With Animal Crossing: New Horizons entering its third year as a popular title for the Nintendo Switch, many have become familiar with the list of rotating events. February is an exciting time for New Horizons fans, as the warmer weather brings an end to winter holidays and snow, and introduced colorful and exciting events to participate in. While there aren't any new major events planned so far for New Horizons this year, many will likely be excited to join in on previous events for another chance at special items.
New Horizons gameplay recently was expanded thanks to the 2.0 update and Happy Home Paradise DLC released in November. The additions include farming, cooking, furniture, and new mechanics for players to use while decorating their islands. The update was a much-needed boost for gameplay, as many were reaching the end of what could be done both in the game's main objectives and in post-game island designing. The additional content may also help refresh late winter and early spring events, offering new ways for players to set up and decorate before jumping in on everything the events have to offer.
Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that the Animal Crossing: New Horizons events from last year will be receiving any large updates to add new content. However, this is likely not a surprise for players, as the events of 2021 were largely unchanged from the previous year. It also seems March may be a particularly slow month for New Horizons fans, with Festivale taking place at the end of February. Because of this, players may want to take the time in March to prepare their islands for springtime events in April like Bunny Day and Cherry Blossom season or plan a self-thrown party to kick off spring in the middle of the month.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Valentine's Day Event 2022
As with many smaller holidays in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Valentine's Day is not one for players to get particularly excited about. The event will take place on February 14, allowing players to purchase the Heart-Shaped Bouquet and Chocolate Heart from Nook Shopping. Currently, it hasn't been announced if further items will be available for 2022, so those who already have passed the options may not need to worry about obtaining them.
To help make Valentine's Day more interesting for players, however, a personal event or party can always be hosted on a player's island. This could include a gift exchange, and players could each bring a type of food to share while visiting. Couples playing Animal Crossing could also use the event as an excuse to set up a cute, in-game date with a partner, allowing them to exchange chocolates and bouquets with each other in a specially decorated space.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Festivale Event 2022
This year, Animal Crossing: New Horizons will celebrate the second year of Festivale on February 28. Hosted by the flamboyant, dancing Peacock Pavé, players will have the chance to dress up alongside the villagers and other NPCs on their islands and dance in the plaza. Players will collect different colored feathers to return to Pavé, which can be exchanged for furniture, DIY recipes, and a Festivale Float.
Players will want to hang on to a few of their feathers, however, to ensure they have the needed ingredients to craft the Festivale-themed DIY recipe items. Players can also exchange feathers with villagers to change what color they have. The exchanges are based on the color of outfit the villager is wearing.
When The Snow Will Melt In Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2022
While the glistening white snow coating Animal Crossing: New Horizons islands can be a great addition to festive decorations and cozy outfits throughout the winter, by January many players are just as ready for warmer weather on their islands as they are outside the game. February marks the end of the snowy seasons for the Northern Hemisphere in New Horizons, with the big melt occurring on February 25. For many, this is the time to pack up winter decorations and start rearranging for beach-themed gear and Cherry Blossom decorations crafted the previous year. While the change in the seasons isn't considered an official event in New Horizons, the promise of warmer weather could be the perfect reason for players to throw a party on their island with friends. The melting snow could also be the best time to strip an island clean of previous decorations and themes, giving players a fresh slate to work with as the green grass and leafy trees return to brighten things up.
Creating themed island designs is one of the most popular aspects of New Horizons, and starting the warm seasons out with a dramatic Harry Potter-inspired sitting area or a Pride and Prejudice-themed garden could be just the thing to spruce up an island that has sat under snow all winter. While many may be hopeful for a more eventful spring and summer in Animal Crossing: New Horizons during 2022, it doesn't seem like Nintendo has plans to continue adding content to the game. During the release of the 2.0 update and paid DLC, it was confirmed the expansions were the last large-scale content updates planned for New Horizons. While no further information was given on what the future could hold for the Animal Crossing series, it is possible a new game could be in the works. While this may be disappointing for those still enjoying New Horizons' gameplay, many may also be excited for a chance to try something new.
Despite this, there is still the chance a smaller slice-of-life update for New Horizons could release alongside small changes in events during the course of 2022. Adding new DIY recipes or small differences in gameplay like what was seen during 2021 for Bunny Day and May Day, could be the perfect opportunity for Nintendo to address the ongoing issues with the crafting system and tool degradation that have persisted in Animal Crossing: New Horizons since the release of the game in 2020. While much is still a mystery for the popular, slice-of-life simulation game, hopefully, players will receive more information as the weather continues to warm up.