Animal Crossing New Horizons is here, and players have now been putting their island paradise together for several weeks.
One of the game's lesser-explained elements, Balloons, can be a little confusing to grasp at first. Here's our guide.
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Animal Crossing: New Horizons Balloon Guide
What are Balloons in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
Balloons float over your island from one direction to another, and that direction changes every 12 hours – although it seems there is no fixed changeover point.
They float over on the fourth and ninth minute of any given 10-minute cycle, so if you're playing at 7 am you'll see them at 7:04, 7:09, 7:14 etc. You can find our full guide to maximising your Balloon haul here.
When one is nearby you'll hear a 'whooshing' sound, meaning it's time to shoot it down with your slingshot. Each contains different items depending on the colour of the balloon.
What colours are there for Balloons, and what does each one do?
- Red Balloons – More likely to be furniture
- Yellow Balloons – More likely to be Bells, the game's currency.
- Blue Balloons – More likely to be crafting materials.
- Green Balloons – A mixed bag!