For both seasoned and newbie gamers alike, Animal Crossing has held its ground as one of the most endearing and immersive life-simulation games.

But with any game that relies on real-time progression, there comes a question of expediting processes.

For Animal Crossing, that question is: How do you time travel in Animal Crossing?. Here, we dive deep into this feature, exploring its implications, benefits, and drawbacks.

How Do You Time Travel in Animal Crossing?

Time travel, in the context of Animal Crossing, doesn’t involve a Delorean or a magical portal.

Instead, it’s a term used by players to describe the act of adjusting the Nintendo Switch’s system clock to change the game’s date and time. This seemingly simple action can have significant consequences within the game world.

Why Would You Want to Time Travel?

Bypass Wait Times: Many events in Animal Crossing, like building construction or plant growth, take real-world days to complete. Time traveling can make these processes instantaneous.
Seasonal Events: Maybe you missed a holiday event and want to experience it. Time traveling allows you to revisit any past event.
Shop Restocks: Didn’t find anything you liked in the Nook’s Cranny shop today? Time travel to the next day to see a fresh set of items.
Fulfill Villager Requests: Missed out on fulfilling a villager’s request? By time traveling backward or forward, you can correct your oversight and strengthen your bond with them.

The Potential Drawbacks

As tempting as time traveling can be, there are consequences to consider:

Weeds and Neglect: Time traveling forward for too long can lead to overgrowth of weeds in your village. Also, villagers may feel neglected and might even consider moving out.
Spoilage: Items like turnips will spoil if you travel too far ahead.
Resetti: In previous Animal Crossing games, the mole character known as Resetti would berate players for “cheating”. While Resetti’s role has been minimized in New Horizons, it’s a fun nod to the game’s stance on time manipulation.

How to Time Travel Step-by-Step

Here’s a simple guide:

Save and Close the Game: Always start by saving your current game in Animal Crossing and then completely close the game from the Switch menu.
Adjust Date and Time: Navigate to the System Settings on your Nintendo Switch. From there, select ‘System’, followed by ‘Date and Time.’ Turn off the ‘Synchronize Clock via Internet’ option, which will allow you to manually set the date and time.
Re-enter the Game: Once you’ve made your desired changes, save and exit the system settings. Reopen Animal Crossing, and you’ll find yourself in the adjusted date and time.
Reverse the Process: To go back to real-world time, simply follow the same process but turn the ‘Synchronize Clock via Internet’ option back on.

Ethics of Time Traveling in Animal Crossing

The community seems divided over the practice. Some view it as cheating, believing that it robs players of the real-world charm and patience the game intends.

Others argue it’s a personal choice and doesn’t harm anyone, so players should be free to play the game how they see fit.

According to a report by Polygon, game director Aya Kyogoku stated, “We think that in order for the players to play for a very long time, and also for players to share the experience with their friends or family, we do need to have that element.”

So, while time traveling is technically possible and can be advantageous in many ways, it’s up to the individual player to determine if it’s right for them.

Conclusion

How do you time travel in Animal Crossing? It’s a mix of system settings manipulation and personal ethical decisions. Whether you’re looking to expedite processes or relive seasonal events, it’s a feature that has its pros and cons.

But remember, the essence of Animal Crossing is personal choice, and the game’s charm often lies in its real-time progression.