A passionate Animal Crossing enthusiast has skillfully recreated their town from Animal Crossing: New Leaf within their Animal Crossing: New Horizons island, an undertaking that required over 2,000 hours and spanned multiple gaming profiles.
The dedicated fan, known as justplainrii, shared their remarkable journey on Reddit, posting side-by-side comparison photos of their New Leaf town and New Horizons island. They even synchronized the date and time stamps across both games, highlighting the meticulous attention to detail. Many commenters expressed admiration for their commitment to authenticity, impressed by the visual representation of the evolution in gameplay mechanics, music, and graphics.
I’ve spent over 2390 hours across eight profiles turning my New Horizons island into a replica of my town from New Leaf byu/justplainrii inAnimalCrossing
Reflecting on this monumental accomplishment, justplainrii stated, “I hope you all enjoy the pictures and the dream! I’ve played this game since day one of release, but I’m still finding ways to improve my island.”Their impressive project, which has consumed nearly 2,400 hours in New Horizons, necessitated the creation of eight profiles to access character houses that serve as substitutes for buildings not available in New Leaf.
Delving Into This New Leaf Recreation
A Memorable Birthday Celebration

Justplainrii’s attention to detail in this recreation is truly remarkable, with landscaping, structures, and interior designs faithfully mirroring those of their original New Leaf town. Notably, forced perspective techniques were employed to enhance the scale of various designs in the updated game, featuring animal-themed decorations and items that represent beloved villagers from New Leaf. The user plans to create an in-depth island tour video for YouTube and has shared their New Horizons Dream Code, “DA-3073-6416-1620,”inviting other players to visit.
Motivated by the anniversary of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which was celebrated on March 20, justplainrii embarked on this project some time ago. To ensure optimal accuracy, they utilized a Nintendo 3DS to reference and capture screenshots of their original village. This dedication garnered widespread appreciation from fellow fans, many of whom nostalgically reminisced about New Leaf’s structured town environment compared to the more relaxed and open-ended approach of New Horizons.
The Creative Possibilities in Animal Crossing
Embracing Relaxed Gameplay & Endless Creativity





Animal Crossing: New Horizons has become the quintessential cozy game and for good cause. These relaxing games can even provide mental health benefits, prioritizing leisurely activities such as planting or fishing over high-stakes narratives and chaotic interpersonal dramas. Although there have been no new content updates since 2021, the game’s significant customizability and vibrant community continue to keep it alive and well.
The Animal Crossing franchise has garnered a devoted following, particularly with its latest iteration on the Nintendo Switch. The success of this game underscores the appeal of creative expression and personal storytelling through gameplay. As anticipation builds for the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2, fans remain optimistic about the future trajectory of the Animal Crossing franchise.