This is the easy, passive way to receive approval! You’ll get up to 3 points per day.
Once you do have 100% approval, which shouldn't take more than a couple of days as long as you’re doing some of the things noted above, then you can go and sit in the mayor chair and Isabelle will tell you about public works projects and ordinances. , Check it every time you log in.
If there’s a new post on the bulletin board, you’ll see a little bird sitting on top of it.
If there’s no bird, then you can safely move along knowing that there is nothing new.
If there is a bird, make sure to look! The bulletin board is where town events get announced.
Sometimes, there will be sales in the shops on Main Street.
Other times, there may be a fishing tournament coming up in a week or so. , Buy and sell items at the shops.
The Convenience Store upgrades over time when you spend certain amounts of money there.
The shoe store will open up once you’ve spent a set amount of bells at the Able Sisters shop.
Also, donate items to Blathers.
Once you’ve donated one of each type (one bug, one fish, one fossil, and one piece of art), he will talk about opening up a museum shop.
Essentially, if you want things to improve, be willing to spend your money and time cultivating the shops on Main Street. , Animal Crossing incorporates a number of real life holidays that offer unique events in-game and often the ability to gather fun sets of furniture.
For example, on Easter, a bunny will appear in town and will send you on an egg hunt.
Participating results in a set of egg-related furniture. , Every day, there will be one rock on your map that, when hit with a shovel, produces bells.
The number of bells that you receive is based off the hidden Luck stat.
An easy way to keep making money is thus to equip your shovel and go around hitting every rock you find until one gives you a set of bells.
Then, hit it until it stops giving you bells. , The Town Square is where you planted the town tree and it’s an important location to be aware of and check every day.
When you hit holidays, that’s where characters will appear and events will be held.
Otherwise, there are two visitors that can randomly set up a tent on your Town Square.
This includes Crazy Redd, who sells art.
Beware, however, as a good portion of his art is fake and thus won’t be accepted by Blathers for donation in the museum.
There is also Katrina, a fortune-telling cat who will tell your fortune for a small bell fee. , On Sunday, from 6am to noon, a character named Joan will show up and wander around your village.
She sells turnips for a random price.
If you like the price she’s selling at, you can buy them and then attempt to sell them at Re-Tail during the week.
Selling and buying prices are both random.
So while it is possible to make a large profit, it is also possible to operate at a loss.
When speaking with Reese at Re-Tail, you can choose to ask her about turnip prices.
Make sure you know what you bought yours for.
If she’s offering more, then enjoy the extra bells.
If she’s offering less, you may want to hold on to your turnips for a little longer to see if she’ll offer more another day. , There are various possibilities in Animal Crossing to discover; play the game and enjoy yourself! -
Step 2: Talk to Rover.
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Step 3: Give your Name and Gender.
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Step 4: Name your town.
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Step 5: Set your appearance.
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Step 6: Become a Mayor.
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Step 7: Build your home.
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Step 8: Talk to Tom Nook.
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Step 9: Pick where you want to build your home.
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Step 10: Get out of that tent.
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Step 11: Plant the Town Tree.
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Step 12: Gather fruits.
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Step 13: Sell the fruits.
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Step 14: Get a shovel.
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Step 15: Find fossils.
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Step 16: Dig up fossils.
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Step 17: Have the fossils appraised.
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Step 18: Speak to Isabelle.
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Step 19: Change the town tune.
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Step 20: Put something up for sale at Re-Tail.
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Step 21: Change the town flag.
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Step 22: Post something on the bulletin board.
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Step 23: Donate a fish
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Step 24: fossil
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Step 25: or artwork to the museum.
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Step 26: Pull weeds.
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Step 27: Water flowers.
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Step 28: Remove trash from the water by fishing.
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Step 29: Introduce yourself to all of your villagers.
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Step 30: Send a letter.
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Step 31: Play each day.
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Step 32: Check the Bulletin Board often.
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Step 33: Participate in the economy.
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Step 34: Celebrate holidays.
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Step 35: Find Money Rocks.
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Step 36: Visit the Town Square.
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Step 37: Join the Stalk Market.
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Step 38: Continue exploring.
Detailed Guide
When you first load up Animal Crossing on your 3DS, you will be prompted to start a new save file.
Then, you will find yourself on a train with a stranger who approaches you.Image:
Play Animal Crossing_ New Leaf on Nintendo 3DS Step
1.jpg , This cat, Rover, will initiate conversation with you.
While seemingly inconsequential at times, every response that you choose will have an impact on the game. , First, you give your name, then you’ll have the option of correcting your name should you want to change it, or prompting Rover on your name being “Cool” or “Cute”.
Choosing “Cool” will default you to male gender and choosing “Cute” will default you to female gender.
It will take you to another dialogue option where you can either confirm the assumed gender or tell Rover that he got it wrong. , Rover will ask where you’re heading, which is your opportunity to name your town.
Once you have the name confirmed, Rover will show you a map and ask if that’s the town you’re talking about.
Rover will show you four maps total and you must choose one of them.
Map type is simply up to your preference.
Any given map will always have a river that goes through your town and a couple of ponds.
In these maps, you’ll see the locations of the Town Hall, event square, Re-Tail, and current villager houses (though you won’t know where new villagers might choose to move in). , From here, Rover will ask you a series of questions about your travel.
These answers dictate what kind of face your character will have.
There are 12 different face types in total (these different face types include different eyes, noses, and hairstyles).
While later on in the game you have the potential to change your hairstyle and eye color, you cannot change the face type that you have.
Once you’re done speaking with Rover, the train will drop you off your town. , If you are the first person to move into the town, which you will be if you’re the first one to play the game, then Isabelle and a handful of villagers will greet you.
They assume that you’re they’re new mayor! There’s no way of getting out of this, so just enjoy your newfound mayoral status.
If you aren’t the first person to move into the town, then you simply become another resident. , The game will direct towards the Town Hall, so continue speaking with Isabelle, your assistant.
The Town Hall is noted on your map by a purple building.
Head there using the directional stick.
Enter, and talk to Isabelle by pressing “A”.
She’ll tell you that you need to build a home, and will refer you to Tom Nook. , Tom Nook is located at Nook’s Homes on Main Street, which is just past the train tracks at the north end of your town.
Once you’re on Main Street, you can see Nook’s Homes on the map as a blue building with a pink home icon on top of it.
Go in there and talk to Nook in order to get a building! , Once you’re ready, Nook will walk back to town with you in order for you to pick a spot for your home.
You can pick anywhere you want, as long as there’s enough room.
When you’re standing on a spot you like, talk to Nook again and he will give you a preview of what your house would look like there. , Tom Nook is a bit stingy; he’ll only starts you off with a tent and says you’ll need to pay him 10,000 bells in order to upgrade to a house. 10,000 bells is a lot for a beginner, so you’ll need to farm for bells by selling fruit (Part 3) or digging for fossils (Part 4). , Planting the Town Tree isn't optional, but it is a nice event to really solidify your new status as mayor of this town.
Isabelle will prompt you during the ceremony to plant the tree, which you will accomplish via pressing “A”. , Get fruits by standing next to a fruit-bearing tree and pressing “A” to shake the tree and cause the fruit to fall to the ground.
Then press “Y” next to each fallen fruit to pick it up and put it in your inventory. , Head over to Re-Tail once your inventory is full, denoted on your map by a pink recycle sign, and sell it all off! , Fossils require a bit more work.
First, you need a shovel.
You should be able to purchase a shovel from the Convenience Store on Main Street for 500 bells.
While you do want to be saving bells, the purchase of any tool (including bug net and fishing rod) should be considered an investment that’s well worth your while.
When you buy the shovel, you can opt to hear instructions on how to use it. , To find fossils, look for little star marks on the ground in your town.
Once you see one, equip the shovel by dragging it onto your character from the inventory screen. , Stand next to the star and press “A” to dig.
If you hit your mark, your character will dig up a fossil! , However, these fossils are beyond your knowledge, and you’ll need to go get them appraised before they’re worth selling for bells.
In order to appraise fossils, head over to the museum on Main Street.
The museum is on the far left of the map.
If it’s daytime, the owl inside will be sleeping, but it’s no problem to wake him up by talking to him.
He’ll introduce himself as Blathers and explain a bit about the museum if it’s your first time talking to him.
Once prompted, ask him to assess your fossils.
Blathers will then tell you what types of fossils you have. , In order to unlock features such as public works projects and ordinance, you will need to reach 100% approval rating as mayor.
In order to see what your approval rating is, speak with Isabelle when she is standing behind the counter in Town Hall and ask her about citizen satisfaction.
She will also give you tips on how to increase your rating. , Changing the town tune can be found as an option in conversation with Isabelle.
This is 3 points.
Points are handed out first time only. , Re-Tail has empty spots in its store for villagers and you to sell goods.
If you want to sell something, simply have it in your inventory and then stand next to one of those empty spots and press “A”.
Reese, the llama that runs the store, will ask if you have something you’d like to put up.
Say yes, choose the item you want, set a price, and you’re set! This is 3 points.
Points are handed out first time only. , This is also found as an option in conversation with Isabelle.
This is 3 points.
Points are handed out first time only. , The bulletin board is located next to the train station.
Anyone who visits your town can read bulletin board posts, so while it doesn’t matter what you write, it’s good form to keep it tasteful and leave out personally identifying information.
This is 3 points.
Points are handed out first time only. , We've already been over assessing fossils.
You may remember that the other option when speaking with Blathers is to make a donation.
Blathers will accept any fish, bug, assessed fossil, or genuine (not the fakes the Redd sometimes sells) art that isn't already on display.
This is 3 points.
Points are handed out first time only. , Pulling weeds keeps the town looking nice and nets you points in approval.
To pull a weed, stand next to it and press “Y”.
Once you start playing regularly, you’ll see less weeds in your town; that’s a good thing! This is 1 point per weed. , Water flowers by equipping the watering can and pressing “A” when next to a flower.
You can water a flower when it’s perfectly healthy or if it’s dying (greyed out).
You’ll know a flower has been watered because afterwards it will shine with little water sparkles.
This is 1 point per day. , Sometimes, when you fish, you will get junk items.
Every time you get one, which is random, you’ll get a point.
This is 1 point per trash. , This involves finding all of the villagers in your town and speaking with them once by pressing “A” when standing next to them.
You’ll net one point per villager.
Plus, once you’ve introduced yourself, you have the potential to receive requests from them.
You’ll get 1 point each. , You can send letters to any villager by grabbing some stationary, sold in the Convenience Store.
Then, from your inventory panel, tap on the paper and choose write a letter.
You’ll be prompted to choose who you want to send the letter to.
Once you choose a recipient, you’ll get to type the message.
Villagers often like when they get sent letters, especially if you attached a present! They will, however, also show anyone else they can find the letters that you send them, so be aware of that.
You will get 1 point each. , This is the easy, passive way to receive approval! You’ll get up to 3 points per day.
Once you do have 100% approval, which shouldn't take more than a couple of days as long as you’re doing some of the things noted above, then you can go and sit in the mayor chair and Isabelle will tell you about public works projects and ordinances. , Check it every time you log in.
If there’s a new post on the bulletin board, you’ll see a little bird sitting on top of it.
If there’s no bird, then you can safely move along knowing that there is nothing new.
If there is a bird, make sure to look! The bulletin board is where town events get announced.
Sometimes, there will be sales in the shops on Main Street.
Other times, there may be a fishing tournament coming up in a week or so. , Buy and sell items at the shops.
The Convenience Store upgrades over time when you spend certain amounts of money there.
The shoe store will open up once you’ve spent a set amount of bells at the Able Sisters shop.
Also, donate items to Blathers.
Once you’ve donated one of each type (one bug, one fish, one fossil, and one piece of art), he will talk about opening up a museum shop.
Essentially, if you want things to improve, be willing to spend your money and time cultivating the shops on Main Street. , Animal Crossing incorporates a number of real life holidays that offer unique events in-game and often the ability to gather fun sets of furniture.
For example, on Easter, a bunny will appear in town and will send you on an egg hunt.
Participating results in a set of egg-related furniture. , Every day, there will be one rock on your map that, when hit with a shovel, produces bells.
The number of bells that you receive is based off the hidden Luck stat.
An easy way to keep making money is thus to equip your shovel and go around hitting every rock you find until one gives you a set of bells.
Then, hit it until it stops giving you bells. , The Town Square is where you planted the town tree and it’s an important location to be aware of and check every day.
When you hit holidays, that’s where characters will appear and events will be held.
Otherwise, there are two visitors that can randomly set up a tent on your Town Square.
This includes Crazy Redd, who sells art.
Beware, however, as a good portion of his art is fake and thus won’t be accepted by Blathers for donation in the museum.
There is also Katrina, a fortune-telling cat who will tell your fortune for a small bell fee. , On Sunday, from 6am to noon, a character named Joan will show up and wander around your village.
She sells turnips for a random price.
If you like the price she’s selling at, you can buy them and then attempt to sell them at Re-Tail during the week.
Selling and buying prices are both random.
So while it is possible to make a large profit, it is also possible to operate at a loss.
When speaking with Reese at Re-Tail, you can choose to ask her about turnip prices.
Make sure you know what you bought yours for.
If she’s offering more, then enjoy the extra bells.
If she’s offering less, you may want to hold on to your turnips for a little longer to see if she’ll offer more another day. , There are various possibilities in Animal Crossing to discover; play the game and enjoy yourself!
About the Author
Lauren Collins
Specializes in breaking down complex pet care topics into simple steps.
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