Stop Nook-ing at your phone.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons has brought us all the way into the 21st century. The NookPhone has everything you need for deserted island survival.
Bestowed upon you by Animal Crossing’s plutocratic raccoon Tom Nook, the NookPhone is the mobile device received by the player at the beginning of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It boasts a load of apps and useful stuff to help the player on their journey. We’ll have in-depth guides when we know more, but here’s the current state of affairs with the NookPhone.
What apps are on the NookPhone?
You’ll start with some NookPhone applications, but will unlock far more as you progress through the game. Here’s what you can expect from your new device.
Camera
The Camera app lets you take photos of yourself, your friends, and your island. Numerous filters and effects can be added to your pictures, and you can zoom in and out to make the perfect Instagrammable snap! Remember to strike a pose
Map
The map is pretty self-explanatory. You can use the map to see your whole island at once, showing you where you are in comparison to everything else in your town.
Call Islander
You can squad up in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It’s basically Fortnite. Eight villagers can live on the same island, and you can use the Call Islander app to get them out of the house together. Only one player can lead the group around and do everything, but you can easily switch leaders. This way, everyone can collect the island’s resources together! The resources will be helpfully stored in a Recycle Box in Resident Services for later.
Nook Miles
This megalomaniacal mammal just keeps naming stuff after himself. Nook Miles are points you earn from doing pretty much every activity possible. From making tools and pulling weeds to doing DIY crafting and decorating your island, Nook Miles can be gained from anywhere. Check your stamp card progress through ‘The Nook Mileage Program’. You also earn them from travelling to other islands. Nook Miles can be exchanged for items in Nook Shopping, and we’ll keep you updated on the best buys you can make here.
DIY Recipes
With DIY Recipes, you can keep track of all tools, furniture and gear you’re able to craft. You can obtain DIY recipes by collecting new stuff, like clams for fishing bait. As well as this, villagers can tell you the secrets of certain kit to craft, so check your DIY Recipes app for a record of all the stuff you can build at a Workbench.
Rescue Service
Rescue Service is like having 999 on speed dial, except in a world where public services are properly funded. Calling the Rescue Service takes the player back to their home if they’re lost or stuck somewhere. It looks like our boy Mr. Resetti is in charge of this (his theme song plays when you call the service), operating the phone line and getting you out of whatever sticky situation you’ve found yourself in.
Island Designer
You won’t start with this ability, but after reaching a certain point in the game, you’ll be able to use Island Designer and terraform your island. Bridges and staircases give you the chance to traverse your world more easily, and you’ll be able to beautify the area with pathways and the like. You can even expand the land or create lakes and waterways. Team Aqua and Team Magma would envy your power.
Custom Designs
As in previous Animal Crossing games, New Horizons lets you customise your clothing and furniture with your own drawings. You’ll be able to create these designs through the in-game editor, as well as downloading them through the Nook Link feature of the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app. Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer patterns can be transferred over to New Horizons too using QR codes generated in those games.
Passport
At present, we don’t know a huge amount about the Passport app. However, it’s likely going to tie in significantly with the airport feature, and travelling between islands. Visiting friends and hanging out with them will all probably require use of your Passport app, but we’ll keep you updated when we know more.
How to open the NookPhone
It’s easy to open the NookPhone after you have your first nap on your island. Just press the ZL button (the back-left shoulder button) and it’ll open with all your apps in front of you.
That’s all for our New Horizons NookPhone guide! Check out our other Animal Crossing pages too. We’ve got you covered, from how to make bells easily to how to decorate your room with Feng Shui.
