Are you ready for a fresh start on your island paradise? Maybe your island's layout isn't quite what you envisioned, or perhaps you're just itching for a completely new adventure in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Whatever the reason, restarting your game can be a surprisingly straightforward process. This guide covers various methods, from the simplest to the more involved, to help you begin your idyllic island life anew.
Understanding Your Options: A Soft Reset vs. A Hard Reset
Before diving in, it's crucial to understand the difference between a soft reset and a hard reset. This distinction determines how much data you'll lose and the method you'll need to use.
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Soft Reset: This is a simple restart of your current game session. You'll retain all your progress, including your island, villagers, and items. This is useful for fixing minor glitches or if you just want to close the game properly.
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Hard Reset: This involves deleting your save data and starting a completely new game. You'll lose everything – your island, progress, villagers, and items. This is only recommended if you want a completely fresh start.
How to Perform a Soft Reset
A soft reset is the easiest option. There are a couple of ways to do it:
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Using the Switch's System Menu: Press and hold the power button on your Nintendo Switch until the power options menu appears. Select "Power Options" and then "Restart." This will close the Animal Crossing game and restart the console.
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Using the Game's Menu: Within the Animal Crossing game, you can navigate to the menu, select "Save," and then exit the game. While this doesn't technically "restart" the console, it closes the application cleanly and acts as a soft reset.
How to Perform a Hard Reset (Start a New Island)
This is a more involved process, but it's the only way to truly restart your Animal Crossing experience from scratch. Here's what you'll need to do:
1. Accessing the Nintendo Switch System Settings:
Navigate to your Nintendo Switch's main menu and select "System Settings."
2. Finding the Data Management Options:
Within System Settings, locate and select "Data Management."
3. Deleting Save Data:
You'll find a section relating to "Save Data." Select "Delete Save Data." The game may prompt you to confirm this action; proceed carefully! This action is irreversible.
4. Restarting the Game:
Once the save data has been deleted, restart Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You'll be prompted to create a new island. This is your chance to make all the choices you maybe wish you made differently last time!
Things to Consider Before a Hard Reset
Before you delete your save data and commit to a hard reset, carefully consider the following:
- Cloud Saves: If you've used Nintendo Switch Online's cloud save feature, you can restore your progress if needed. However, remember that overwriting a cloud save will permanently erase your previous island data!
- Island Design: Consider carefully whether a hard reset is truly necessary. If you're unhappy with certain elements of your island, there are often alternative in-game methods to improve your island layout. Think about adjusting your terraforming, moving buildings, or even talking to your villagers to improve things.
- Backups (if possible): While Nintendo doesn't officially provide a direct backup function, consider carefully all your progress before making a decision.
This comprehensive guide should equip you with the knowledge you need to restart your Animal Crossing game. Whether you opt for a quick soft reset or a complete hard reset to start afresh, remember to proceed carefully and back up your data if possible. Happy island building!
