Animal Crossing: 
New Horizons
A life simulation game where players create and customize an island, interact with villagers, and engage in various activities like fishing and building.
Context
Type
Course Project
My Role
UX/UI Designer
Duration
6 Weeks
Tools
Figma
Project Brief
Overview
In ELVTR's UX/UI in Gaming course, I analyzed game design communication and
‍implemented solutions to elevate the UX in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Challenges
• Lack of Experience: First time working with games and limited familiarity with the game.
• Limited Resources: No access to brand guidelines or UI components.
• Time Constraints: 6-week course duration.
Goal
To improve user experience in Animal Crossing: New Horizons by enhancing navigation and inventory management for easier gameplay.
Design Process
Player Journey
Outlines gameplay stages to identify friction points.
Click here to view the full player journey in Figma.
Affinity Mapping
I organized game developer options into their respective screen categories to create a clear and structured user flow.
Click here to view the full affinity mapping in Figma.
Player Flow
Using the affinity mapping results, I created a player flow showing how players navigate through each screen and action.
Click here to view the full player flow in Figma.
Lo-Fi Wireframes
I created low-fidelity wireframes focused on mapping out the main clickable actions and user interactions on each screen.
Click here to view the full lo-fi wireframes in Figma.
Usability Test
Overview
Usability testing focused on a Map and Inventory screen, with 5 players of varying life simulation game experience, to assess usability, find pain points, and gather improvement suggestions.
Key Findings
Map Screen
• Pros: Clear layout.
• Cons: Players are confused what the column of houses on the right are.
• Suggestions: Add a label to that ride side column
Inventory Screen
• Pros: Functional for players.
• Cons: Cluttered, hard to find items, no sorting.
• Suggestions: Add category tabs.
Iterations
I added a label to the map screen, category tabs to the inventory, and unhighlighted bottom-right buttons since they aren't the main actions on their pages.
Click here to view the full lo-fi wireframes iteration in Figma.
Hi-Fi Wireframes
UI Mockups
Click here to view the full UI mockups in Figma.
Accessibility
Color Blindness Test
Click here to view the full accessibility test in Figma.
Color Blindness Test Iterations
Click here to view the full accessibility test iterations in Figma.
Final Design
Next Steps
• Conduct additional user testing on navigation and inventory improvements.
• Continue refining interactions to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
Case Study 02 >
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