Animal Crossing: New Horizons players can customise their character’s look, regardless of gender

Check-in Procedures â‘¡
At the counter, they'll ask for your name and birthday, and then they'll take a picture of you for your passport. Take as much time as you need to get yourself looking just the way you want! #ACNH pic.twitter.com/MvTdrIwkwO

— Tom Nook UK (@AC_Isabelle) February 26, 2020

As shown, players will be able to select their skintone, hair cut and colour, eye shape, nose shape, mouth shape, and blush when the game begins. This is for their passport photo before the player gets on their flight to the deserted island, but it’s an exceptional expansion on the customisation systems of past games. Originally, players would answer questions that then permanently determined their facial features, and male characters would get different facial features to female characters. In addition, hair styles were locked to gender in Wild World, and New Leaf let the player choose from male and female hair styles once they’d gotten all the styles in their category. 

Now, I want everyone to know that you'll be able to adjust the way you look while on your new island, so there's no need to worry! Yes, yes, as long as you have a mirror or a vanity, you can change up your style at any time! ♪ #ACNH pic.twitter.com/QcDLrB24bL

— Tom Nook UK (@AC_Isabelle) February 26, 2020

Most strikingly of all, a few of the games defaulted to a white character for the player, and their skin would only (temporarily) tan if the player put their character in the sun for long periods. Happy Home Designer and Pocket Camp offered character customisation from the outset, but New Horizons has notably shown options that are customisable for any gender. Moreover, their look is changeable through a mirror item, so the choices are no longer permanent—another significant difference for the series. Nook Miles will reveal new hair styles and colours as the player accumulates achievements, and will assumedly be added to the mirror menu, so that players aren’t shelling out time and time again on a makeover.