Will Isabelle be in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Animal Crossing New Horizon Trailer
Animal Crossing New Horizon Trailer (Image credit: Nintendo)

Will Isabelle be in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Best answer: Yes! Isabelle is in Animal Crossing: New Horizon, although you won't get to see her initially. As you build your island paradise, everyone's favorite Mayor's Assistant will make her way to your town.

Old dog with new tricks

Isabelle, the golden Shih Tzu, appeared in the Animal Crossing series for the first time in Animal Crossings: New Leaf for the Nintendo 3DS. Since her introduction, she's popped up in many other games across the Nintendo network, such as Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and even Mario Kart 8. She's so popular that Nintendo's official Animal Crossing Twitter is named for her.

She's everyone's favorite mayor's assistant, so of course she's in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but not right from the start. Players have to put a little work into the game before convincing this upstanding citizen to pack up and move.

From the assistant mayor to Resident Services

Animal Crossing New Horizons Resident Services

Animal Crossing New Horizons Resident Services (Image credit: iMore)

Don't worry, there's no special trick to getting Isabelle. All you have to do is play the game, and eventually, everything will fall into place. Players will have to build Nook's Cranny, invite more villagers to the island, prepare for the new arrivals, and wait for Resident Services to get caught up with the times.

Once you get your island to where it needs to be, you can bet your bottom dollar Isabelle will be making herself cozy in her new position at Resident Services. Once she joins your crew, Isabelle's jobs include checking your island score, dealing with residents, and other island needs like changing the tune.

Starting Nov. 5, you can even go to Isabelle about town ordinances.

More Isabelle, please!

Animal Crossing New Horizons Ordinances

Animal Crossing New Horizons Ordinances (Image credit: iMore)

If having Isabelle on your island isn't enough, you can always hang out with her at Harv's Island and snap some pictures if you have her amiibo. It also seems she'll show up at the Roost occasionally when she's off duty!

If you're planning on getting the DLC package and you have her amiibo, you can even customize a little vacation home just for her. There's plenty of Isabelle to go around if you just have the patience for it.

Sara Gitkos

Sara is the Freelance Coordinator, writer, and editor at iMore. When not editing or writing away, she's glued to her Nintendo Switch, Xbox, or PS5, though she's a retro gamer at heart.