Animal Crossing: New Horizons continues to thrive in 2026, drawing in both returning veterans and brand-new players who are picking up the game for the first time on the Switch 2 Edition. With a roster of 413 unique villagers spanning dozens of species, personality types, and design aesthetics, choosing who deserves a spot on your island is one of the most exciting and personal decisions in the game. This guide provides a comprehensive look at the most popular villagers in ACNH following the 3.0 update, a full community-sourced popularity tier list ranking every single villager, and practical advice on how to find and manage villagers on your island.

ACNH Villager Popularity Tier List 2026

Animal Crossing: New Horizons features a total of 417 possible animal residents, though only 413 appear in the community popularity rankings due to a handful of special characters being excluded. Each villager belongs to one of eight personality types: Normal, Peppy, Lazy, Jock, Cranky, Snooty, Smug, and Sisterly, and one of over 35 species ranging from cats and dogs to octopuses and alligators. Every villager also has a unique birthday, a personal catchphrase, and one of six hobbies: Education, Fashion, Fitness, Music, Nature, or Play.

The 3.0 update introduced a number of changes that affect how players interact with villagers. Hotel tourists were a notable new addition to Animal Crossing: New Horizons with the 3.0 update, and they do not just affect what goes on on your main island. Once you have completed all eight rooms of the hotel, you can have up to eight of these tourists on your island at any given time. These tourists rotate in and out each day, and as a result, they have a direct impact on villager hunting. There is also a memory upgrade within 3.0 where a lot of these tourists will actually remember if they lived on your island previously, adding more depth to interacting with these villagers post-3.0.

ACNH 3.0 Best Villager Tier List - Top 20 Most Popular Villagers

With hundreds of villagers to choose from, the community has rallied around certain favorites. Based on months of compiled votes, forum discussions, and community polls, the following tier list and Top 20 breakdown represent the consensus on which villagers are the most beloved in 2026.

1. Marshal

The all-time most popular villager in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the one and only Marshal. This marvelous marshmallow spent the first few months yo-yoing up and down the popularity list, but thanks to consistent community voting, he managed to earn enough points to lay claim to his rightful place as the king of Animal Crossing. Marshal is a returning character from New Leaf, and thanks to his incredibly cute looks, he was always a tough nut to crack when it came to being knocked out of the top spot. Despite his constantly frowning facial expressions and his tendency towards being overly melodramatic, this smug squirrel is a sweetheart, and thanks to his personality type, he should get on with pretty much all of the animal pals on your island. The sweet that inspired his name - the marshmallow - offers a clue as to his appeal: despite his cranky facial expressions, he is super sweet, and his soft fluffy tail mimics the look and feel of a squishy marshmallow. Marshal's favorite colors are blue and aqua, his catchphrase is "sulky," and he has the music hobby. His small size and big attitude, combined with his witty dialogue, make him incredibly entertaining - polished, confident, and slightly sarcastic.

2. Raymond

Raymond, the managerial moggy, held the top spot for a long stretch before settling into a permanent second place. It was a close call, but Raymond has lost a fair few top spot fights recently, and these scuffles for first position mean he is now paused in second place for all time. Raymond was arguably the most popular villager in New Horizons history when he was first introduced, and while that initial frenzy has calmed, he still remains a firm favorite. Because this is the first Animal Crossing game he has ever appeared in, Raymond is a one-of-a-kind kitty, and collectors are not able to use old amiibo cards to import him into the game. His unique traits include complete heterochromia, a condition where the iris of one eye is a different color to the iris of the other eye, and his personality type is one of a kind, as he is the only cat character in the Animal Crossing series to have the smug personality type. His confident dialogue, rare design, office worker aesthetic, and meme status skyrocketed him into legendary territory. His favorite colors are black and gray, and his catchphrase is "crisp."

3. Shino

Shino is a peppy deer inspired by Japanese folklore, and she entered the scene to immediate fanfare. Her bold red and white color palette, striking horns, and confident personality make her one of the most visually arresting villagers in the game. She is energetic, stylish, and instantly eye-catching, with a house interior that carries a cohesive and beautifully themed design. Shino was like top on every single popular villager list compiled from community forums, and her status has held firm in the 3.0 era. Her favorite colors are red and black, her catchphrase is "okaaay," and she has the education hobby. For players who gravitate toward bold, folklore-inspired designs, Shino remains one of the most sought-after characters in Animal Crossing.

4. Sherb

Sherb is one of the eight brand new villagers introduced to the series with New Horizons, and this blue boy is by far one of the purest and cutest characters in the game. The interior of his house, which is furnished with numerous items from the cute set, completely complements his adorable personality. Sherb always seems to have something funny to say, so he is the goat when it comes to conversations, especially if you are in need of a bit of cheering up. Because Sherb is a lazy villager, his favorite pastimes are relaxing and eating, and you will often find him either snuggled up at home in his signature winter sweater or out and about indulging in his favorite hobbies like eating and fishing. Sherb is a lazy goat with soft pastel colors and a shy, sweet personality. He is known for gentle dialogue, snack obsession, and cozy vibes — calm, comforting, and emotionally warm, perfect for players who love soft aesthetics. His favorite colors are gray and blue, and his catchphrase is "bawwww."

5. Bob

Bob was the first Animal Crossing villager ever created, holding the distinction of being villager number 001. He could be the face of the entire franchise, and everyone knows and loves Bob. His lazy personality, goofy purple design, and quirky catchphrase "pthhpth" have made him a perennial fan favorite across every generation of the game. His house interior is famously wild and eclectic. Bob is a character who inspires pure excitement in players who encounter him on mystery island tours; finding Bob on a villager hunt is enough to make someone want to do a backflip. His favorite colors are red and colorful, and he has the play hobby. Bob is such a cool character and an Animal Crossing legend through and through.

6. Stitches

Stitches clearly resembles a child's stuffed toy, right down to the way the colored panels of his fur are visibly sewn together. While some people think this look is adorable, others do admit to finding his stitched-on eyes a little on the creepy side. As a lazy personality type, Stitches' cheerful disposition makes him pretty popular with players. Combine that with his colorful coat and unique house interior, which is full to the brim with toys, and you have one lush plush for your collection. He is one of the most iconic villagers in the entire brand — a lazy cub designed to look like a stitched-together teddy bear complete with mismatched colors and button eyes. His adorable appearance mixed with his clueless dialogue makes him a fan favorite. Stitches works especially well for players who love kidcore islands. His favorite colors are colorful and white, and his catchphrase is "stuffin'."

7. Molly

Molly is a perfect duck and she will always be that girl. Very few players would leave Molly behind while villager hunting. Her gentle, wholesome demeanor and adorable design have kept her firmly in the top tier of every community ranking for years. Molly embodies everything players love about normal personality villagers — she is kind, sweet, and endlessly charming in conversation. Her favorite colors are yellow and brown, her catchphrase is "quackidee," and she has the nature hobby. For players seeking a warm, comforting presence on their island, Molly is one of the most consistently beloved choices in the entire game.

8. Lolly

Lolly is a soft and pretty tabby cat design, and she is well loved in the community, especially among cottagecore creators. Her gentle normal personality, muted gray and white coloring, and sweet facial expression give her an understated charm that many players adore. Lolly is the kind of villager who fits perfectly on almost any island theme without feeling out of place. Her favorite colors are gray and pink, her catchphrase is "bonbon," and she has the music hobby. Lolly's quiet sweetness and classic cat design have earned her a loyal following that keeps her firmly in Tier 1.

9. Ankha

Ankha is a super popular character with a design that is highly unique, and she is especially enticing for fans who are interested in Ancient Egyptian history. Her bold yellow and blue color scheme, combined with Egyptian-inspired accessories and a snooty personality, give her an aura of royalty that few other villagers can match. She has a really cool Egyptian theme in her home as well, and her entire aesthetic is cohesive from head to toe. Ankha took forever for many players to find, but she is a best-tier character in the eyes of the community. Her favorite colors are colorful and brown, her catchphrase is "me meow," and she has the nature hobby. Just looking at her style tells you everything you need to know about why she is so popular.

10. Zucker

When it comes to imaginatively designed villagers, Zucker has to be one of the very best there is. He is based on the famous Japanese seafood snack takoyaki, and the attention to detail on his character model is remarkable. The little bamboo toothpick that sticks out the back of his skull, the takoyaki sauce that has been drizzled over the top of his head to mimic hair, and the little green freckles on his cheeks representing powdered seaweed seasonings are all delicious touches. Zucker is also a lazy personality type, which means that he will rarely lose his temper with your other villagers, so he should settle in very quickly if you invite him to live on your island. His interior is set up to look like he is an outdoor vendor, complete with multiple food carts and a lovely view of the city. Due to his unique design, Zucker is extremely popular for players who love the octopus species. His favorite colors are blue and yellow, and his catchphrase is "bloop."

11. Moe

Moe is a lazy blue cat with a permanently dazed look who has surged in popularity in recent rankings. He is sarcastic, funny, and often says things that sound unintentionally hilarious. Moe is perfect for players who enjoy weird humor and villagers that feel unpredictable but lovable. His blue coloring makes him particularly appealing to the large segment of the community that loves blue characters, and his consistently sleepy expression gives him an undeniable charm. Though he dropped several spots from a previous high, landing at rank 11 still places him firmly in Tier 1. His catchphrase is "myawn," and he has the play hobby.

12. Fauna

Fauna is a classically beautiful deer and a major fan favorite because of it. She is the queen of cottagecore islands, with her gentle brown coloring and warm, nurturing normal personality. Fauna is really cute, she is a normal type deer character with an adorable face that immediately wins players over. Her favorite colors are beige and white, her catchphrase is "dearie," and she has the nature hobby. Fauna has held steady in the Tier 1 rankings with zero change in position, a testament to her enduring appeal among the Animal Crossing community.

13. Sasha

When Sasha entered the scene, everyone was taken. His eyes are stunning and he has such an adorable design. Sasha is the only male villager with the fashion hobby, and he prefers the cute style, a combination that sets him apart from every other lazy villager in the game. His soft pastel coloring and wide, sparkling eyes immediately draw players in, and he quickly became one of the most popular newer villagers upon his introduction. His favorite colors are blue and white, his catchphrase is "hoppity," and he has risen three spots to rank 13 in the current Tier 1 standings.

14. Lucky

Lucky draws you in with his unique mummy design, and then you meet him and see how adorable he is on top of that. He is a fan favorite for good reason, and his creepy-cute aesthetic makes him a standout among dog villagers. Lucky is a really good character for horror or spooky themed islands, and when players used to stream this game and visit islands, people loved having a creepy little mummy dog as part of their collection. His lazy personality pairs perfectly with his bandaged appearance, giving him a laid-back, lovable vibe. His favorite colors are beige and white, his catchphrase is "rrr-owch," and he has the play hobby. Lucky climbed 11 spots to reach rank 14, reflecting his growing popularity.

15. Maple

Maple is the most wholesome little teddy bear, and she might be the cutest villager design of all time. Zero notes. Her normal personality and warm brown coloring give her a classic, timeless appeal that has kept her in Tier 1 for years. She is a normal bear cub who radiates coziness and comfort. While some consider her a little understated compared to flashier villagers, that simplicity is exactly what her fans adore. Her favorite colors are green and white, her catchphrase is "honey," and she has the education hobby. Maple is a character who proves that sometimes the most straightforward designs are the most enduring.

16. Judy

Judy may be a brand new arrival to the Animal Crossing series, but she has certainly not been new to the popularity charts because she has received enough votes over many months to secure herself a sparkling spot in the top 20. Her look is inspired by the night sky, and her eyes are full of sparkling stars, while her beautiful pastel colored fur mimics the blended colors of the Aurora Borealis with subtle pinks giving way to deep purples and magnificent galaxy blues. Judy enhances her beauty by wearing light blue eyeshadow with just a hint of blusher, and all this works towards giving her an intense cuteness that has earned her an army of fans who desperately want to gaze at this star. People are so drawn to her unique celestial design, cutesy eyes, and beautiful coloring. Her personality is also quite unique as she is the only snooty cub in the game, and this means she is obsessed with style and appearance. Her favorite colors are pink and white, and her catchphrase is "myohmy."

17. Rosie

Rosie is a classic cat villager in the game, and she is highly popular and sought after due to her cute and bubbly design. She brings a lot of nostalgia for longtime players who remember her from earlier Animal Crossing titles. Rosie's peppy personality gives her a lively, fun energy that lights up any island, and her simple but charming blue cat design has stood the test of time beautifully. Her favorite colors are red and pink, her catchphrase is "silly," and she has the music hobby. Rosie surged 13 spots to land at rank 17, showing that classic characters still command a strong following.

18. Roald

Roald retains that classic penguin color scheme, and accurate animal designs are always a hit with players, but this one has the added advantage of having super cute wide eyes that stare dreamily off into space. When people want a penguin, they want Roald — he is for sure the most popular penguin with his big eyes and adorable flannel. Roald is named after Roald Amundsen, the first person in the world to reach Antarctica, which is a cool detail that adds to his charm. His custom house interior has incredible icy animated wallpapering and funky frosted flooring, which makes it look like he is living on an iceberg, complete with ice statues of polar bears and an ice block table with cool blue ice lollies. His favorite colors are red and yellow, his catchphrase is "b-b-buddy," and he has the fitness hobby.

19. Henry

Henry is one of the most desirable smug villagers in the game, and players love this little green dude. With 18 total frog villagers, he is not always easy to find, which adds to his appeal. Henry surged an incredible 96 spots in the latest rankings to land at number 19, one of the most dramatic climbs on the entire list. His smug personality gives him a charming, self-assured energy that pairs well with his cheerful frog design. His favorite colors are aqua and blue, his catchphrase is "snoozit," and he has the music hobby. Henry's massive jump in popularity reflects a growing appreciation in the community for well-designed frog villagers.

20. Marina

Marina is pretty popular because she is the embodiment of cuteness. Her pure soft pink color scheme is super sweet, and it is accentuated by her big light yellow cheeks, the wisp of pink hair atop her forehead, and the small pink bow on the back of her head, which ties the whole look together. It is not just her outward appearance that is cute, though Marina takes her strawberry pink persona and themes her whole existence around it. If you visit her custom house, you will find it decorated wall-to-wall with soft baby pink furniture that perfectly suits her pure personality. Look at this sweet little pink octopus — it is no wonder she is one of the most popular villagers. Marina is by far one of the cutest villagers in the game, and her favorite colors are pink and red, her catchphrase is "blurp," and she has the music hobby. She climbed 14 spots to reach the top 20.

How to Hunt Villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Villager hunting is one of the most popular parts of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and it has been for all of these years. The process is straightforward in concept but can require patience and resources, especially if you are aiming for a specific Tier 1 or Tier 2 villager.

Step 1: Open Up a Plot

To go villager hunting, you will need an empty plot on your island. This means one of your current villagers must have moved out and left behind a vacant lot. If you already have 10 villagers and none are planning to leave, you will need to work on moving one out first (see the section below on kicking out villagers). Once a villager is in boxes and departs the next day, the plot will be empty and available.

Be aware that empty plots will auto-fill. If you do not invite someone within a day or two, the game will randomly assign a villager to that plot. So plan your hunting session for the same day the plot opens.

Step 2: Use Nook Miles Tickets

The main way of villager hunting in New Horizons is through Nook Miles Ticket islands when you have a free slot. Head to the airport, redeem a Nook Miles Ticket (2,000 Nook Miles each), and fly to a mystery island. Each island will have one random villager on it. If you like the villager, talk to them and invite them to live on your island. If not, fly back and use another ticket.

This process can take anywhere from one ticket to hundreds of ACNH Nook miles tickets depending on who you are looking for. The game randomly selects a species first, and then a villager within that species. This means villagers belonging to species with fewer members (like octopuses, which only have three villagers) are technically less likely to appear simply because the game has to first roll that species. Conversely, cats have 23 villagers, so even if the cat species is rolled, getting a specific cat like Raymond is a 1-in-23 chance on top of the species roll.

Step 3: Use Amiibo Cards

Another one of the most consistent ways to get a specific villager is to invite characters to the campsite using amiibo cards. This method gives you full control over who comes to your island. You will need to invite the villager to your campsite three times over three separate days, completing a DIY crafting request each time. After the third visit, they will agree to move in. If your island is full, you can choose which current resident they will replace.

Note that villagers introduced for the first time in New Horizons (such as Raymond, Sherb, Audie, Judy, Shino, Sasha, and other 2.0 newcomers) originally did not have amiibo cards, though most have since received them. Confirm card availability before relying on this method.

Step 4: Check Your Hotel Tourists (3.0 Update)

With the 3.0 update, hotel tourists are an important new factor in villager hunting. If a villager is currently staying on your island as a tourist, you will not be able to find them on a villager hunt that current day. Since he is currently a tourist, that takes him out of the pool of available villagers which can appear on those islands. The villagers simply cannot be in two places at the same time — if a villager is staying on your island that day as a tourist, then you also cannot invite them to the campsite using their amiibo card, as they simply cannot both be a tourist that day and also a camper.

One important new step that you should take every single time you go villager hunting is to check your hotel. Go into the lobby, check to see who is currently staying or who might be wandering around the island as a tourist, and make sure that is not one of the villagers you want to hunt that day. The good news is the villagers do rotate in and out each and every day, so the next day it will not be the same guests and therefore you should be able to hunt for the villager you want.

There might also be a good side to this new feature. There is a good chance that maybe there might be some villagers within those eight tourists that you do not want to find on a villager hunt, and therefore it will kind of lower the amount of those unwanted villagers that you can potentially find on the islands.

Step 5: The Campsite

Occasionally, a random villager will appear at your campsite without any amiibo invitation. You can talk to them and try to convince them to move in. If your island is full, they will suggest replacing a specific resident. If they suggest someone you want to keep, you can close the game without saving and try again, the villager they suggest replacing will change each time (though this requires patience).

Additional Tips

• You cannot invite hotel tourists to come live on your island permanently. It does not matter how much you talk to them or how many times they come visit your island, it is simply not possible to invite them as tourists to become permanent residents.

• Some villagers on Nook Miles Ticket islands will actually remember if they lived on your island previously thanks to the 3.0 memory upgrade, which is a really cool detail.

• Trading villagers with other players is another option. When a villager is in boxes on someone else's island, you can visit and invite them to your island if you have an open plot.

How to Kick Out Villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Sometimes a villager just is not the right fit for your island, and you need to make room for someone new. There is no direct "kick out" button in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but there are reliable methods to encourage a villager to leave.

The Time Travel Method

The most commonly used method involves time traveling forward to trigger a villager's move-out request. Here is the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Talk to the villagers you want to leave. On your current day, go around your island and talk to two or three villagers, including the one (or ones) you want gone. This helps establish recent interaction data.

Step 2: Check for thought bubbles. Look around your island to see if any villager has a thought bubble floating above their head. If you find a thought bubble and it is not on who you want it to be on, do not talk to that villager. You need the thought bubble to appear over the correct villager.

Step 3: Time travel 15 days forward. If no thought bubble appears, or if it appears over the wrong villager, close the game and move your system clock forward 15 days. Load the game and check for thought bubbles again.

Step 4: Verify the thought bubble. When you find a villager with a thought bubble, walk into a building and come back out. If the villager still has the thought bubble, it means they are likely asking to move away. If the bubble is gone, it was probably just a random dialogue event like wanting to give you a gift or asking for a favor.

Step 5: Redirect the bubble if needed. If the thought bubble lands on a villager you want to keep, save the game on that day, then advance to the next day. The thought bubble will transfer to a different villager. Keep repeating this process — saving and advancing one day at a time — until the bubble lands on the villager you want gone.

Step 6: Confirm the move-out. Talk to the villager when they have the thought bubble. They will tell you they are thinking about moving away. Agree with their decision and let them go. The next day they will be in boxes, and the day after that, their plot will be empty and ready for a new villager.

Important Restrictions

There are several conditions that will prevent move-out thought bubbles from appearing:

• Saturdays: Villagers will not ask to move on Saturdays.

• Holidays and events: During in-game holidays or special events, move-out requests are suppressed.

• Birthdays: A villager will not ask to leave on their own birthday.

• Recent arrivals: The most recently moved-in villager is less likely to ask to move out.

You do have to time travel for this method, so just be aware of that. But other than that, it does the trick and you can go get your next villager.

The Ignoring Method (No Time Travel)

If you prefer not to time travel, you can wait naturally. Roughly every two weeks, a random villager will develop a thought bubble asking to move away. You cannot control which villager it will be, so this method requires patience. If the wrong villager asks to leave, simply tell them to stay and wait for another cycle. There is no evidence that ignoring a villager or hitting them with a net increases the chance of them wanting to leave, the selection is random.

Using Amiibo Cards to Replace a Villager

If you have an amiibo card for a villager you want, you can invite them via the campsite. After three visits, when they agree to move in and your island is full, they will ask you to choose which current resident they should replace. This gives you direct control over who leaves and is the most precise method available.

Using the Campsite Visitor

When a random campsite visitor offers to move in and your island is full, they will suggest a specific villager to replace. If they suggest someone you do not want to lose, close the game immediately without saving and reopen it. Talk to the campsite visitor again and play their card game to convince them to move in — they will suggest a different villager each time you reset.

With 413 villagers to choose from in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there is truly someone for every player. The 3.0 update has added new layers to how villagers interact with your island through the hotel tourist system, and community opinions continue to shift as players revisit the game in 2026. The rankings above reflect the collective voice of the Animal Crossing community, but the best villager is always the one that makes you happiest when you see them wandering around your island. Happy hunting!