Invite and add friends – Animal Crossing: New Horizons online multiplayer guide

So you’re super proud of the island you’ve created in Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Switch, and want to share it with the world … or at least some friends. Bringing people to your island is a little tricky at first (this is a Nintendo online game after all), but once you get the hang of it, it’ll be a breeze.

Just a reminder: If you’re connecting to other players online, you’ll need a Nintendo Online Subscription.

Starting on Day 2, head to the Dodo Airlines airport and talk to Orville, the bird behind the counter. Select the option “I want visitors.”

From here you’ll be asked if you want visitors for local or online play. Select online play.

Next, Orville will ask you who you want to invite.

If you’re already Nintendo Switch friends with someone who is also playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can open your gate to your friends only, and they’ll be able to come. For Nintendo Switch friends, select “All my friends!”

If you’re inviting people who aren’t on your Nintendo Switch friends list, select “Invite via Dodo Code.” He’ll ask you who you want to invite via the code. Select “The more the merrier!”

Don’t worry: You won’t get swamped with people unless you share the code on social media or something.

Orville will confirm that you want a public code. Select “Yeah, invite anyone.”

The gate will now open and Orville will give you your temporary five-character Dodo Code.

Anyone you share this code will with be able to join your town. They won’t be able to, say, cut down all your trees, but just be careful who you share it with.

Your friends can now use your Dodo Code by going to the Airport in their town and saying that they want to visit an online town. There’s no need to actively invite them, and you can continue playing as normal until they show up.

Once someone has been to your town at least once, make sure you add them as a Nintendo Switch friend (if they aren’t already). To do this, go to your Profile page on the Switch home screen (your player icon at the top left) and select “Add Friend.” Then select “Search for Users You Played With.” Whoever’s on the top of the list should be your newly-invited buddy.

Once they are Nintendo Switch friends, inviting them in the future becomes much easier. The next time they enter your town or you enter theirs, pull open your Nook Phone, and look at the new app called Best Friends List. There’s a page called Friends that will show you everyone you’ve recently played with. From there, you can select a name and send them an invite to become Best Friends.

Once they accept your Best Friend invite, you’ll be able to use the in-game keyboard to message them whenever they’re online. This will make setting up multiplayer sessions much easier.

When you have a large list of Best Friends, you can have Orville invite them all in a batch, which is super handy — and easier than having to deal with a bunch of Dodo Codes.

Note: Be careful who you choose as your Best Friends. Any Best Friends will have full access to wreck shop in your town, cutting down trees, and swiping whatever they want. Making that internet rando a Best Friend? Probably not a good idea.

Correction: This post has been updated on how you can invite friends to your island using the Nintendo Switch friends list.