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Animal Crossing: New Leaf Wiki & Guide

Animal Crossing: New Leaf Nintendo 3DS box art

Quick reference for the Nintendo 3DS game where you become mayor: what to catch each month, all 72 fish, 72 bugs and 30 deep-sea creatures, 67 fossils, 33 artworks, 333 villagers, every public works project, house loans, shop upgrades, Tortimer Island and the Welcome amiibo update.

Released
JP 2012 · NA/EU 2013
System
Nintendo 3DS
Villagers
333
Sales
about 13 million copies worldwide

See what to catch this month →

Explore the wiki

Month by monthWhat to catch and do each monthFishAll 72 with prices and monthsBugsAll 72 with prices and monthsDeep-sea creaturesAll 30 diving catchesFossils67 fossils, 20 skeletonsArt33 pieces, real vs fakeVillagersAll 333 with birthdaysSpecial characters52 shopkeepers and visitorsEventsThe full holiday calendarPublic works94 projects and ordinancesHouse & loansEvery loan and roomShops & QR codesUpgrades to T&T EmporiumBells & Tortimer IslandMoney making and toursGolden & silver toolsAll twelve and how to get themFlowers & perfect townHybrids and blue rosesBadgesAll 24 from PhineasMuseum guideRenovation, shop and roomsWelcome amiiboWhat the 2016 update addsPicture galleryEvery picture on this wiki

Month by month

Jan30 fish · 10 bugs · 22 seaFeb30 fish · 10 bugs · 21 seaMar31 fish · 16 bugs · 21 seaApr37 fish · 20 bugs · 20 seaMay40 fish · 25 bugs · 16 seaJun50 fish · 41 bugs · 20 seaJul53 fish · 57 bugs · 20 seaAug52 fish · 59 bugs · 19 seaSep50 fish · 47 bugs · 23 seaOct35 fish · 26 bugs · 18 seaNov36 fish · 20 bugs · 23 seaDec31 fish · 10 bugs · 23 sea

Quick tips

  • Pay off your first loan (39,800 Bells) early to open Tortimer Island and its summer beetles.
  • Get 100% approval fast: talk to everyone, water flowers and pull weeds to unlock public works.
  • Hit the money rock every day: it pays up to 16,100 Bells.
  • Enact Keep the Town Beautiful so flowers never wilt.
  • Check Re-Tail’s chalkboard: the premium item sells for double.

Did you know?

  • You arrive as the new mayor by accident: the villagers mistake you for the mayor they were waiting for.
  • New Leaf added swimming and diving, and with them the 30 deep-sea creatures.
  • Smug and uchi villagers made their debut, bringing the personalities to eight.
  • Tom Nook gave up the general store to his nephews Timmy and Tommy and became an estate agent.
  • It is the best-selling Animal Crossing game before New Horizons.
  • Nintendo’s 3DS online services closed in April 2024, so Club Tortimer, the Dream Suite and online visits no longer work; local play still does.

FAQ

When did Animal Crossing: New Leaf come out?

8 November 2012 in Japan, 9 June 2013 in North America, 14 June 2013 in Europe and 15 June 2013 in Australia, on the Nintendo 3DS.

How many fish, bugs and sea creatures are in New Leaf?

72 fish, 72 bugs and 30 deep-sea creatures, plus 67 fossils and 33 artworks for the museum.

How many villagers are in New Leaf?

333 in the original game, across eight personalities, and 50 more return with the Welcome amiibo update. All villagers.

Can you still play New Leaf online?

No. Nintendo closed the 3DS online services in April 2024. Local wireless play and everything offline still work.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Nookipedia and the Animal Crossing Wiki. Icons, renders and screenshots © Nintendo; local copies archived from Animal Crossing Wiki file pages (listed in the picture gallery).