How To Time Travel In Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Want to manipulate time in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? SIXT.VN is here to guide you through the fascinating world of “time travel” in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, offering insights and tips for an enhanced gaming experience during your trip to Vietnam. Learn how to adjust your Switch settings and explore the effects, benefits, and potential impacts on your island life, ensuring you get the most out of your virtual getaway. Discover island living and strategic gameplay!

1. What is Time Travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons refers to changing your Nintendo Switch’s internal clock to manipulate the game’s time. Instead of waiting for real-world days to pass for events, construction, or other in-game activities, players can manually adjust the date and time on their console to fast-forward or rewind their progress. This technique is popular among players who wish to accelerate their island development, access specific events, or obtain items more quickly.

Animal Crossing games operate in real-time, meaning that in-game events and activities are tied to the actual date and time. Time traveling allows players to bypass this constraint by manually altering the system clock on their Nintendo Switch. By doing so, they can jump ahead to experience future events, such as holidays or villager birthdays, or revisit past dates to acquire missed items or complete unfinished tasks.

This practice is not considered hacking or cheating since it involves using the game’s built-in mechanics and the Switch’s system settings. However, it’s important to understand the potential consequences and drawbacks of time travel before engaging in it, as it can impact certain aspects of gameplay and the overall experience.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Time travel infographic in Animal Crossing: New Horizons with decorated cedar trees.

2. How Do I Time Travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Time traveling in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Save and Exit the Game

Before making any changes to your Switch’s settings, ensure you save your progress in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and exit the game completely. This prevents any potential data corruption or glitches that may occur during the time-traveling process. Go to your character’s house and lie in bed to save. Alternatively, press the “-” button on your controller to bring up the settings menu, and then select “Save and End.”

Step 2: Access System Settings

From the Nintendo Switch’s home screen, navigate to the “System Settings” icon, which resembles a gear. Tap on it to open the system settings menu.

Step 3: Adjust Date and Time Settings

In the system settings menu, scroll down to the “System” option and select it. Then, choose the “Date and Time” setting.

Step 4: Disable Synchronization

If the “Synchronize Clock via Internet” option is enabled, disable it by toggling the switch to the “OFF” position. This prevents your Switch from automatically updating the time and date from the internet, allowing you to manually adjust them.

Step 5: Manually Change Date and Time

Select the “Date and Time” option to manually change the date and time. Use the on-screen calendar and clock to set the desired date and time. You can move forward or backward in time as needed.

Step 6: Launch Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Once you’ve adjusted the date and time settings, return to the home screen and launch Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The game will now reflect the new date and time you’ve set.

Step 7: Verify the Changes

Upon entering the game, take a moment to verify that the time travel has been successful. Check the in-game clock, the date displayed on your NookPhone, and the activities and events occurring on your island to ensure they align with the new date and time.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Step-by-step instructions to access system settings and adjust time on Nintendo Switch for Animal Crossing.

3. What are the General Effects of Time Traveling in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Time traveling in Animal Crossing: New Horizons can have both positive and negative effects on your island and gameplay experience. Understanding these effects is crucial for making informed decisions about when and how to time travel.

Here’s a breakdown of the general effects of time traveling, regardless of whether you’re moving forward or backward in time:

3.1. Positive Effects

• Refreshed Stock: Time traveling causes the stock in various shops, such as Able Sisters, Nook’s Cranny, and Nook Shopping, to refresh. This allows you to access new items, clothing, and furniture more frequently.
• Redd’s Art Delivery: If you’ve purchased art from Redd, time traveling can expedite the delivery process. By advancing the clock to the next day, you can receive your art sooner.
• Fossil Respawn: Time traveling resets the daily fossil spawn on your island, allowing you to dig up new fossils each day. This is particularly useful for completing your museum’s fossil collection.
• NPC Visitor Refresh: Non-Player Character (NPC) visitors like Flick, CJ, and Leif will refresh their visits when you time travel. This gives you more opportunities to interact with them, sell your catches, and purchase unique items.
• Daily Recipe Bottle Respawn: Time traveling resets the daily recipe bottle spawn on your beach, providing you with a new DIY recipe to collect each day.

3.2. Negative Effects

• Open Plots May Fill: If you have any empty plots on your island, time traveling can cause them to be automatically filled by random villagers. This can be undesirable if you’re hoping to invite a specific villager to your island.
• Campers Will Leave: Campers who are visiting your island may leave if you time travel too far forward or backward. This can be disappointing if you were hoping to convince them to move to your island.

3.3. Neutral Effects

• Villager Relationships: Time traveling generally does not have a significant impact on your relationships with your villagers. However, they may occasionally comment on your absence or ask where you’ve been if you time travel extensively.

It’s important to note that some effects may vary depending on the specific circumstances and the extent of your time travel. Additionally, certain events and activities, such as villager birthdays and seasonal events, may be affected differently by time travel.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Image of Nook’s Cranny with refreshed stock after time travel in Animal Crossing.

4. What are the Specific Effects of Time Traveling Forwards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Time traveling forwards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is akin to simply closing your game and returning at a later time. However, there are specific effects that can occur when you advance the clock.

Here’s a breakdown of the specific effects of time traveling forwards:

4.1. Positive Effects

• Building Completion: Time traveling forwards can expedite the completion of building construction, upgrades, and villager move-ins. This allows you to quickly transform your island and welcome new residents.
• Weed and Flower Growth: Advancing the clock encourages weeds and flowers to grow and spread on your island. This can be beneficial if you’re trying to cultivate specific flowers or create a more natural-looking landscape.
• Rock and Tree Refresh: Time traveling forwards resets the daily spawn of rocks and trees, allowing you to harvest resources like stone, clay, wood, and fruit more frequently.
• Mail Delivery: Advancing the clock ensures that any pending mail, such as letters from villagers or deliveries from online shopping, will be delivered to your mailbox.
• Turnip Price Trends: Time traveling forwards does not alter the turnip price trends on your island. This means that you can safely advance the clock to check the turnip prices without disrupting the market.

4.2. Negative Effects

• Weed and Flower Overgrowth: While weed and flower growth can be positive in moderation, excessive time traveling forwards can lead to an overgrowth of weeds and flowers, making it difficult to navigate your island.
• Cockroach Infestation: If you time travel forward by a month or more, cockroaches may appear in your house. These pests can be annoying to get rid of, so it’s important to check your house regularly after time traveling.
• Bedhead Appearance: Time traveling forward by a month or more may result in your character developing “bedhead,” a messy hairstyle that can be changed at a mirror.
• Villager Comments: When you return to the game after time traveling forwards, your villagers may comment on your absence or ask where you’ve been.
• Turnip Spoilage: If you time travel past 5 AM on the following Sunday, your turnips will spoil and become worthless. This is a crucial consideration for players who invest in the stalk market.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Building construction completed quickly via time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

5. What are the Specific Effects of Time Traveling Backwards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Time traveling backwards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons can have distinct effects compared to moving forward in time. Understanding these differences is essential for making informed decisions about how to manipulate time on your island.

Here’s a breakdown of the specific effects of time traveling backwards:

5.1. Negative Effects

• Turnip Spoilage: Similar to time traveling forwards, time traveling backwards will cause your turnips to spoil and become worthless. This is a significant risk for players who are actively involved in the stalk market.
• Turnip Price Reset: Time traveling backwards resets your turnip prices and disrupts your price trend. This can make it difficult to predict future prices and potentially lead to financial losses.
• Watered Flowers Reset: If you’ve watered your flowers, time traveling backwards will remove the “watered” effect, preventing them from growing or breeding.
• ABD Chain Reset: The Automatic Bell Dispenser (ABD) chain, which rewards you with bonus Nook Miles for consecutive daily visits, will be reset if you time travel backwards.
• Villager Move-In/Out Advancement: Time traveling backwards can advance the process of villagers moving in or out of your island. This can be problematic if you’re trying to prevent a specific villager from leaving.

5.2. Neutral Effects

• Progression: Time traveling backwards does not count as a “new day” in terms of progression. This means that certain daily activities, such as collecting Nook Miles bonuses or receiving new DIY recipes, will not reset.
• Building Construction: Building construction, upgrades, and villager move-ins will not be completed if you time travel backwards.
• Shop Stock: The stock in shops like Nook’s Cranny and Able Sisters will remain the same as it was the first time you visited that day, unless you leave the current week.
• Resource Respawn: Rocks and trees will not refresh their resources if you time travel backwards.
• Mail Delivery: Mail will not be delivered if you time travel backwards.

It’s worth noting that time traveling backwards can be particularly risky due to the potential for turnip spoilage and price resets. Therefore, it’s generally recommended to exercise caution when moving backward in time and to carefully consider the potential consequences.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Spoiled turnips in Animal Crossing after time traveling backwards.

6. What Happens to My Other Games When I Time Travel for Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Time traveling in Animal Crossing: New Horizons can have implications for other games on your Nintendo Switch, particularly those that rely on accurate date and time settings.

Here’s what you need to know about the potential effects of time traveling on your other games:

6.1. Time-Based Events and Activities

Many games feature time-sensitive events, daily bonuses, or other activities that are tied to the system clock. If you time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and then launch another game, it may affect these time-based elements.

For example, if a game offers a daily login bonus, time traveling forward may allow you to claim the bonus multiple times. Conversely, time traveling backward may cause you to miss out on certain events or rewards.

6.2. Save Data and Progression

In some cases, time traveling can potentially impact save data or progression in other games. This is more likely to occur in games that heavily rely on real-time data or have features that are directly affected by the system clock.

For instance, if a game uses the date and time to track progress or unlock content, time traveling may disrupt this process and lead to unexpected results.

6.3. Synchronization Issues

Time traveling can also cause synchronization issues between your Nintendo Switch and online services or other devices. This can be particularly problematic for games that rely on cloud saves or online multiplayer features.

If you time travel and then attempt to sync your save data or play online, you may encounter errors or experience discrepancies in your progress.

6.4. Precautions

To minimize the potential impact of time traveling on your other games, it’s generally recommended to:

• Close Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Ensure that Animal Crossing: New Horizons is completely closed before launching any other games.
• Reset the Clock: After time traveling, consider resetting the system clock to the correct date and time before playing other games.
• Research Potential Effects: Before time traveling, research whether any of your other games are known to be affected by changes to the system clock.
• Back Up Save Data: As a precaution, back up your save data for any games that you’re concerned about.

By taking these steps, you can help mitigate the potential risks associated with time traveling and ensure a smoother gaming experience across all your titles.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Time-sensitive events in another game being affected by Animal Crossing time travel.

7. Do I Have to Wait to Time Travel After Someone Invites My Villager to Live on Their Island?

No, you do not need to wait to time travel after someone invites your villager to live on their island, or vice versa. The process of inviting a villager to move to another player’s island is independent of time travel.

Here’s what you need to know:

7.1. Villager Invitations

When a villager is in boxes (i.e., packing up their belongings to move out), another player can visit your island and invite that villager to move to their island, provided they have an open plot available.

7.2. Time Travel Independence

The act of inviting a villager to move is not affected by time travel. Once a player has invited a villager, that villager will move to their island on the following day, regardless of whether either player time travels.

7.3. No Waiting Required

You do not need to wait for the villager to actually move to the other player’s island before time traveling. You can time travel forward or backward without affecting the villager’s move.

7.4. Same Applies to Invitations

Similarly, if you invite a villager from another player’s island to move to your island, you do not need to wait for the villager to arrive before time traveling. The villager will move to your island on the following day, regardless of any time travel that occurs.

In summary, the process of inviting villagers to move between islands is separate from time travel, so you can feel free to adjust the clock as needed without affecting the villager transfer.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Villager invitation process unaffected by time travel in Animal Crossing.

8. Can I Time Travel to Play Events That Have Passed in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Yes, as of the 2.0.0 update, you can time travel to play events that have passed in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This means that you can experience seasonal events, holidays, and other limited-time activities that you may have missed.

Here’s what you need to know:

8.1. Event Unlock

The 2.0.0 update unlocked all events for all years of the game’s lifespan. This means that you can now time travel to any past date and participate in the events that were active on that date.

8.2. Seasonal Nook Stop Items

In addition to events, the 2.0.0 update also unlocked all seasonal Nook Stop items. This means that you can now time travel to any past season and purchase the seasonal items that were available at the Nook Stop during that time.

8.3. Player Birthdays

Player birthdays can only be experienced once every in-game year. If you time travel back to the same birthday date, it will not restore the birthday event. To experience your birthday again, you must go to a future or past year.

8.4. How to Time Travel for Events

To time travel to a past event, simply adjust the date and time on your Nintendo Switch to the date of the event. Then, launch Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and the event should be active on your island.

8.5. Considerations

While time traveling to past events can be a fun way to experience content that you may have missed, it’s important to consider the potential consequences of time travel, such as turnip spoilage and the disruption of daily routines.

Additionally, keep in mind that some events may have limited-time rewards or activities that can only be obtained during the original event period. Time traveling to the event may allow you to participate in the event, but it may not guarantee that you’ll be able to obtain all of the original rewards.

Overall, the ability to time travel to past events is a welcome addition to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, providing players with more flexibility and control over their gaming experience.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Past events unlocked with time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

9. Why are None of the Cedar Trees Decorated When I Time Traveled to Festive Season?

If you’ve time traveled to the Festive season in Animal Crossing: New Horizons but none of the cedar trees are decorated, there are a few potential reasons for this:

9.1. Time Travel Direction

Make sure that you have time traveled forward into the Festive season, rather than backwards. The cedar trees will only be decorated if you are in the correct time period.

9.2. Cedar Tree Requirement

Ensure that you have at least one cedar tree on your island. Only cedar trees are decorated during the Festive season, so if you don’t have any, you won’t see any decorations.

9.3. Event Activation

Confirm that the Festive season event is actually active in the game. The event typically runs from mid-December to early January, so make sure that you have time traveled to a date within this range.

9.4. Game Update

Verify that you have the latest version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons installed. The Festive season decorations were added in a previous update, so if you’re running an older version of the game, you may not see them.

9.5. Tree Placement

Check the placement of your cedar trees. They need to be in a location where they can be decorated without any obstructions.

If you’ve checked all of these factors and your cedar trees are still not decorated, try restarting your game or your Nintendo Switch. This can sometimes resolve minor glitches or issues.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Decorated Cedar Trees in Festive Season after time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

10. How Do I Time Travel to Farm an NPC Visitor in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Time traveling can be an effective way to farm specific NPC visitors in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Here’s how to do it:

10.1. NPC on Weekday (Except Monday)

If the NPC you’re trying to farm visits on a weekday except Monday, follow these steps:

1. Check the Date: Determine the day on which the NPC is currently visiting your island.
2. Toggle the Date: Toggle the date back and forth between the day the NPC is there and a day they are not. For example, if the NPC is visiting on Tuesday, toggle between Tuesday and Wednesday.
3. Repeat: Repeat this process until the NPC appears with the desired items or dialogue.
4. Collect Rewards: If you are farming an NPC that sends you gifts via mail, be sure to go forward a day to receive their rewards.

10.2. NPC on Monday

If the NPC you’re trying to farm visits on a Monday, follow these steps:

1. Time Travel Forward: Time travel forward a day to Tuesday.
2. Time Travel Back: Time travel back to Monday after 5 AM. This will allow the NPC to respawn.
3. Repeat: Repeat this process until the NPC appears with the desired items or dialogue.

10.3. Considerations

When time traveling to farm NPCs, keep the following in mind:

• Turnip Spoilage: Be careful not to time travel past Sunday at 5 AM, as this will spoil your turnips.
• Villager Move-Outs: Time traveling can potentially affect villager move-outs, so be mindful of this if you have villagers you want to keep.
• Patience: Farming NPCs can take time, so be patient and persistent.

By following these steps, you can effectively time travel to farm NPC visitors and obtain the items or rewards you’re looking for.

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Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: NPC on Weekday (Except Monday).

11. Will My Villagers Move Out If I Time Travel Too Much in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

No, your villagers will not move out if you time travel too much in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This was a feature in previous Animal Crossing games, but it is not the case in New Horizons.

Here’s what you need to know:

11.1. Explicit Permission Required

Villagers in New Horizons will only move out if you give them explicit permission to do so. This means that you have to talk to the villager when they have a thought bubble over their head and agree to let them leave.

11.2. Time Travel Irrelevant

Time traveling has no effect on whether or not a villager will ask to move out. You can time travel as much as you want without worrying about your villagers leaving without your permission.

11.3. Dialogue Changes

While time traveling won’t cause villagers to move out, it may change their dialogue. If you time travel forward a significant amount of time, your villagers may comment on your absence or ask where you’ve been.

In summary, you can time travel freely in Animal Crossing: New Horizons without worrying about your villagers moving out without your consent.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Dialogue changes because of villager permission to move out.

12. Will My Villagers Dislike Me/Lose Friendship Points If I Time Travel Too Much in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

No, your villagers will not dislike you or lose friendship points if you time travel too much in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Time traveling has no negative effect on your friendship levels with your villagers.

Here’s what you need to know:

12.1. Dialogue Changes

While time traveling won’t affect friendship levels, it may change the dialogue of your villagers. If you time travel forward a significant amount of time, your villagers may comment on your absence or ask where you’ve been.

12.2. Friendship Points

Your friendship points with your villagers will remain the same, regardless of how much you time travel. You can continue to interact with them, give them gifts, and complete their requests to maintain and increase your friendship levels.

12.3. No Negative Consequences

There are no negative consequences for time traveling in terms of your relationships with your villagers. You can time travel as much as you want without worrying about them disliking you or losing friendship points.

In conclusion, you can time travel without any concerns about negatively impacting your relationships with your villagers.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Your friendship points with your villagers will remain the same, regardless of how much you time travel.

13. Do the Developers Know I Time Travel? Will They Do Anything to Me About It in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Yes, the developers of Animal Crossing: New Horizons are aware that players time travel. There is even a variable in the game’s data called isTimeSly that tracks whether or not a player has time traveled. However, there are no in-game consequences or punishments for time traveling.

Here’s what you need to know:

13.1. No Punishment

The developers do not penalize players for time traveling. There are no permanent in-game consequences or punishments for altering the system clock.

13.2. Play Your Way

The developers have stated that they want players to enjoy the game in whatever way they choose. Time traveling is a personal choice, and the developers respect that.

13.3. No Restrictions

There are no restrictions on time traveling in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You can time travel as much as you want without worrying about any negative repercussions from the developers.

Ultimately, it is your game, and you are free to play it however you want to. Time traveling is a legitimate way to experience the game, and the developers have no issue with it.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: Animal Crossing developers know that players time travel.

14. What are BCAT or NTP Unlocks in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

BCAT (BroadCast Auto Trigger) and NTP (Network Time Protocol) unlocks are flags that get flipped when the actual date of the intended release of an event or period has arrived in real time in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Collectively, both of these are referred to as “time-locks.”

Here’s what you need to know:

14.1. BCAT Unlocks

BCAT unlocks are typically used for event unlocks. When a BCAT unlock is triggered, it appends an alphabet to the game’s version at the title screen, e.g., 1.6.0 c.

14.2. NTP Unlocks

NTP unlocks are typically used for unlocking Nook Seasonal Shopping items. These do not change any observable value on the title screen or anywhere in-game.

14.3. Manual Unlock

There is no way to manually unlock these flags other than hacking the Switch.

14.4. Time-Locks

BCAT and NTP unlocks are both considered “time-locks” because they prevent certain content from being accessed until the actual date of release has arrived.

14.5. Likely Not Used

As of the 2.0.0 update, it is likely that BCAT and NTP unlocks will no longer be used, as all events and seasonal items have been unlocked for all years of the game’s lifespan.

In summary, BCAT and NTP unlocks are time-locks that were used to control the release of events and seasonal items in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, they are likely no longer in use as of the 2.0.0 update.

Time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Alt: What is BCAT or NTP Unlocks in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

FAQ About Time Travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Here are some frequently asked questions about time travel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons:

1. Is time travel considered cheating?

   No, time travel is not considered cheating. It is a legitimate way to play the game, and the developers have no issue with it.

2. Will time travel affect my relationships with my villagers?

   No, time travel will not affect your relationships with your villagers.

3. Can I time travel to past events?

   Yes, as of the 2.0.0 update, you can time travel to past events.

4. Will my turnips spoil if I time travel?

   Yes, your turnips will spoil if you time travel past Sunday at 5 AM.

5. Can I get banned for time traveling?

   No, you cannot get banned for time traveling.

6. Does time travel affect my island rating?

   No, time travel does not affect your island rating.

7. Will time travel cause my villagers to move out?

   No, time travel will not cause your villagers to move out unless you give them permission to do so.

8. Can I use time travel to speed up building construction?

   Yes, you can use time travel to speed up building construction.

9. Does time travel affect the spawn rate of rare items?

   No, time travel does not affect the spawn rate of rare items.

10. Can I use time travel to get more Nook Miles?

    Yes, you can use time travel to get more Nook Miles by resetting daily tasks.

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