How to Play Animal Crossing on PC Without Switch: Easy Guide

Are you eager to play Animal Crossing: New Horizons on your Windows PC without needing a Nintendo Switch console? While there isn't an official PC edition of the game, it's still possible to bring this beloved life simulation title to your computer. In this guide, we'll show you how to do just that using Ryujinx emulator.

Option B: Using Bluestacks

Before proceeding with the guide below, note that we advise against using Bluestacks as a primary option for playing Animal Crossing on PC. The incompatibilities between Bluestacks and Animal Crossing often hinder the experience. However, it's still worth mentioning as an alternative method.

To use Bluestacks:

1. Double-click the Animal Crossing: New Horizons icon to launch the game.

2. Make sure your game controller is connected to your PC.

3. Click Save, and now all your games should be displayed correctly within your emulator.

The Ryujinx Way

For a smoother experience, we recommend using Ryujinx emulator instead. Here's how:

1. Extract and install Ryujinx on your PC by opening the newly extracted folder and double-clicking Ryujinx.exe.

2. Once installed, extract and open the folder containing the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game data.

Adding the Game to Ryujinx

To add Animal Crossing to Ryujinx's library:

1. Navigate to where your Nintendo Switch games have been dumped (backed up).

2. Select any XCI that you had in your Nintendo Switch and click Open.

3. Choose Install a firmware from an XCI or ZIP.

4. Drag and drop the Prod.keys file inside.

Configuring Ryujinx

1. Open the emulator and select your Timezone, System Region, and Language.

2. Any version above 5.1.0 is good to go.

Firmware Update

You may receive a prompt telling you that you need to install a firmware update. Select any XCI file and click Open.

Playing Animal Crossing on PC

Once the emulator is running, it's time to add Animal Crossing to its library:

1. Double-click the Animal Crossing: New Horizons icon to launch the game.

2. Make sure your game controller is connected to your PC.

3. Start playing!

While there isn't an official PC edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it's still possible to play this beloved title on your Windows PC using Ryujinx emulator. With these easy steps, you can enjoy the latest entry in the Animal Crossing series from the comfort of your own home.

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