When it comes to Animal Crossing: New Horizons islands, it is safe to say that individuality is not lacking. Many dream island codes chronically pop up and gain traction as ACNH players can delve in and explore the ingenuity and imaginations of other fans of the series. Exploring islands modeled around major pop-cultural influences in books, film, and television have been quite popular.
Seeing extravagant cities built out of the limited and random items found throughout the game keep popping up on Reddit, Pinterest, and Instagram. However, there are some islands that are more fixated on than others. Not a bad thing, but here are a few that have been overlooked in comparison. These creators are incredibly talented to say the least.
10 Evergarden: DA-1420-1797-3096
The town of Evergarden is truly a unique among towns mostly composed of cute cottage core, whimsical, and pop culture. None of these things are bad of course, but finding a town that feels like a dystopia was a truly welcome sight. Whether the winter it is set in is an actual winter or a nuclear winter makes no difference.
It is like being in a charming version of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome set in a nuclear winter with the dark whimsicality of Walter Murch’s Return to Oz, with a sprinkling of Snowpiercer. It’s truly unique. Dystopian aesthetics aside, this town also still manages to have an almost fairy-like quality about it in addition to its other intrigues. It is definitely worth a look.
9 Nosferatu: DA-9758-5792-0214
A breath of fresh air. This town does a renaissance gothic elegantly. It manages to evoke feelings of a darker Alice in Wonderland. That alone should scream fun. It is set at twilight and the creator beautifully uses lighting, stone, and plants to enhance the spell that puts a hold on a player the minute they enter.
Apart from wonderful Zelda references, such as many nods to the Sheikah people and Majora's Mask, this town does much of its own thing quite beautifully. The twilight setting gives it a fairy-like quality that is timeless.
8 Bunny: DA-8751-3707-4020
This one was a little surprising. At first glance it appears to be a French-inspired village. Upon closer inspection it was apparent that it was a Disney’s Beauty and the Beast inspired village. Whether players are a fan of the film or not, or a Disney adult or not; the amount of details from the film were lovingly imbedded into this town.
There is a hidden castle that is home to not just the rose, but to Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Mrs. Potts. Belles’s Library, the ballroom, and the dining room are all within as well. Even the West wing housing the rose is…well it’s on the west side. Which is a truly welcome sight.
7 Akishima: DA-0691-1832-2139
A huge treat for fans of the Pokemon series. A fun frolic for players who are less familiar. Regardless, this town’s creator recreated a good majority of the map from the original Pokemon Red and Blue games. The familiarity for many gamers might leave some of them completely forgetting that they are not playing Pokemon.
Some home interiors have been decked out as Red and Blue’s homes, the Professor Oak’s lab, and even a Pokemon Center. In each of the towns represented from the game, there is at least one villager whose home is decked out as said town's Pokemon gym. It is quite easy to tell that this creator has a lot of love and nostalgia for the franchise, as it can be seen in their creations. The vast majority of the game has been translated in the Animal Crossing format in loving detail.
6 Cornelia: DA-4398-2460-1263
An awesome city layout. The houses of Cornelia are cleverly placed into town homes and apartment complexes. There are a lot of details even in the alleyways that have trash. The trash in the streets just adds so much ambiance. On top of that the streets are nicely laid out among objects that make this town feel like it is bustling with activity.
There is a school that looks like it came out of a popular anime. It is definitely worth a look for players who want to have an escape from the cottage core and farming locals.
5 Oame: DA-9947-0504-5781
The town of Oame is a wonderful destination for not just fans of Over the Garden Wall, but for players looking for a different kind of experience when exploring dream addresses. The Unknown, for players who are less familiar, is basically limbo for the world between worlds. The worlds between the living and the dead. Apart from many brilliant references to the series, there are quite a few, rather funny yet morbid references to death in general throughout.
One of which is a shrine at the Unknown’s entrance that pays respects to villagers who have “moved on”. The fact that the creator created a whole woodland world shrouded in mist, that is actually maneuverable is equally impressive. Truly a hidden gem that Animal Crossing fans should definitely check out.
4 Nunnalia: DA-1862-2456-1929
This town is a lovely example of when urban and nature live in perfect harmony. The balance of plants and trees among cars and modern amenities make this town appear timeless. It brings a smile because it somehow brings a certain familiarity to all who enter it. Going from the town center to the outskirts of the town center is very cohesive.
It just all merges together perfectly. What is more, the town of Nunnalia looks like it could be the setting of the next Studio Ghibli film. It really does have that kind of ambiance.
3 Gardenia: DA-4265-7443-3777
This beautiful town pays homage to the time periods between the Medieval, Tudor, and Renaissance eras. Apart from the beautiful time-inspired architecture, a lot of loving detail has been given to the signs and overall layout. It has so much going on but never to the point of clutter.
It is easy to maneuver around, and the forest areas make players feel transported into Sherwood Forest. The interiors have a lot of beautiful and thoughtful details that are worth checking out as well.
2 Disney: DA-5692-0203-6659
The town of Disney. Although actual Disney related paraphernalia is scarce in this town, the misnomer of a name should not be overlooked. The wonderful thing about this town is its amazing fall theme. What is more, is that the carefully designed panels made into places of business help to create another dimension of life into this Animal Crossing town.
It literally transports the player back again to Halloween in the times of yesteryear, and what it truly felt like. So much love was put into this town, and it really shows.
1 Elmertown: DA-5987-9629-0808
Don’t let the name be misleading. There have been dream codes that have paid homage to Studio Ghibli. Yet Elmertown, has done so in such a wonderfully cohesive way that it needs to be shared. With an entryway to the tunnel from Spirited Away. In fact, there are several references made to it throughout the town. What is more, is that this is one of the towns that doesn’t just decorate the town outside, but also utilizes the inside of villagers homes to be included in the Ghibli world in well-thought-out ways. For example, the white wolf, Fang, has a home that has been decked out like the forest from Princess Mononoke. Fang, himself, taking the place of the white wolves under Moro. Or Fang could just be Moro...regardless, it is awesome. Other villagers have been utilized in a clever and similar fashion.
Sosuke and Lisa’s home from Ponyo, can be seen resting on the beach with Ponyo’s bucket. The paddy fields and home from Totoro rest in a beautiful countryside near a small town featuring the antique shop from Whisper of the Heart. Kingsbury containing Sophie’s hat ship and Howl’s Moving Castle have also been rendered in amazing detail. There is even a nod to Porco Rosso! There are plenty of other Ghibli references hidden throughout. This town truly will bring a smile to any player or Ghibli fan’s face. Hat's off to the creator.