Animal Crossing: New Horizonsis a definitively cozy game, but simulatingSquid Gameis the perfect way to put a dark spin on it. Since the initial release of the hit Netflix showSquid Game, fans ofAnimal Crossinghave been using different parts of the show for inspiration for different games and design elements in the game. There was even a series of different YouTube streamers inviting players to take part in different mini-games for impressive Bell prizes rather than their lives.
With the recent release of the second season ofSquid Game, Gi-Hun is back in the arena, andthis might be the perfect time to try out some of the new games on the shores ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. Thelast major update forNew Horizonsalso came after the initial wave of popularity for the TV series, so there’s plenty that’s been added in between seasons.
10Venture Into The Design Portal
Custom Designs Are The Perfect Fan Content
Animal Crossing: How To Unlock More Custom Design Slots
Animal Crossing: New Horizons players who are looking to get more custom design slots are in luck, as they are relatively easy to acquire!
For more dedicated players,the Design Portal is a great way to get some of the more niche itemslike the honeycomb cutouts or even the paper ddakji squares for recreating scenes. There are also some more specific patterns like the black coffins with pink bows being available as paths or umbrella patterns.
9A Sinister Fashion Moment Ahead
Not-So-Innocent Cosplay
Not only are there numerous design options available in the Design Portal forpaths or other environmental decorations, but there is also an assortment ofSquid Game-themed outfits for players to explore. From the dress that the robot wears in the Red Light Green Light Game to each level of security staff,Animal Crossing: New Horizonscustom designs have an outfit for every cosplayer. These are easily accessible and can be found by searching forSquid Game-related keywords and switching to the Design Portal Pro+ Designs in the menu.
The level of detail available in these outfits also varies, so there are plenty of options with or without bloodstains and an assortment of different players' numbers. Of course,Seong Gi-Hun’s Player 456 is the most popular, but players can also choose to design their own outfits to cosplay some of the newer characters, like the mascots featured in the earlier episodes of Season 2.
8Make A Red Light Green Light Arena
The Easiest Game To Recreate
ReimaginingSquid Game’s iconic first game inAnimal Crossingis one of the best ways to combine the two experiences. Whether setting up the perfect scene in Harv’s photo studio or on the player’s island,creating your own Red Light Green Light mini-game isn’t particularly hard to achieve. This was also done by a popular gaming YouTuber,Nikachu, whohosted aSquid Gameeventand used one of the ocarinas available inNew Horizonsto simulate the music that would play between each stage.
This is a fun challenge that many players have done, as it is fairly easy to play with a group of friends or to test out different musical instruments.There are plenty of places to draw inspiration from, as many popular YouTubers and streamers have made their own game arenas and have tutorials available.
7Recreate The Ddakji Subway
Another Great New Horizons Option
As one of the key locations outside the game arena,the subway ddakji games are a perfect area to recreate using different furniture items fromNew Horizons. Players can get the ddakji designs on the Design Portal and use some of the new reactions that have been added in the final update to emulate the surprise for each round. This was originally shared in theAnimal Crossingsubreddit by Reddit userDingogou, but the recreation of the first episode’s ddakji scene would be a fun challenge for anyone.
10 Best Seasonal Nook Shopping Items To Buy In Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons features special items for sale seasonally through Nook Shopping, with some pretty cool items included in the rotation.
This could be done in eitherHarv’s photo studioor in a dedicated area on the player’s island, sothere are limitless opportunities to turn this location into a cuter version. Shame there isn’t a slap reaction to make it a bit more realistic, though.
6Become Pink Guards With Friends
An Evil Team-Up
Not only does the Design Portal allow players to make themselves into characters from the show, but with the new perspective of the Pink Guards being shown in the TV Show, maybe it’s time to become the villain of your island.This is a perfect photo opportunity to create cute photos with a darker meaningwith friends or other villagers.
The Pink Guards inSquid Gamehave become an iconic focal point for the series, as they are the primary people that viewers see outside of the players. There are plenty of differentdesigns available on the Design Portalthat include hats, full-body outfits, and evenhoodies that would allow players to recreate these characters.
5Trap Islanders In Stressful Photoshoots
Photography Is A Major Opportunity
Forced photography is one of the more entertaining gameplay aspects ofNew Horizons.To recreate some of the better scenes from the series,consider using your island residents as extras in curated photo shootsfor different games or portions of the story to illustrate more of your photographic expertise. Try out photoshoots that include a stressed-out villager that has just broken their dalgona or perhaps one that has fallen into a trap hole and will be eliminated.
There are many opportunities for players to use theireye forAnimal Crossingphotographyandsome of the more iconic scenes fromSquid Gameare perfect for creating some tense or entertaining photos. There are few things that are more fun than simulating a bit of a massacre by putting a wolf on a yoga mat.
4Run Your Own Secret Squid Game Island
Go The Whole Nine Yards
SinceAnimal Crossing New Horizonshas a big emphasis on playing with others,round your friends up at a fully themed island to play Squid Game. Unfortunately, you might need to use your imagination — and a lot of workaround items — if you want to recreate the exact games in the show. Still, it’s easy enough to create an experience for friends that would see players eliminated, with a big Bell prize at stake. Consider giving a consolation prize to the eliminated or having them come back to make the games harder for the remaining contestants.
This Harsh Feature Needs A Comeback In The Next Animal Crossing Game
Animal Crossing needs to bring back this harsh feature if it’s going to feel more like the original games that so many players loved to play.
Doing this would enable players to utilize their entire island to try to explore these games, or at least the vast majority of them to make bigger arenas to accommodate larger groups of players.It also gives players a chance to be the game-maker, if only for the day. The easiest to recreate is Red Light, Green Light. You play as the doll, Young-Hee, and have friends over to try and reach you. The music items — like the record player (and someK.K. Slider songs) or ocarina — are all that’s needed.
3Create Your Own Mingle Experience
A Memorable Season 2 Addition
Season 2 ofSquid Gameintroduced a new game called Mingleto the franchisethat could be more easily recreated inNew Horizonsthan some of the other games. The game relies on a carousel platform and requires players to enter a safe location based on the number that the voice has said. While it won’t be at the cost of a life inAnimal Crossing, the Mingle game from the show could be easily done with some of the stands and room dividers from theshops on the islandand the Design Portal.
Those without Nintendo Switch Online can attempt to hand-recreate Design Portal offerings or use a free trial to download everything needed.
To recreate this game, players would need to make a circular arena and have a set number of panels to hide behind to designate the safe areas. From here,someone would pick a number for teams to try to get into and use a timeror other method to give players a chance to hide.
2Build Your Own Pink Motel
Step Away From The Games
One of the other new locations introduced in Season 2 ofSquid Gameis the hotel that Seong Gi-Hun bought with his Season 1 winnings, Pink Motel. This kind of dingy hotel would be a perfect place to recreate now thatHappy Home Paradisehas been addedtoNew Horizons. With the additional exterior and interior design capabilities that the DLC added,this unique take on a motel offers several rooms that players could recreate.
Players could use the vacation homes to build places like Gi-Hun’s home, the opening lobby seen in some episodes, and Gi-Hun’s armory. There are limitless opportunities forusing this new location to your advantage for strange interior design challengesand even building rooms full of money.
1Host A High-Stakes Treasure Hunt
Put That Wealth To Use
Unfathomable wealth is not unheard ofinNew Horizons, especially now that the Turnip Market has been exploited for several years, so outside of hosting your version ofSquid Game, havinga singular game for players to participate in to win large amounts of moneyor rarer items like Nook Mile Tickets would prove to be an incredible amount of fun.
The biggest draw toSquid Game, after all, is the amount of money that would be instrumental in changing someone’s life, sothere’s no good reason not to spread some Bells around your friendsor community members. Having a Treasure Hunt is a great way to incorporate some of that stress for a prize at the end with the low-stakes nature of a cutesy game likeAnimal Crossing: New Horizons.
