Animal Crossing: New Horizons on iPhone and Mac (nxnative)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is on the nxnative tested list: the game you own can run as a native iPhone, iPad or Mac app. Here is what the official notes say about the tested version, performance, app size and known issues.
How well does it run?
Plays on the iPhone at 30 fps, as on the Switch. On the Mac it was tested from a new game through Tom Nook’s counter, the flight, the island’s creation and the arrival, with about 1.85 GB of memory.
What to know
- Tested with update 3.0.3 and the Happy Home Paradise add-on mounted.
- nxnative has no online features, so visiting other islands online is not available.
Playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons on iPhone
You need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer on iOS 26, or an M1 iPad, plus a Mac to build the app from your own game files (see requirements and how to use nxnative). The app starts in the 3D touch layout; a connected controller hides the touch controls.
For longer sessions a controller helps: a phone-mounted USB-C controller such as the GameSir G8 Plus MFi turns the iPhone into a handheld, and the game’s motion controls then follow the iPhone’s own gyro. See the controller guide.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons questions
Does Animal Crossing: New Horizons work with nxnative?
Yes. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is on nxnative’s tested list (update 3.0.3 (with Happy Home Paradise)). Plays on the iPhone at 30 fps, as on the Switch. On the Mac it was tested from a new game through Tom Nook’s counter, the flight, the island’s creation and the arrival, with about 1.85 GB of memory.
Which iPhone do I need for Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro or later) or an M1 iPad on iOS/iPadOS 26, or an Apple silicon Mac. Older iPhones cannot read the BC-compressed textures.
Does nxnative include Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
No. You need your own copy of the game and your own keys; this site does not provide or explain how to obtain them.
Does Animal Crossing online play work?
No. nxnative has no online features, so online island visits are not available.
All tested games: nxnative games list. Official per-game notes: GitHub.