How to Play Animal Crossing: New Horizons Online

Inviting Friends

Go to Dodo Airlines and talk to Orville. Dodo Airlines is by the Southern beach in the Southwest corner of the Island. Dodo Airlines is available after the second full day in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Enter the building and talk to Orville at the desk. You need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription and a Nintendo Account in order to play Nintendo Switch games online.

Select I want visitors. It's the second option available when you talk to Orville. The first time you connect online, Orville will explain the type of content players can view and share with each other online. Read the text and select Next. Then select I Understand.

Select Via Online Play. It's the second option in the menu. If your friends are connected to the same network with their own Switch and copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can select Via local play.

Read the rules and select I understand. When you connect online, you will be given a message telling you not to share illegal content, be considerate of others, and don't cheat. Read the text and select Next to view the next page. When you get to the end, select I understand. Afterwards, your Nintendo Switch will connect online. If someone is not following the rules on your island, you can press the minus (-) button and select the option to report them.

Select who you want to invite. There are three options you can use to invite people. Be careful who you invite. Untrustworthy friends may do damage to your island. The three options are as follows: All my friends: This allows anyone on your Nintendo Switch friends list to visit your island. Only my best friends: The first time you connect online, Orville installs an app on your in-game smartphone that allows you to select your best friends. This option only invites those people on your best friends list. You must play online with a friend at least once before you can add them as a best friend. Invite via a Dodo Code: This gives you an invite code you can share with your friends. They will be required to enter the code in order to play on your island.

Select Roger!. Orville will open the gate. If the friends you invited are online, they can choose to visit your island. If you want to stop allowing people to visit your island, return to Dodo Airlines and talked to Orville. Select Please Close the Gate. You can also press the minus (-) button and select the option to end the online session.

Visiting a Friend

Go to Dodo Airlines and talk to Orville. Dodo Airlines is by the Southern beach in the Southwest corner of the Island. Dodo Airlines is available after the second full day in Animal Crossing: New Horizon. Enter the building and talk to Orville at the desk. You need to have a Nintendo Online subscription in order to play Nintendo Switch games online.

Select I wanna fly. It's the second option in the menu. The first time you connect online, Orville will explain the type of content players can view and share with each other online. Read the text and select Next. Then select I Understand.

Select Via Online Play. It's the second option in the menu. If your friends are connected to the same network with their own Switch and copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can select Via local play.

Select Search for a friend or Search via Dodo Code. If you have a Dodo code, select the option to Search via Dodo Code. Otherwise, select "Search for a friend" to see who is online.

Select a friend's island. If you select the option to search for a friend, it will display a list of friends online. Select a friend's island you want to visit.

Select Depart. This will connect you to your friend's island online and take you to their island. You can return to your own island by press the minus (-) button and select the option to end the session, or returning to Dodo Airlines and ask Orville to take you home.