K.K. Slider is undoubtedly one of the most beloved characters in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, adored by fans and in-game NPCs alike. Slider has been featured in every Animal Crossing title in some capacity as a performer, and by New Horizons has reached bonafide celebrity status within the game. Slider has quite a bit of lore surrounding him in Animal Crossing, which details how he went from a pup playing a shoebox guitar to a musical superstar.
When players first begin playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons, one of their main goals is to raise their island rating to 3 stars in order to entice K.K. Slider to perform there. After a three-star island is achieved, K.K. Slider will perform every Saturday night in the town plaza from 6 pm to midnight, as well as on players' birthdays. After each performance players will receive a copy of the song to take home with them, which they can play on any in-game music player. New Horizons originally included 95 songs for him to perform, and the Animal Crossing 2.0 update added 12 more titles. Now with a 107 song library - or 110, if the three songs played when players make an invalid request is counted - there are many titles to consider when it comes to picking the dog's best songs.
There are many different factors to consider when it comes to determining the best K.K. Slider songs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The live and recorded versions of each song sound different, with Slider's vocals being absent from the latter. This list of K.K. Slider hits will be based on the recorded version of each song, as that is the version players hear more often. Although most players would agree that most - if not all - K.K. songs on the Animal Crossing: New Horizons soundtrack are an enjoyable listen, these are the ultimate K.K. Slider classics.
ACNH's Best K.K. Slider Songs: Welcome Horizons
It wouldn't be a proper list of Animal Crossing: New Horizons' best K.K. Slider songs without mentioning the game's incredible theme music. The first song K.K. Slider performs on a player's island will be this one, giving it a special place in many players' hearts. The New Horizons theme song is a true masterpiece and fills players with joy through its calm yet triumphant energy. "Welcome Horizons" adds instruments slowly, creating a buildup that leads to an excellent payoff which truly does feel like a warm welcome to the island.
ACNH's Best K.K. Slider Songs: K.K. Dirge
With Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Halloween mascot Jack on the cover, seen sneaking up on K.K. Slider, it's obvious this track is going to be a spooky one. Perfect for a haunted house, pumpkin patch, or graveyard, this spine-chilling tune is one of the most unique in K.K. Slider's repertoire. With a mix of random discordant bangs, a threatening underlying beat, and a haunting theremin, "K.K. Dirge" stands out as one of Slider's best songs.
ACNH's Best K.K. Slider Songs: K.K. Flamenco
It's always a treat when K.K. Slider explores an area of music people may not often encounter in their day-to-day life, and Animal Crossing: New Horizon's "K.K. Flamenco" is a skillful example of just that. Inspired by Spanish Flamenco music, the brilliantly fast guitar and intermittent claps make for an amazing take on the genre.
ACNH's Best K.K. Slider Songs: Forest Life
This Animal Crossing: New Horizons track is a heavy dose of nostalgia for any long-time fan of the series. The song is a remixed version of the theme to the very first Animal Crossing game, and the tune's gentle chimes and twinkly sounds undoubtedly take many players back in time to their first experience with the game. Even outside of the nostalgia factor, this song is a joy to listen to, as it radiates a relaxing, borderline magical feeling throughout its composition.
ACNH's Best K.K. Slider Songs: Surfin' K.K.
"Surfin' K.K." is the ultimate summer-fun song. The track has a somewhat retro, Beach Boys vibe, and perfectly captures the genre of surf rock with its extensive use of reverb and upbeat tempo. When determining the best K.K. Slider songs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the ambiance songs can add to different areas on the island must be taken into account, and this song is begging to be played out of a shell speaker on the beach.
ACNH's Best K.K. Slider Songs: K.K. Metal
At over 150 beats per minute, "K.K. Metal" has one of the fastest tempos out of every song in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The track is an absolute headbanger, with rockin' guitar riffs and solos that really demonstrate Slider's talent with the instrument. The distorted nature of the guitar and aggressive energy of the song truly makes the tune live up to its name - the song is a perfect homage to the metal genre, and one of the most impressive tracks ever produced by K.K. Slider.
ACNH's Best K.K. Slider Songs: Stale Cupcakes
"Stale Cupcakes" is in a league of its own when it comes to K.K. Slider songs. The beautifully melancholic Animal Crossing: New Horizons ballad is a work of art, and conjures the wistful feeling one gets when looking back on old memories of happier times while feeling sad.
ACNH's Best K.K. Slider Songs: K.K. Cruisin'
K.K. Slider's masterful lo-fi hip hop piece is, for lack of a better word, a vibe. The slow beat combined with an intermittent whistling synthesizer sound makes for a song that could be on repeat for quite a while before ever growing tiresome. The song is even played in the homes of some fan-favorite villagers from Animal Crossing: New Horizons, such as Raymond and Francine, who - with the Smug and Snooty personality types - are known for their high standards.
ACNH's Best K.K. Slider Songs: K.K. Disco
There has perhaps never been a better song for an Animal Crossing player and their gyroids to dance along to than "K.K. Disco." Sporting a cover that is likely a reference to the movie Saturday Night Fever, this song hits all the right notes when it comes to a disco hit. "K.K. Disco" shows a lot of variety throughout, with syncopated baselines, a catchy melody, and danceable beats coming together to make one of Animal Crossing: New Horizons' best songs.
ACNH's Best K.K. Slider Songs: Bubblegum K.K.
This is the entry almost every Animal Crossing: New Horizons fan undoubtedly saw coming. Arguably the most famous K.K. Slider song, "Bubblegum K.K." is an earworm of epic proportions. The upbeat tune draws inspiration from bubblegum pop music to create a one-of-a-kind hit that's hard for players not to sing along with their villagers, even if the lyrics are in Animalese.