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Eagle-eyed players may actually catch some of these villagers doing new and hilarious things in the act. Moreover, these “special” interactions do add more life to the already-lively nature of villagers in the game. Players may want to look out for these secret and charming villager interactions.
Updated December 31, 2022, by Rhenn Taguiam: While Animal Crossing: New Horizons hasn’t gotten any major updates slated for 2023, the game has got enough frequent content in the form of holidays and special events that lead players can still enjoy tending to their Village and interacting with their Villages. In fact, despite the game’s 2020 release date, some fans and players are by now discovering certain quirks and qualities of villagers that they don’t often share on the get-go. If lucky, players may be able to spot a new habit or two developing in their residents. These include displaying certain Gifts, getting in conflict with specific villagers, participating in gossip, playing or singing together, or a quick hack on observing villagers who generally avoid being seen while doing things.
17 Villagers May Display Gifts
One quirky thing villagers do in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is to display the Gifts they’ve received from players. However, the act of displaying Gifts isn’t as random as players expect. In fact, certain villagers may prefer displaying certain Gifts over others. For instance, some villagers may choose not to display wall-mounted furniture as too much of them in a villager’s inventory may prompt them to remove other furniture as well.
Likewise, things such as certain clothes (except shoes), food and drinks, and even furniture and art may be displayed by villagers when hand-gifted, mail-gifted, or provided as Birthday Gifts. Certain Gifts only become displayable when given via Mail or on birthdays, such as party poppers, ocarinas, tambourines, balloons, and pinwheels. These displayed items may also depend on seasons, such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons winter-themed snow fashion or tropical summers.
16 Villagers Like Gossiping Too
Another interesting thing among villagers that may happen throughout a player’s Animal Crossing: New Horizon playthrough is engaging in gossip. This may happen on almost any day, except holidays like New Year in Animal Crossing: New Horizons where villagers get exclusive lines. Sometimes, villagers may end up talking to players about “the hot new item” in town. These happen at random, and oftentimes involve villagers spending more time with each other and even ending up in each other’s homes.
Unfortunately, these things only last as gossip, however. No matter how long a villager spends in another villager’s home, they don’t seem to ever progress in terms of their relationship. In fact, players also don’t have ways of making these villagers “fall in love” with each other, with players likewise not having a way to fall in love with their villagers.
15 Villagers Fight Too
Though all villages in New Horizons become a safe haven for players to just chill and have fun, the case isn’t always the same for villagers. In fact, players who eavesdrop or jump into conversations between two villagers may realize that they stumbled upon an upcoming or ongoing fight. Two villagers of different natures might find themselves at odds over the silliest things.
In fact, players may end up talking with villagers that had just ended a fight with another villager. These conflicts may not necessarily be random as well. Oftentimes, villagers end up in fights due to different personalities. For instance, Snooty villagers may end up bickering with Lazy villagers, since Snooty villagers are prone to be annoyed by the littlest things. Even Normal villagers, considered the most neutral type, may get in trouble with Sisterly and Cranky villagers. Thankfully, fights don’t bad enough to involve Tom Nook and Isabella. However, players may have to be a messenger and send gifts from the offending villager to the other, for the sake of ending the fight.
14 They Can Give Each Other Clothes
Players might find themselves surprised that the villager they’re visiting is wearing new clothes - and it’s not the ones they’ve given them! As it turns out, villagers can give each other clothes. Sadly, since not all villagers have the best fashion tastes, not all of these clothes end up the best in their wares. Players who aren’t satisfied with their villagers’ new ‘dos can reach Isabella to ask for that villager to wear something else.
However, players fascinated by the idea of clothes exchanges can try to wait it out, and see which villagers give gifts to each other. This might give hints as to which villagers the others like the most, and which villagers don’t get along with.
13 Villagers Main Different Kinds Of Art
Aside from roaming around and talking funny, villagers do have a penchant for the arts. In fact, they produce different kinds of artwork depending on their nature. In New Horizons, some can actually give each other artwork or sell them to the players.
Male villagers may usually mail residents some pieces of art, while females don’t really like sending art to players. In terms of nature, Lazy and Jock villagers have a tendency to send any kind of art, be it real or fake. Meanwhile, Cranky villagers can send sculptures, again regardless of authenticity. Players need to be wary that Smug villagers will always send fake artwork to the player.
12 Some Can Do Events In Silly Places
Players know that villagers become funny in the weirdest of circumstances. This might be related to something they’ve said, or something they’re currently doing. Even funnier, they have no idea that what they’re doing is totally bonkers. Sometimes, villagers tend to do tasks and challenges in the silliest of places, to the point that it’s entertaining.
For instance, fishing tourneys will need villagers to go fish in their favorite spots. Sometimes, villagers will spot a hidden pond that obviously doesn’t have any fish in it. To make things funnier, players can even blatantly terraform their island to include these weird areas, just to see if villagers will fall for their ruse.
11 Villagers Need Privacy
All villagers tend to be friendly to the player by nature. Even the crankiest villagers have a means of charming the player. Sometimes, it’s these unique attitudes that make villagers extremely lovable. However, players might realize that some villagers need more privacy than others. To make matters weirder, villagers actually show their need for privacy instead of outright telling the player.
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For instance, the Octopus Marina really loves to sing but hates it when other people look at her. Sometimes, Marina will stop singing if players attempt to record her! Moreover, if players sit beside villagers, sometimes these villagers will stand up and do something else.
10 Villagers Can Sing Different Songs
Despite the capability of villagers to sing, not everyone enjoys singing their hearts out. Thankfully, New Horizons gives singing villagers the opportunity to showcase their wonderful voices. In turn, villagers like Lily (frog), Shari (monkey), Freya (wolf), and even Marina (octopus) almost always end up singing every day. Moreover, villagers usually sing songs already playing in the background. As such, it’s always a delight to see groups of three or four villagers singing the same song.
Interestingly, some villagers actually sing different songs at the same time! Sometimes, Marina might sing K.K. Slider’s “Two Days Ago” if it’s on the radio. However, Pietro from a distance may end up singing another song. Players who want to make villagers sing certain songs could actually “trick” them into doing it. This requires placing a musical playing device such as a jukebox and playing a particular kind of song. Once a villager approaches the jukebox, it’s very likely they will sing along to the song in question.
9 Villagers Can Play Instruments
Thanks to the addition of instruments as furniture on islands, players can enjoy the company of their favorite music. Granted, the game doesn’t offer extremely technical features to create elaborate songs. However, some players record bits of their characters playing and creating fun tunes. Aside from singing, villagers themselves actually demonstrate the ability to play various instruments!
Players who set up instruments within the vicinity of villagers can see them try them out for themselves. As such, some villagers end up riffing with a guitar or beating with drums. Some villagers even try turning up the beat with the DJ’s Turntable. An interesting tidbit here is how groups of villagers can play multiple instruments at any one time. This usually involves players placing multiple instruments close to each other, and waiting for one villager to start playing any one of them. If players are lucky enough to have a group of villagers in that same area, some of them might follow the lead of the first villager and play any of the other free instruments.
8 Villagers Have Best Friends
Websites, guides, and even sheer observation help players see that certain villagers really fit in with certain village traits. This caveat explains why, for example, Jock villagers don’t go well with Lazy-types. In turn, Sisterly villagers may mingle well with Peppy villagers. However, sometimes these villagers just end up becoming extremely close friends - even if players don’t realize it.
Some players might notice that certain villagers always end up in each others’ houses whenever they visit. Sometimes, these villagers also end up in the same areas. For instance, Bianca (Peppy Tiger) and Eunice (Normal Sheep) may develop a deep bond where they even go on Museum trips together!
7 Villagers Have Play-Dates
Aside from close friends, some villagers seem to hint towards forming romantic relationships. Granted, a lot of these situations stem from a player’s own headcanon. However, certain villager pairs demonstrate dialogue that only comes from romantic films.
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Players might observe that oldies-seeming Octavian (Cranky Octopus) and plant-loving Ankha (Snooty Cat) usually end up talking with each other. And when players join the conversation, Octavian will want to tell Ankha something but hesitates with the player’s presence. Players can also observe certain villagers using sweet reactions when interacting with each other, even if the player isn’t directly near them.
6 Villagers Get Sick
Fans might be aware that villagers aren’t always a happy bunch. In fact, some villagers end up getting sick - most of the time off-screen. In most cases, players will get surprised that a villager “looks” sad or ends up spending a lot of time at home. When they talk to them, that’s when players get surprised that a particular villager is sick.
Thankfully, players can help remedy the situation by giving the said villager some medicine that will surely lift their spirits in no time! Some players may have had sick villagers in the past, but some might be surprised to encounter this for the first time.
5 Villagers Talk About Previous Players
When players end up with more than five villagers, it’s likely that some of them might decide to leave. Interestingly, some players also end up asking villagers to leave to make room for others they meet on Mystery Island tours or in the campsite. If all goes well, players end up with villagers they like the most. At worst, players can settle for the ones they’ve got.
However, it’s interesting to note that players who get villagers from other villages might hear about their experience with the previous village owner. Granted, the sharing doesn’t immediately constitute backstabbing. The fact that villagers retain some of their previous memories makes villagers seem more realistic compared to other games. Acquiring a villager this way makes them much rarer compared to finding the same villager from a Mystery Island. After all, the reminiscing component means that one villager is the only kind of that same variant to have come to a particular player. Likewise, trading a villager for another player’s Village will likely have that villager talk about its previous owner as well.
4 Villagers Work Out Anywhere
Players who have Jock villagers understand that anywhere and anywhen can be a time to dish out that exercise routine. In turn, some villagers can end up in the strangest of places, switch to their gym clothes, and get to making bicep curls. Some players may pride in the dedication of these villagers - especially when they puff and huff after sets. However, some players might also find this factoid too funny to ignore.
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For instance, some players might want to explore the island to find where their Jocks have decided to do their routine. Most of the time, Jocks lift their weights at home or outside their house. However, some also end up exercising in the middle of the beach!
3 Villagers Lose Random Things
Most of the time, villagers just roam around the village enjoying the view and doing most chores. As such, some villagers end up fishing, catching butterflies, or even running around. However, it’s interesting to note that some villagers end up carrying things that emulate some sort of day-to-day activity. For instance, a lot of villagers end up carrying books as they explore forests or flowers, as though they’re studying plants. Interestingly, some villagers actually lose items!
In most instances, players will find random items scattered on their island that look like trash but end up belonging to a villager. These villagers will tell players whether they’ve lost an item or not. A dialogue option will appear that prompts the player to give the lost item back to the villager, which will make them incredibly happy!
2 Villagers Write Letters To Players
Villagers slowly teach players various reactions they can use to express their emotions. In turn, players slowly get quite a healthy set of reactions that add life to their experiences in the village, especially when players do things like tasks. However, some villagers take this a step further and actually write letters to players!
Players who regularly check their mailbox might be surprised to see letters from some villagers around the island. Most of them just check in with the player and how they feel. However, sometimes these villagers also send gifts alongside their letters!
1 Villagers Stop When Players Look
Despite the friendliness of most villagers, a lot of them do have unique personalities that set them apart from one another. One of these common traits would be shyness - where some villagers actually stop what they’re currently doing when they discover the player is looking at them.
For instance, Marina (Normal Octopus) loves singing and closes her eyes while doing it most of the time. However, she pauses almost immediately when she realizes that the player is within her vicinity. Some players may want to try to catch these villagers “in the act” so they can enjoy the moment in the same way these villagers do. To avoid an “awkward” encounter or a villager stopping a cute moment, players may want to hang out in a location just before the camera pans out and recenters to their location. This tricks the game into thinking the player isn’t observing, even if the player can actively see that villager in action.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch.
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