When you play Animal Crossing: New Leaf on the Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS & Nintendo 2DS, you'll be challenged to set up home in a new town shaped entirely by you. The game uses the same popular freeform gameplay from previous Animal Crossing games, which allows you to freely explore your territory without restriction. Continuing the much-loved freeform gameplay from previous Animal Crossing titles, Animal Crossing: New Leaf is a game without any restrictions. There are no goals, no story, not even an ending – instead, you can enjoy life in your new town in any way you choose.
When you first start the game, you will be on a train with Rover the Cat.The things you do next will determine your character's eye shape and thelayout of your town. This page explains all the steps.
The Start Screen
If you haven't created a town yet, you have two options in thestart screen: 'New Save File' and 'Move In'.If you choose 'New Save File', you will start the game on a train with Rover.'Move In' lets you move a character in from a different town.
If you have already created a town, you can choose 'New Resident' to move a newcharacter into town.
Talk to Rover
First, Rover will ask if the time and date are correct. Then he asksyour name. Next, he compliments your name, and you have a few options.You can choose 'Oops, I misspoke!' if you want to change your name.The other options determine your character's gender:
Cool or Cute
If you say you think the name is 'cool', Rover will say that it's a masculine name.If you want a girl character, you have to choose 'I'm not a boy!'. Similarly,if you choose 'cute', Rover will say it's a feminine name. If you want a boy character, you have to choose 'I'm not a girl!'
Naming and Seeing Your Town
Rover will ask where you are headed. Your answer will become the nameof your town. If you make a mistake, you can choose 'No, no!' after you enter the name.
Animal Crossing New Leaf Game Guide
When you approve of the name,then Rover will show you a map and ask if that is your town.If you say 'Here!', that map becomes the layout of your town, so if you don'tlike it, say 'Nope!' to make Rover show a different map.He will only show you four maps, so you have to pick one of them. After heshows you the fourth map, he will start over by showing you the first mapagain.
The beach can either go along the left side orthe right side of town. There is always a river going through your town andat least two ponds. The map will also show the locations of the Town Hall,the event square, Re-Tail, and the villager houses.
Your Face
Rover's next questions determine what your eye shape will be. See the face guidefor pictures of the faces that you can get.You can't changeyour eye shape after your character is created, so choose carefully!
Arriving in your Town
After the train drops you off in the station, if you are the first person to move into the town, you will go outsideand find Isabelle and some villagers, who greet you. Isabelle asks some questions that you can answer however you wish. You become the mayor.Isabelle gives you the Town Map and asks you to go to the Town Hall,which will be flashing on the map.
If you are NOT the first person to move into the town, you can't become the mayor; you will just be a resident.In this case, when you arrive in the train station, Portergives you the Town Map and tells you to go to the Town Hall, which willbe flashing on the map.
After you arrive in the Town Hall, talk to Isabelle. She asks you to gonorth to Main Street and go to Nook's Homes.
Choose Where to Build Your House
When you approve of the name,then Rover will show you a map and ask if that is your town.If you say 'Here!', that map becomes the layout of your town, so if you don'tlike it, say 'Nope!' to make Rover show a different map.He will only show you four maps, so you have to pick one of them. After heshows you the fourth map, he will start over by showing you the first mapagain.
The beach can either go along the left side orthe right side of town. There is always a river going through your town andat least two ponds. The map will also show the locations of the Town Hall,the event square, Re-Tail, and the villager houses.
Your Face
Rover's next questions determine what your eye shape will be. See the face guidefor pictures of the faces that you can get.You can't changeyour eye shape after your character is created, so choose carefully!
Arriving in your Town
After the train drops you off in the station, if you are the first person to move into the town, you will go outsideand find Isabelle and some villagers, who greet you. Isabelle asks some questions that you can answer however you wish. You become the mayor.Isabelle gives you the Town Map and asks you to go to the Town Hall,which will be flashing on the map.
If you are NOT the first person to move into the town, you can't become the mayor; you will just be a resident.In this case, when you arrive in the train station, Portergives you the Town Map and tells you to go to the Town Hall, which willbe flashing on the map.
After you arrive in the Town Hall, talk to Isabelle. She asks you to gonorth to Main Street and go to Nook's Homes.
Choose Where to Build Your House
You find Tom Nook in Nook's Homes. Talk to him and he will ask if you are readyto choose a place for your house. If you say yes, Tom Nook will follow youaround the village. You can walk to any spot, then talk to Tom Nook to see a preview of what your house would look like there. Note:if you choose a place near the ocean, you will be able to hear thewaves when you are inside your house.
After choosing a spot for your house, you should go back to the Town Halland talk to Isabelle.
Check in with Isabelle
Talk to Isabelle in the Town Hall and she will ask if everything is OK.Answer however you wish. Then she will ask you to tell her your birthday.Finally, she will give you your Town Pass Card, or TPC for short.
Plant the Town Tree
After this, if you are the mayor,you and Isabelle will go to the Town Square for the tree plantingceremony. Some of the villagers will be there. You will plant a tree sapling in the middle of the Town Square. You have to press Ato plant the sapling!
Save the Game
The game will automatically save now. If you want to save after this, youcan do so at any time by pressing START or SELECT.
The Mayor Chair
The mayor chair is behind Isabelle's desk in the town hall, but you won'tbe able to access it until the day after you become mayor. You might needto wait until 6AM before the mayor chair becomes accessible.
Upgrading from the Tent
Your first residence is a tent. Go inside to get a free lantern from Isabelle. You can upgrade to a house by paying 10,000 bells to Tom Nook.He will ask you to choose a roof color for your house. You have to wait until6AM for your new house to appear.
After this, the Happy Room Academy willopen up in the Nook's Homes shop. The first time you go into your new house,Isabelle will bring you some Pawprint Wallpaper and will add a light switchto your touch screen.
After your house is built,talk to Tom Nook about paying off your house loan. Once you pay off thefirst house loan (not the tent loan, but the one after that), you can unlockthe islandby talking to Tortimer on the dock on your beach.
Get Tools and Items from Isabelle
You can get itemssuch as stationery, non-native fruit, and tools such as abug net, fishing rod, ora watering can, from Isabelle!Just ask her for advice.
The first time you ask Isabelle for advice, she will give you some stationery and recommendthat you send a letter. The next time you ask Isabelle for advice, she willsay that she can explain more about letters, or give you some new advice.
If you ask for new advice, she will talk about wanting to go to the beachand look for seashells with you. After this, you should go get a seashellfrom the beach and bring it to Isabelle. She'll give you a basket ofnon-native fruits in return.
Her next advice depends on whether you're carryinga shovel or not. Isabelle will explain how to plant trees.
If you ask herfor more advice, you can tell her whether you are interested in fishingor bug catching. If you say fishing, she will ask you to catch three differenttypes of fish and then show heryour encyclopedia. If you say bug catching, she will ask you to catch threedifferent types ofbugs and then show her your encyclopedia.
Talk to her again if you don't have fishing rod or bug net and she willsell you one at the standard price of 500 bells.
Once you have caught 3 different types of bugs or 3 different types offish, go back and show Isabelle. She won't have any more advice for youafter that, so she will give you a watering can as a welcoming gift.After that, she'll tell you to take it easy for the rest of the day.
Visiting Other Towns
Before you can visit other towns, you have to take a photo for yourTown Pass Card. Just go to thephoto boothand take a picture. After that, you can visit other towns or invite otherplayers over by going to thetrain station.
Earning Mayor Points - Your Approval Rating
On the day after you become the mayor, Isabelle will ask you to perform variousduties around town to increase your approval rating. On the day after you create your town,you can find out your rating by sitting in your mayorchair. After reaching a 100% approval rating, youunlock the ability to create public works projects and pass ordinances.
How to increase your Approval Rating and Earn Mayor Points
As the mayor, youcan reach your 100% approval rating from Isabelle in the following ways:
- Change the town tune = 3 points (one time only)
- Put something up for sale at Re-tail = 3 points (one time only)
- Change the town flag = 3 points (one time only)
- Post something on the bulletin board next to the station = 3 points (one time only)
- Donate a fish, bug, fossil, or artwork to the museum = 3 points (one time only)
- Pull weeds = 1 point each
- Water flowers = 1 point per day
- Remove trash from the water by fishing = 1 point each
- Introduce yourself to all of your villagers = 1 point each
- Send a letter = 1 point each
- Play each day = up to 3 points each day
What's Next?
After you have reached 100% approval rating and sit in your mayor chairand pay Isabelle, you canbuildpublicworks projects and pass ordinances. And you can do prettymuch whatever you want! Check out the other guides on this sitefor more information.
Animal Crossing 3ds Game
Players with Animal Crossing: New Leaf (digital or retail version) can apply a free game update to turn their game into Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo. Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo is also for sale on its own digitally through Nintendo eShop or in retail stores beginning 12/2/16.
Animal Crossing New Leaf Game
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo has the following additional features. Other than this, the games are exactly the same.
- amiibo Compatibility: all existing Animal Crossing amiibo figures and cards are compatible with Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo.
- Scan Animal Crossing amiibo figures to invite them to the Campground area in the game. (With their own stylish RV!) These characters offer players special in-game items that provide access to the new Desert Island Escape and Animal Crossing Puzzle League mini-games.
- Tap an Animal Crossing amiibo card to invite the pictured character to come to your town. Characters in the Welcome amiibo card series can appear in the new Campground.
- Scan select non-Animal Crossing amiibo figures to access new furniture items unique to those characters.
- MEOW Coupons: Complete daily or weekly town initiatives to earn Mutual Exchange of Wealth (MEOW) Coupons, which can be exchanged for unique in-game items at the Campground.
- Amiibo Camera Mode: Take a photo whenever you like in the game. Photos can be shared using the 3DS Image Share Tool.
- Happy Home Designer Link: If you have save data from Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, you can link your save data and unlock 20 giant furniture items to spend your Bells on.
- Extra Home Decorating & Storage: Easily customize your home by moving furniture and items with the Nintendo 3DS touch screen. You can also use your Bells to obtain additional storage for your house.
