Complete List of Retro Nintendo Games in Animal Crossing: New Horizons & Guide on How to Play Them

The Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update brings an exciting twist to gameplay, inviting players to indulge in nostalgic experiences by emulating classic Nintendo titles on their islands. Whether rekindling memories of beloved games or eager to seize new items, this comprehensive guide outlines how to unlock every retro Nintendo console available in the game and the essential steps to enjoy them.

Unlocking Retro Nintendo Consoles in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Steps to Fully Upgrade the Hotel’s Catalog

Retro Nintendo consoles available in Animal Crossing: New Horizons — All retro Nintendo consoles available in the hotel catalog in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

To unlock the new Retro Nintendo Consoles in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players must complete various tasks for Kappn’s family-run hotel. The consoles will become accessible after upgrading the hotel catalog for the third and final time. While there are some uncertainties regarding exact requirements within the community, our research has revealed the following tasks that can facilitate unlocking:

A minimum of a 3-star island rating is necessary.
All 8 hotel rooms and the VIP room must be decorated.
A tourist needs to be brought to the hotel, and a VIP room must be prepared for them.
Complete a total of 50 DIY requests for Kappn.

If your island’s rating drops below 3 stars at any point before catalog unlock, you must restore it to the required level before accessing the catalog. This is true regardless of the number of completed DIY tasks or decorated rooms.

Upon meeting these criteria, speaking with Grams will enable you to purchase retro Nintendo consoles from the new Special tab in the hotel catalog. Note that players can buy only 5 items daily, with purchases arriving via mail the following in-game day. To acquire every retro console, you’ll need a total of 3, 500 Hotel Tickets.

The catalog features seven retro Nintendo consoles; however, only six unique games are playable since two Super NES consoles share the same game title. Below is a detailed list of the available consoles:

Console Name	Game	Price (Hotel Tickets)
Famicon	Clu Clu Land	500
Famicon Disk System	Ice Hockey	500
Game Boy	Dr. Mario	500
NO	Ice Climber	500
Super Famicon	Pon Panel	500
Super NES (NTSC version)	F-Zero	500
Super NES (PAL version)	F-Zero	500

The hotel shop also features the Nintendo Switch 2, which, unlike the other consoles, does not include a playable mini-game.

How to Play Retro Nintendo Games in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

To dive into the retro gaming experience within Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players must fulfill the following requirements:

Own the specific in-game console that includes the desired game.
Have an active Nintendo Switch Online Membership.

To begin playing a game, position the corresponding console in your home or on your island. Interact with it using the A button to turn it on; this will display the game it hosts, with an option to play or exit.

Selecting to play will initiate an internet check for your Nintendo Switch Online membership. Once verified, you can start the game.

Upon entering the game, a title screen with gameplay options will appear. Use the – button on the left Joy-Con to cycle through available game modes, and press the + button on the right Joy-Con to select your preferred mode. To hide button guidance, swiftly press down on the top of the right Joy-Con’s joystick, centering the game on your screen.

To conclude your gaming session, simply hold the ZL and ZR buttons until the screen goes black. This action will end the game, returning you to your island in front of the console you were utilizing.

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