Should You RESTART or FLATTEN Your Animal Crossing Island? 

Drop a LIKE on the video for Bob. No particular reason why he just deserves it

I could never restart.. I have too many items in my catalog and diy’s.. would take ages to get it all back. Wish we could have multiple saves tho 😣

I can’t bring myself to restart mostly because of the museum. I worked so hard to get so many things. I still don’t have all the art, but I have everything else. I did choose to flatten, then work with non-movable areas; river mouths, airport, etc. to redesign everything else around that. It was really inspiring, and I’m still finishing it up months later.

Im personally a restarter, but thats because I love Happy Home Paradise so much, and wanna play the story mode of it over and over again. Each new unlock is always so satisfying.

I dont really "flatten an island". Whenever I change theme, I just work acre by acre. Less stressful. But that does include a lot of planning on my part.

What you could do, flattening wise to get that "fresh start" is create a second player on your island.

I have restarted at LEAST 5 times and have zero qualms about doing so. I've also flattened 3 times and had a blast refiguring it to my vision. You learn, you grow, you change, you experience, and you enjoy. The best way to bring renewed life to this game is to start all over again and I 'love' it. ;-)

I restarted for the first time the other day. I had the same island since 2020 so it was about time. I tried flattening but that didn’t solve my problem. I was bored! I had everything! I had the perfect island, villagers and more! So I recommend just restarting. And believe it or not the process isn’t as long as it was originally. Because you have experience it’s gonna go so much quicker. The magic is back and I’m loving it.

Its sad they don't give you the option to have multiple saves in AC

I plan to flatten my island but I keep procrastinating bc yeah... so much work. Also I have a weird need to get all the fish and bugs first idk

I was given a used Switch Lite. My forever island is on that Switch and yes, I have flattened my island. I’ve also created different players to add more houses to my island and that’s a lot of fun. I so enjoyed playing on my Lite that I purchased an Oled. I use it to restart islands, design them, do a dream address, then delete and start over. I can’t imagine getting rid of my Forever Island, but I really enjoy the play through of starting over so I’m fortunate to have two Switches. Always enjoy your content.

Despite the appeal of the fresh start with a new island 😅 I can't bring myself to completely restart. I have considered the flattening approach as an alternative

Bob’s Gang! I don’t want this comment to come off as overly negative, I do think the game is fantastic. However, one of the things that really hurt the longevity of the title for me was how time consuming tasks are. Especially terraforming, but also just the regular “chores”. It would have been great if the expansion pass terraforming was available on your main island; could even do a Tom Nook transaction like bridges and ramps that it goes into affect the next day. Also, quality of life tools: unbreakable, shovel that knocks all 8 minerals out at once, faster digging shovels, one swing axes, etc. Giving your villagers some of the chores would be great too. Make Bob water flowers. Zucker shake trees. Cherry chop wood.

I play with my kids. We've restarted together and set joint goals and challenges. It can be fun to restart and I'm so rubbish at finishing an island, I have yet to manage 1, as I always get new inspiration 😂

I have restarted my Island 3 times. I like starting over. This time I flattened my island and it's been fun. But will most likely start over again in a few months.

I was not really tired or bored with my initial island that I spent 1,250 hours on. But I received a Switch OLED for Christmas [2022] and proceeded to start a new island. In starting a new island, i started to really like the newer island, and how it was developing, and to this day I still like it more and more, and after 6 months, i finally got the 5 start rating again [it took a little longer because i am keeping the newer island more natural]. One of the major detractors in having two islands on two separate switches is that you cannot have to instances of the game open on one file. I have one digital version, so I have to go back and forth. To further the problem, I cannot visit my other island with whichever instance i have opened, from what I can tell, i would need another copy of the game [a physical game cartridge]. Also, only one Switch can be your primary, and the other your secondary. Your secondary needs to be connected to the internet in order for you to be able to play, and you cannot use both switches at the same time. Thus, I rarely go on my original island, and am more than likely going to delete the save file after I transfer some items and bells over to my newer island, via a family members switch. I am kind of sad about it. But, my newer island is working out sooo much better, whereas I never knew what to really do with my original...

For about a year I would play on and off, working hard on flattening my island. About a month ago I picked the game back up and it’s been fun just messing around and finally learning how to terraform well lol

I've been playing since the game came out, and this is my 3rd island. I love restarting! The only thing I must have on all of my islands is Kyle. He has my oldest son's name, and my youngest son's birthday. So far I haven't been able to find him for the newest island.😥

I have to say the other con on restarting your island is, even though you have a placeholder island and you transmit your favorite villager over to the placeholder island you are still going to lose the representative and thus your relations. You will simply create a “different” person when you restart, and thus, your older villagers will look at a new face when you create a new character. Not to mention, you can’t move your representative to another island.

I flattened my second island, but am not great at terrforming, I restarted 5 times in total. The most recent time I finally found an island that I like. I want to complete the museum this time, never did that before.

What about saving your island with a Dream Address so you can visit it whenever you want and then flatten and redo it? Then your initial island isn't lost forever and you don't lose your catalog, bells, dreamies, etc. Best of both worlds???

I've recently restarted, my island and it was one of my best decisions in a while

I really want to restart because I want that coziness of the early days, the slow building up again BUT my current house is my favorite thing ever. It took so long to collect all my favorite items and decoration D:

i got my new switch secondhand recently as well! if you don't want to restart it's much cheaper than a brand new switch, but you do still have to weigh up the cost - i'm also using mine for content though so it makes it worth it. :)

I used to restart my island on my switch lite (my main is on another switch) like every week bc I would get bored, but I haven’t played anch in so long now watching your videos makes me want to start playing again so thanks lol

I keep having thoughts about restarting mine, but i don't wanna reset it- I've had it since i was 8! That would be throwing a huge chunk of memories away. My Dad does have his own switch that he barely uses, but i doubt he'd let me use it- He'd be like: "Noooo, i'm not done using it yet!" When he hasn't touched it in like... 3 months. Idk what to do. I can't get a new switch entirely, as that's too expensive. I'm stumped. 😂

I've done both, lol. On my first island, started playing in 2020, I would build everything up how I like. Then a few weeks later decide I hated it, flatten it and start over. Not sure how many times I did that. I stopped playing for a year or two then came back and restarted. I've restarted a few times since then. I usually restart cause either I a. don't like name of the island or b. didn't like the location of Services. When I started playing I had a bunch of people who also were starting with one person who had been playing since launch. She made sure we were all set up with diy's, furniture, bells, gold water cans, etc. This made things super easy. When I restarted I didn't have that, so it was really like I had never really played the game from the start before. Watching videos on YT has been a great help. Bob's Gang!

When flattening town or decorating in general: Keep an eye on the damn flowers!! Stole my dang town and now it’s a chore to get it back.

I wish you could choose to have 2 islands, one between each account on your Nintendo because me and my sister have a shared island and I want to restart but she obviously doesn't 😞

I almost wanna restart because my island name is Girl Scout. And I’m not a big fan of that name anymore I’m not a Girl Scout anymore plus my island is full of items because I don’t have a greatest pocket space. Your videos are really helpful!:)

I restarted both my islands a few weeks before the dlc had come out, and couldn’t of been happier to do so

Im thinking about restarting, I've flattened my island before and still feel like restarting. My only reservation is Maple, I love her so much and she is my longest standing villager and Im kinda attatched 😅

Flattening is better. At least you won't lose all your progress and memories on the island.

I flattened my first island layout once, and honestly the best decision i ever made. I use to like my island, it was cute and it was mine, but now I LOVE IT. Its a shame that i cant change the name as my first one sucks, but i didnt really feel like restarting the entire thing just over a name. And now i could never do it. My past island layout wasnt that complicated, so it didnt take AS long as it would for others, but if i would flattened it rn, it would take a lot as its so much more complex. I just started another save file on my bf switch tho. Im lucky enough to have him. He bought animal crossing years ago but never really got into it, so im just playing on his account and its an absolute blast :D

I just realized watching this I started my island 3 years ago yesterday :P Every now and then I think about restarting but considering all the things I've accomplished, I'd hate to lose all that. I only recently got my all cat island a few months ago and I got all the fruit from my one year of NSO, plus the completed museum and HHP. Honestly I think if I restarted, I'd regret it immediately and also stall out because I'd get to 3 stars and not know what to do afterwards 🤣

Back in April of this year, I flattened my first island (started Christmas 2022) and rebuilt it to be forestcore, a theme I was interested in. I don’t have a second switch and while my sister has one, she won’t let me use it (she never plays on it). I have reached the end where I just need one villager, decorate that yard, the beaches, and my house to be done, but after that my island is finished. I’m trying to decide if completely resetting is the right move, but I also want another switch. Another thing I’m toying with is the new AC game with the new console. I don’t know if I should wait and get that console but also have 2 switches is the right move… 🤷🏼‍♀️

Im currently having the issue with my island I named Snowkeep. I gave it that name cause I wanted a snow themed island and the snow didnt last long and now the grass is back to green and I just dont get the vibe with that name. I wish we could edit the name of our island and that would make things easier but I think Im gonna restart from day one and give my island a good non seasonal name. I appreciate all your ACNH content :)

My resident services is in such an inconvenient spot...but I like Cranston's dirty bug ridden floor, and I don't want to lose that...

I can’t restart I’d miss all my DIYS! Thinking about cleaning up and only decorating with DIYs and see if I can get a 5 star rating still ? 😅

I recently restarted my island, as it was originally under another player in my household who no longer plays it, and I wanted creative control over the island. Not regretting it, but not thrilled with the design of the island I chose, and I’m not that creative when it comes to layout, so my buildings seem to be placed haphazardly. Which is why I watch these videos to get some ideas, so thanks!

Bob's Gang! So I started playing animal crossing about 2 months ago. I didnt really pay attention to where things were when I started and didnt know i couldnt move resident services. I was having fun decorating but felt limited with all the things i already had. About a week ago I restarted my island and im enjoying it more. Once this island is done i dont think i would reset the game anymore. But i would considering getting another switch since everyone in my household play acnh. Knowing myself i probably wouldnt be too invested in the other island like my forever island. Also fun note, all my villagers are squirrels and its so cute!!

As much as it’d hurt to lose all my catalogue islands, diys, and my museum progress, I think it’d be satisfying to have SOMETHING to do instead of just sit around. And if there ARE things I want to keep I can always drop some things off at my sister’s island lol

I also have two Switch consoles, so I will never have to restart my forever island "Robertopia", but I have flattened that island four times to terraform it in the exact way I wanted it. On my second Switch I restart every year and change themes. That way I get to redesign with different styles. Currently I'm doing a seasonal theme "4-Seasons" and am planning a tropical/industry city island for 2024!

#bobsgang I made it to the end! and also... I got the game for Christmas 2022 and basically played what is now the "hard mode" challenge for months by myself before discovering that that is a vast and friendly community still thriving around the game. i'm about done with my first island... i'll say it's 1 to 2 weeks out, but that's only because i don't know what i'm going to do with some inbetween space and I have a second house to decorate properly.... but when I do finalize those things I'll be reseting. Preserves the dream addresss so i can still visit my build and my villagers, even when they don't remember me. and then i get to grind back to the point where I can properly build one of the three ideas i have for what's next. But i can be more careful about the map i want instead of going in blind.... i can have a vision from the beginning which is very different from the initial... sure that looks great, these villagers seem alright (although i lucked out and got Dom and Sylvia and have since learned that there are so many worse villager starters. So yeah I'm excited to wrap it up and excited to start from real scratch.

I restarted 4 times now, I just finished another island, uploaded the dream adress and my finger is already hovering on the restart button .. the thing is this last one I really put a lot of effort into, like a full year-ish, so I'm thinking of flattening so that at least the dream adress will be available for a while

I restarted 5 times and I have a theme for every island. I also share my dream code before restarting.

I have had my main island since the beginning, but I also have had a Nintendo Lite and I have restarted those islands 12 different times. I have now decided to stay with my final two islands. My main island I moved to my Nintendo Lite as it is finished, and I had flattened and reshaped it numerous times since April 2020. As another poster stated, I have my museum completed except for 3 bugs. Also, I have all the flower hybrids. My regular Nintendo now has my second final island, and I will not be deleting that island. I do have all the dream addresses so I do go back and visit my old islands from time to time. Some I really do miss, so for this final island I am not deleting as it combines all the nostalgia that I have for all my old deleted islands.

I was very new to animal crossing back when this game came out and I played very enthusiastically for a while until a friend convinced me designing my dream island would be so much easier if I flatten it all and build it up from scratch. Did that, hated it so much that I stopped playing and only a few month later picked the game back up and started a new Island. I don't have enough free time anymore to play everyday and do much so I have stopped again but I find flattening the island is a horrible thing for me because it makes it look so much more boring and was no fun to than decide. I haven't played in a year.. but your videos make me itch for some cozy Island fun. Also I miss the nooks and brewstar a bit.

I didn’t get very far in the game and my island layout was such a mess I didn’t want to take so much to flatten it so I just restarted my island lol

Im having this dilemma! Ive done this once already, but thats because i sold my switch lite because i upgraded to oled. But now im like wanting a new AC experience, i miss the game ❤

i have never restarted but i NEED to do it. My island looks horrible (kinda) but still. Nice video by the way.

I restarted once, after flattening. Initially I didn't want to, bc I thought I'd miss my island too much, but building up the island without any incentive from the game to keep playing like in the initial stage where it gives you goals to complete was too boring for me. And I ended up not liking the terraforming as much ':D What helped me restart was that I didn't play at all for several months and wasn't so attached in the end, instead I was looking forwards to the clean slate

I want to restart because I don’t like the fact I can’t move the plaza and I don’t like where it is. Also, I didn’t put my real birthday. Not only that, my islands cluttered with flowers in areas and I don’t feel like taking all the time to get rid of them all so I think I will restart and get a fresh new start

Bob's Gang! I'd never restart or flatin my Island, but I did help a friend when she restarted her island. I held on to all her items, until she had room for them owo

I personally re start when I get bored/ when I have no ispo anymore I’m loving my current island tho

Ben! I just got Bob on my island! I originally was looking for Kyle, but I couldn’t find him and I was running out of Nook Miles. I decided that if I find a villager I like, I’ll take ‘em so it won’t auto fill. Lo and behold, on my second to last ticket, I found Bob. I’m already excited to be friends with him. 😊

ive restarted my island once and it was an impulsive decision and i was so gutted that i didnt play for like another year but then i picked it back up, got bored of my island an then flattened and now im rebuilding it

All your villagers die in a tsunami every time you restart, just so you know

I just wish I could rename my town. I made it half mine and half my ex's (together 6 years at that point) gamer tag and now im like "O h n o"

bob's gang...I started my island over only because I wanted to get better fruit...I got apples, I'm sticking with it. if I was to do a due over it would most; likely be flattened...just to see if I liked that better ... I'm a newbie anyway, just got ACNH last year(just got hip)

If I had the ability to regain all my fruits easily, I would probably restart at some point. But, because I'm restricted, I would choose to flatten. I'm actually planning on doing this soon too because I finally got the DLC so I can change my islanders' homes to fit my vision. Plus, autumn is around the corner and I'm itching to get all those items for my planned theme.

I don't think I'll ever restart. Almost 700 hours logged buuut Im considering flattening. Perhaps adding a profile and playing from there while I rebuild?

Personally, I had an island that no matter how many times I flattened it just didn't feel right. After a long self debate, I restarted and it feels so much better... I was able to change my dreadful name and actually find a map with presets that I liked!

I flattened my island then stopped playing cause of drifting joystick. I would never restart however cause the I love the way I decorated every room in my house.

I restarted my island and it was the best decision to do

ugh the URGE, but i started my island on my 11th birthday and my mum plays with me!! agh

I got 2 more switches

Im on my first island, i kinda flattened mine, then added some things, but didnt decorated to the fullest, cause i need free space to go fishing and now my main goal is catching everything. i maaaay restart when i finnish...but im not sure... i loved the flattening grind, but i recommend going slow and not doing it in one day XD also, the diy recipes that you really want are too hard to get (im still missing a few i reaaally want)

What happens to the items and stuff on your island when you flatten?

How do i reset it:(

HEY, Hi Ben, & ' Bob's Gang ' 👋🏻😸👍🏻

Flattening let’s you catch up on shows and whatnot because it’s mindless tedious behaviour haha. I’ve flattened twice

5 Stars sneak peek poggers

could you just make a new user account on the same switch?

I would love to restart my game but it took me ages to finally get my dream villagers on my island and all the decor. But my island layout sucks😭

I'm thinking of "flattening" my island

I had to restart my island. My name has changed and character had my old name which I couldn’t stand being called.

I restarted my island a few weeks ago. I got the game in 2020 and had no idea what i was doing and i hated the layout and all the villagers but didnt want to clean it all up or hunt. I stopped playing for 2 years then got back into it, had an island theme, restarted, and got all my dream villagers. Love my island now and dont regret it at all

Ngl I really do regret restarting one of my Islands,, only because I was nearly done with the museum 🥲 but I was so done with the rest of the island tbh. It wasn’t turning out how I wanted it so I impulsively restarted :’))

I restarted twice lol hardest thing I did

I did 3 time

i have restarted over 15 islands 😭😭😭😭

Flattening is alot of effort but getting back to where you where from the start is also a ton of effort

Live laugh love yuzu 😍😍😍

I'm annoyed now I can't get other fruit. I can't imagine starting over.

I’m a chronic restarter and can confirm it’s actually a lot less work than flattening and I would rather restart a thousand more times than be one of those players who flattens multiple times. No shade to people who do it because I have mad respect for y’all but it’s absolutely not for me - the couple of times I did flatten I ended up resetting anyway because I haaaaated it. Also, Bob’s Gang 🥰

I want to restart so bad, but I've came so far. 😢😢

I prefer to restart. I'd rather have a brand new map and collect all the items again than to flatten everything. I feel that would be too time-consuming and boring for my taste. I'm currently on my third forever island. And i will inevitability restart again because I've yet to have a green airport. I do give props to those still playing the game all this time without restarting once.

Bob's Gang!

i flatten because i can't be bothered to do all that labour for all those slaggy villagers and tom nook

Bob’s Gang

I’m working on flattening my island I don’t think I could restart my island. Also Nintendo NEEDS to add multiple game files or atleast different world for profiles on the switch.

2nd to comment love your vids

I wish they could allow you to just make a second island on a second sign in account on the switch.😢 I have reservations about a restart but I also want to get rid of this one villager that won’t frickin leave (had coach since 2021) no matter what I do 😡

Bob's gang

Don't restart u will regret it

BOBS GANG

Nope. There ain't no way I'm getting rid of my island J>:(