When Nintendo announced that Animal Crossing: New Horizons would be getting crossover villagers from The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon franchises, fans were understandably excited. But here’s the catch – not every amiibo from these beloved series will unlock the same characters, and Nintendo has finally cleared up the confusion.
With over 48 million copies sold worldwide, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has cemented itself as the second best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch. It’s no surprise, then, that Nintendo is bringing the game to the Switch 2 with some welcome upgrades. We’re talking graphical improvements, video chat functionality, and brand-new content that’ll give players fresh reasons to return to their islands.
One of the most intriguing additions? The ability to scan amiibos from The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon to bring iconic characters into your island paradise. Imagine having Tulin and Mineru strolling around your carefully curated beaches, or even convincing them to become permanent residents. The same goes for Frye and Shiver – better known as the dynamic duo from Deep Cut – who can also join your island community.
How the amiibo system actually works
Starting January 15th with the 3.0 update, you’ll be able to invite four new villagers to your island, but there’s a specific requirement: you need the right amiibos. Here’s where things get interesting – and potentially frustrating if you’re not prepared.
Nintendo has confirmed that specific amiibos unlock specific villagers. This means if you happen to own two different Legend of Zelda amiibos, there’s a real possibility they might both unlock the same character, leaving you without access to the other. It’s worth planning ahead to make sure you can get the villagers you actually want.
The complete amiibo compatibility list
Let me break down exactly which amiibos unlock which villagers, so you can start hunting for the ones you need:
Tulin can be unlocked with: Tulin, Bokoblin, Daruk, Ganondorf, Revali, Yunobo, Link (Archer), Link (Majora’s Mask), Link (Smash Bros), Link (Skyward Sword), Link (Tears of the Kingdom), Toon Link (Smash Bros), Toon Link (Wind Waker), Zelda (Wind Waker), or Zelda (Skyward Sword).
Mineru requires one of these: Ganondorf (Smash Bros), Guardian (Breath of the Wild), 8-Bit Link (The Legend of Zelda), Link (Link’s Awakening), Link (Ocarina of Time), Link Rider (Breath of the Wild), Link (Twilight Princess), Mipha (Breath of the Wild), Riju (Tears of the Kingdom), Sheik (Smash Bros), Sidon (Tears of the Kingdom), Urbosa (Breath of the Wild), Wolf Link (Twilight Princess), Zelda (Breath of the Wild), Zelda (Smash Bros), or Zelda (Tears of the Kingdom).
Frye can be summoned with: Big Man, Callie (Alterna), Callie (Splatoon), Marina (Side Order), Marina (Splatoon 2), Octoling Boy, Octoling Boy (Blue), Octoling Girl, Octoling Octopus, Shiver, or Smallfry.
Shiver is unlocked by: Big Man, Frye, Inkling Boy (Blue), Inkling Boy (Green), Inkling Boy (Purple), Inkling Girl (Green), Inkling Girl (Orange), Inkling Girl (Smash Bros), Inkling Girl (Yellow), Inkling Squid, Inkling Squid (Purple), Marie (Alterna), Marie (Splatoon), Pearl (Side Order), or Pearl (Splatoon 2).
What else is coming in the update
Beyond the crossover villagers, this free update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is packed with quality-of-life improvements. You’ll get access to a hotel managed by Captain’s family, a cleaning service run by Resetti, and a massive storage expansion that lets you hoard up to 9,000 items. For those of us who’ve been struggling with inventory management, that last one is a game-changer.
The update also lets you scan amiibos to summon special items like the Triforce, adding even more Nintendo magic to your island aesthetic. Whether you’re a completionist trying to collect every villager or just want to see your favorite Zelda and Splatoon characters relaxing on your island, this update offers something for everyone.