Animal Crossing New Horizons: Halloween!

If you're like many who joined the ACNH (Animal Crossing: New Horizons) chain since Covid forced much of the world into lockdown, you've probably been eager for any news regarding gameplay or features after already logging hundreds of hours on the latest Switch iteration.

I'd never played any of the previous AC games before, and I have to admit that when I first started NH (mostly out of sheer curiosity because the majority of my coworkers at the time were raving about it) I confessed in confusion to my boyfriend that I really didn't get the point. Coming from a primarily MMO/RPG, turn-based strategy and platformer background, I really didn't understand the point of shaking trees, dealing with Mr. Nook or collecting items which serve mostly as decorative rather than interactive.

And alas, here I am, millions of bells in debt and keen to finish master planning my basement.

Sometime earlier this year, a data mining leak hinted at upcoming releases for the latest edition in the AC franchise, most of which we've seen come to fruition, including swimming, diving and growing vegetables (the first of course being pumpkins for the Halloween season). As Thanksgiving approaches, we expect to receive a visit from Franklin for the Harvest Festival event on November 26th.

​Data miners and villager dialogue referencing other past, beloved AC characters have also predicted an appearance by Mayor Tortimer as well as objects tied to cooking like a ladle and fork (presumably for the Harvest Festival) and the appearance of other vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes and carrots, as well as the possible return of Brewster's famous café. When exactly these updates will occur between now and Christmas isn't precisely known, but as usual Nintendo gives us some nuggets to look forward to and reasons to keep your island tidy.

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Unlike the Bunny Day event, in which Zipper T. Bunny frightened more players than Jack the King of Halloween, October 31st offered more of a variety of activities, from DIY pumpkin crafting and selecting a costume to hoarding candy, learning emotions like scare and haunt and trick or treating - and you do get tricked! But we'll get into that more in a sec.

If you weren't able to play on Halloween and aren't opposed to time traveling within the game, I suggest going back a few days prior to the actual event to start collecting candy from Nook's Cranny. Timmy and Tommy only allow you to buy one candy per day, and you will need quite a few pieces to trade for lollipops in order to receive all the bonus items from Jack. 

For several days leading up to Halloween, you can also find a new assortment of costumes and accessories available at The Able Sisters, whether you want to be a furry animal, steampunk assassin, mage, imp, samurai, meathead, or whatever. I went traditional as a ghastly mage (with imp wings, of course). The October update also features new skin tone and eye color choices to customize your spooky look. 

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