Arriving on Your Island: Comments

Learn how to get your island evaluated in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Discover how to improve your island's star rating with Isabelle and unlock new rewards!

So, you've set up your campsite and a few villagers have moved in. Now what? It's time to talk to Isabelle at Resident Services about your island's evaluation! She'll give your island a star rating from 1 to 5, and this rating is super important. It unlocks cool stuff like K.K. Slider's concert and the Island Designer app! ### How to Get Your Island Evaluated Just head to Resident Services and chat with Isabelle. When she asks how she can help, choose "Island evals." She'll tell you your current star rating, give you some feedback from a villager or special character, and offer tips on how to improve. Your island's rating is based on two main things: development and scenery. You need to hit certain point thresholds in both categories to increase your star rating. Here's a quick rundown of what you need: * 1 Star: This is your starting point. You'll have 1 star if you have 6 villagers or fewer, or if your development points are 80 or less, or your scenery points are 200 or less. Having only 6 villagers can also drop you to 1 star, even if you'd otherwise qualify for 2 stars. * 2 Stars: You'll need 7 or more villagers (this includes those who have moved away). Your development points should be between 80 and 159, and your scenery points between 200 and 269. Just like with 1 star, having only 7 villagers can cap you at 2 stars if you'd otherwise be higher. * 3 Stars: Aim for 8 or more villagers. Development points should be between 160 and 399, and scenery points between 270 and 349. This is a big one – hitting 3 stars unlocks the K.K. Slider concert! * 4 Stars: Keep those 8+ villagers. Development points need to be between 400 and 664, and scenery points between 350 and 449. * 5 Stars: The ultimate goal! You need 8 or more villagers, 665+ development points, and 450+ scenery points. Plus, you can't have any negative conditions on your island, or you'll be stuck at 4 stars. Important Note: You can't get an island evaluation on Sundays in August because of the Fireworks Show, or on New Year's Eve when Resident Services is closed. ### Boosting Your Scenery Score * Plants: Plant lots of flowers (sprouts are 0.5 points, buds/stems are 0.7, and adult flowers are 1 point) and trees (1 point each). Bushes are worth 0.5 points. The total points from trees and bushes can't go over 190. * Decorations: Add DIY furniture! Each unique piece counts. The points you get depend on how many pieces you have and how many unique types you use. Having more than 10 unique types gives you a nice bonus. ### Boosting Your Development Score * Structures: Buildings like the Museum, Nook's Cranny, and Able Sisters are worth 15 points each. Every bridge and incline you build also adds 15 points. * More Decorations: Just like with scenery, placing furniture helps your development score. The points are calculated based on the number of furniture pieces within 8x8 tile blocks. If you have fewer than 5 unique furniture types, you get 1 point per piece. Keep decorating!