How to Reset Animal Crossing: New Horizons: 2 Working Methods to Try
Stuck on an island whose layout and residents are ‘hella’ annoying? Or are you close to completing the campaign on New Horizons but still basking in the nostalgia of setting out afresh on your island? These concerns are valid, and the only way out is to reset the game.
While this means you’d lose your entire progress, nothing beats starting the game afresh. However, you’d be coming onto your island this time with all the experience and technical know-how from your previous campaign. This guide will walk you through how to reset Animal Crossing: New Horizons, so keep reading to find out.
How to Reset Animal Crossing: New Horizons
If you’ve decided that resetting the progress in New Horizons is the way to go, you’d be glad to know there are different methods you can employ to do just that. They are as follows:
Deleting a Villager Profile
This method will delete your character and all their traces on the island. The deleted character will be erased from the residents’ memory, never to be talked about ever again. You’ll also lose all properties built in their name.
There’s only one catch, though: This method only works for secondary profiles created after the original Resident Representative that started the game. Regardless, it’s a surefire way to get rid of redundant secondary accounts. To use this method,
- Open the game on your Switch
- Wait till it gets to the title menu
- Press the Minus button to bring up Tom Nook in a dark room
- He’ll ask if you really want to delete your character. Press the action button to go ahead with it
And that’s it; the game will delete the character from your island. But there’s only so much this method can do to reset your game truly; skip to the next method to reset just about anything in the game.
Deleting Save Data
This method deletes everything about the game saved onto your Switch. You’ll lose every data; afterward, the game will load as though you’re opening it on your Switch for the first time.
The following steps will guide you on how to go about it:
- Close the game and return to Switch Home Menu
- Select System Settings from the bottom menu
- Select Data Management from the right pane
- Scroll down to and select Delete Save Data on the right pane
- Navigate through the list of files from the games on your Switch and locate Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Once selected, choose the Delete All Save Data for this software option
- A warning message will come up on your screen to confirm your decision. Select Delete Save Data to go ahead with it.
Related: How to Restart Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Final Notes
And that’s how to reset Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Use either of the methods highlighted in this guide depending on how far you’re willing to reset the game. If you’re deleting a character, as explained in the first method, do well to transfer the Resident Representative title to another profile before proceeding with it.
This way, you won’t lose the Bells, Nook Miles, and other valuable items you’ve amassed.
