Animal Crossing: New Horizons - How Getting A 5-Star Island Really Works

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Getting a five-star island in is harder than it seems. Achieving the maximum possible island evaluation rating is, of course, a long-term goal; it's not the kind of thing you can achieve in your first day, week, or even month of playing. But even beyond that, the requirements for a five-star island are arcane and mysterious. You could build up an island for years, and still be stuck at a four-star rating because you missed some obscure requirement you never would've thought of on your own.

But thanks to the efforts of dataminers who discovered the inner workings of island evaluation, along with the game's official guidebook, we now know the exact metrics that Isabelle uses to rate your island on a scale of one to five, and the exact conditions you'll need to get a perfect score. So, in case you're struggling to get that five-star rank, here's everything you need to do to get a perfect island evaluation, along with the rewards you can expect once you get there.

You can check your rating any time you like by visiting Isabelle at Resident Services and selecting the “” option in the dialogue menu. She'll then give you your rating, along with a little advice about what to work on if you want to improve it. Note that this option won't be available until after you've constructed the town square and convinced your first visitor to become a permanent resident of your island.

One Animal Crossing: New Horizons player discovered that the donation box could be sold for double their money, but it comes with one annoying catch.

That's all well and good, but what Isabelle doesn't tell you is that island evaluations are calculated based on two hidden points systems: Development Points and Scenery Points. Different items, activities, and achievements count towards each of the two categories.You must have at least 665 Development Points and at least 450 Scenery Points in order to gain a five-star rating. In the following sections, we'll look at the various ways you can earn points in