Animal Crossing Amiibo cards - what are they and how do they work?

Learn which Amiibo cards are compatible with Animal Crossing: New Horizons and how they work in our overview guide.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is on the way, and Nintendo has confirmed that it will have Amiibo support for both Amiibo figures and cards. Wait, Amiibo cards? If you’re not a big Animal Crossing fan, you may not have even known that Amiibo aren’t just the collectable figurines. Welcome to a whole new world, friend. The Animal Crossing series has tens of Amiibo cards used to bring characters into your parks, so in this guide we’ll explain what Animal Crossing Amiibo cards are, and how they’ll work in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

What are Amiibo cards for Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Animal Crossing New Horizons Amiibo cards how they work
Isabelle was the first Animal Crossing Amiibo card. 
© Nintendo

Introduced for Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Amiibo cards are a cheaper alternative to the figurines, allowing both Nintendo produce and players to collect many more of them. How many you ask? Nintendo has produced 400 Animal Crossing Amiibo Cards so far in four series. Each featuring different characters as well as outfits for favorites like Isabelle.

By scanning them in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can invite that villager to your camp. It’s not clear yet if they’ll join as a permanent member, or just stop by for a brief visit. What we do know is that they’ll become available for Animal Crossing: New Horizon’s Photopia island, which lets you arrange photos of everyone you’ve met.

What are Amiibo Cards Animal Crossing New Horizons
There are 400 Amiibo cards for the Animal Crossing series.
© Nintendo

You can view the entire collection on Nintendo’s animal-crossing website by clicking here. We’d list them all out but honestly, you don’t want to scroll for 20 pages. Just know that if you like a specific villager, they’re probably included. The website also lists which games the Amiibo card is compatible for, with most showing Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, and Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival. At the time of writing, the website has not been updated for Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons compatible Amiibo cards

As stated above, the official Animal Crossing website has not been updated to list which Amiibo cards are compatible with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, the recent Direct for the game stated that “the game supports Amiibo figures and Amiibo cards from the Animal Crossing series.” They haven’t confirmed that all 400 Amiibo cards will work, but the video does show the following cards:

Animal Crossing New Horizons compatible amiibo cards
We don't yet know how many Amiibo cards are compatible with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. 
© Nintendo
  • Sable
  • Timmy
  • Celeste
  • Fauna
  • Bill
  • Mint
  • Bunny

We’d like to hope that all the Amiibo figures and Amiibo cards are supported so all your friends from previous titles can say hello! We’ll let you know as soon as Nintendo confirms exactly how it works.

How to use Amiibo cards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

How to use Amiibo Cards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Find a Nook Stop to use your Amiibo card in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
© Nintendo

To use Amiibo cards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons you have to visit a Nook Stop. These are small green computer terminals (they look like standalone ATMs) inside Residence Services. Use one and select the Amiibo functionality and you’ll be asked to touch the Amiibo figure or card to the Nintendo Switch’s NFC point (on the right Joy-Con).

Return to your campsite afterwards and you’ll find that the character you registered has popped by for a visit! Hooray! It’s always good when a friend drops by. We hope you tidied up the camp in time!

Want more Animal Crossing: New Horizons information? Check the links below!

That’s everything we know about Amiibo cards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons so far. We’ll be sure to let you know as soo as more information on how many are supported in the new game. Which card or character is your favorite? Let us know in the comments down below!

Associate Editor

Henry Stenhouse serves an eternal punishment as the Associate Editor of AllGamers. He spent his younger life studying the laws of physics, even going so far as to complete a PhD in the subject before video games stole his soul. Confess your love of Super Smash Bros. via email at henry@moonrock.biz, or catch him on Twitter.

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