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One of the best things about the Animal Crossing games is the fact players can enjoy the world they’ve cultivated in real-time, watching the days change into nights and the seasons roll into each other as the year progresses. As each hour passes, the serene and charming background music subtly changes.
The hourly music in the latest installment to the series, New Horizons on the Nintendo Switch, is slightly different from older games while remaining reminiscently nostalgic. Due to the addictive nature of the games, obsessed enough players are likely to have gotten a taste of each of the twenty-four tunes.
10 5 AM Without Regrets
The 5 AM music is blissful and almost hopeful. It neatly sums up the atmosphere of being awake at 5 AM playing Animal Crossing. The hope is that this insomniac player has nothing to get up for the next day, so game time can be spent chatting to villagers and decorating the island with no regrets.
The pretty piano riff encapsulates the sense of collecting items ready to sell the next day when Nook’s Cranny once again opens. Seeing as though a lot of players fell into an Animal Crossing rabbit hole during the pandemic, this music, in particular, brings back memories of empty days for many.
9 The Magical Jazz Of 1 AM
This late-night track is jazzy and slow-paced. The steady plod of the trombone melody could almost send players to sleep if they weren’t so busy grinding to pay off that house expansion loan or an all-important bridge.
There’s something rather magical about the 1 AM music, which is what makes it so likable. At this time of night, another side of players’ islands comes to life as the streetlights switch on and the fireflies come out to do their nightly dance.
8 6 PM For Hungry Gamers
Early evening time is possibly one of the best times to play Animal Crossing, and the main reason for that is this laid-back song. Many nine to fivers can relate to the feeling of coming home, crashing on the crouch, and hearing this sweet and peaceful track after a long and stressful day.
The 6 PM music is a dinnertime melody for hungry gamers and also one that could easily induce a terribly-timed nap. Players should also listen closely for the prologue music playing softly in the background of this homely hourly track.
7 11 AM Is A Tune For The Weekend
This tune is perfect for a weekend lay-in. It practically screams day off, with fun and free-flowing guitar playing. This is one of the few tracks that doesn’t loop after only 30 seconds. 11 AM instead loops seamlessly after around a minute. This isn’t the only reason it’s special, though.
The relaxed, cozy nature of the 11 AM music eases players into the pace of Animal Crossing, nicely summing up the atmosphere of the series for newbie players. There’s absolutely no rush here, where island life is all about listening to the rustle of the trees and watching the ocean waves lap in and out.
6 2 AM For The Night Owls
This melody is for the late-night Animal Crossing gamers. The slow tempo transcends time, the perfect soundtrack for nighttime terraforming. Crafting the perfect waterway or cliff can take time and discipline, and this peaceful track encourages players to take a deep breath and enjoy the process.
The soft acoustic guitar and shakers keep the track strolling along, perfectly matched with grassy, in-game footsteps. Mournful yet positive, the 2 AM music could work just as well as credits music, charting a summer well spent.
5 4 AM Plays While Waiting For A New Day
4 AM is one of the funkier tracks of Animal Crossing‘s hourly tunes. It’s a mix of the widely disliked 3 AM and the unanimously enjoyed 5 AM, intertwining the golden beauty of sunrise with a sleep-deprived, and probably confused, headspace.
If players load up the game at 4 AM, it won’t count as a new day, so they’ll need to wait until 5 AM. Consequently, this tune may be a source of annoyance for some early risers or those with a messy sleep schedule.
4 7 PM For Sprawling Sunsets
An evening song, 7 PM is catchier than the other hourly tracks. The soft timbre of the keyboard and bass seems to nicely capture the breathtaking sunsets in Animal Crossing, marking the slow end to another day well spent.
This is a nice track to do an island stroll to, whereby players can admire their progress thus far, possibly catching up with villagers and making any adjustments if need be. Players should beware, though, as this jam also happens to sound the alarm for any roaming tarantulas or scorpions.
3 11 PM Is The Stargazing Soundtrack
This time of the night just so happens to be the prime time to stargaze and make all important wishes. If players are lucky, they might also be able to fetch a useful DIY recipe from Celeste.
Some fish and bugs only come out a night, so depending on players’ schedules, it’s always good to play a little later at night to attempt a full museum. 11 PM’s sleepy, synthesized funk makes for a great song to focus on fishing and bug-catching, while most villagers have tucked themselves in for the night.
2 5 PM Is For Golden Hour
This has got to be the most upbeat and grooviest of the Animal Crossing: New Horizons hourly music. This excitement is embodied in the amber hue of the golden hour which blankets the island.
The majority of players are likely to load up the game at this time when assignments and work are all done and dusted. This feel-good track signals the change from the mundane every day to the freeing joy of island life.
1 12 AM Is Moth Time
Many a player has spent the last thirty minutes or so collecting moths only to find Nook’s Cranny is closed for the day, all with this lonely track playing in the background. In the latest update, however, players can request a Night Owl Ordinance to keep shops open much later than usual.
For those who have work to get up for the next day, the 12 AM song signals the unhappy hour when it’s time to log off and get to bed. That doesn’t ruin the beauty of the song, though, which is thoughtful and creative, earning its place as the best song on the Animal Crossing: New Horizons soundtrack.
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