Inviting other players to your Animal Crossing: New Horizons Island can pose a risk of theft, so it’s important to know what to look for. Traveling on Dodo Airlines in the game allows players to visit friends’ islands both online and if Switch consoles are nearby, and there may be opportunities for visitors to steal items on the islands they are passing through. Not all items and decorations can be affected by visiting players, but there is a possibility that something will change or disappear if host players are not careful.
Visiting friends’ islands in Nintendo’s cozy game has plenty of benefits, from showing off decorating skills to participating in the Turnip Exchange, so there’s nothing to shy away from entirely. Playing outside of your own island can help keep you fresh if players are feeling burnt out, need inspiration, or just want to trade with other players. Knowing what to expect and how to prepare before taking advantage of online multiplayer can keep your island and the time spent perfecting it safe.
Precautions Before Inviting Someone to Your Animal Crossing Island
There are little things you can do to prepare
In a Reddit thread by Interesting Abalone On the r/acnh subreddit, commenters offered advice on how to prevent potential visitors from stealing things from the islands. Many precautions can be taken before even sending invitations via Dodo codes, taking into account what exactly can be taken or affected on other players’ islands. Items that other players can pick up on the islands they are visiting include any dropped items, items that fall from swaying trees, and any flowers or crops that may be harvested. Only players defined as Best Friends can also use shovels and axes on their island.
A very useful tip is surround the area leaving the airportallowing any visitors to remain in the confined space, the hosts allow them to enter. Preventing guests from entering unwanted areas can help keep the island looking the way you intended, without anything missing or decorative plants moving around. Cleaning, setting up fences, and making sure everything is ready before you even allow anyone to arrive is the easiest way to prevent bad guest behavior.
Also be aware of players who may bring wetsuits during their visit, as they could jump from the pier near the airport and swim around any barriers placed. Communicating with potential visitors is a great way to set boundaries or rules you want for whoever comes to your island. Another suggested rule is to have visitors show images of their inventory at the beginning and end of the visit, making sure they haven’t taken anything without your permission.
Always consider who you give your Dodo code to
It’s smarter to give to trusted friends who aren’t strangers
Knowing who is coming to your island is another great security measure. Many commenters on the thread recommended Do not post your Dodo code publicly onlineso random people don’t visit unannounced. Playing with new people is still a fun way to connect with other players, so it is recommended to only invite 1 or 2 new guests at a time if playing with unfamiliar players. Play with trusted friends who you know won’t rip any bells off the bells or step on the flowers.
If players wish to display the islands for the way they are decorated and not need any negotiation, it is suggested that a dream address be shared instead of a Dodo code. Visiting islands through the Dream Suite is a safer option if you are very worried about theft, while visiting players cannot bring any items, take any items, buy anything, or have any impact on the island. The owner of the island that players are visiting via dream does not even need to be online and the island will not be disturbed in any way.
Theft in ACNH is rare, but it can happen
Multiplayer features should still be used
For reassurance, most comments on the Reddit thread say that theft and disturbances by island visitors rarely happen, even when organizing giveaways online. Most players will respect other people’s islands and simply pass by trees or stray items you forgot to pick up. But as a last resort, if something is missing or changed on your island that you don’t want, forcing the game to close before saving will revert it back to the way it was and will also kick out all current visitors. This is a useful feature in the rare case of mistakes or mischief.
Multiplayer features in Animal crossing Games are something to use and not worry about. For all players, including those who wish to return to New Horizons again to visit other players, protecting your island and your items is easier than expected. With the benefits of traveling to the islands outweighing the risks when you know how to do it safely, players should share their love of the game by experiencing it together. Being a respectful visitor and a good host can go a long way, so your Animal Crossing: New Horizons gameplay remains comfortable and worry-free.
Source: Interesting Abalone/Reddit