Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fossils: How to Find

Animal Crossing: New Horizons fossils are a big part of completing your museum.

Fossils have been in Animal Crossing since the very beginning. Veteran players can still recall seeing the inlaid stars on the ground and cautiously stepping around them, careful not to fall prey to a pitfall trap, hoping what waits below is bones rather than something entirely useless. The thrill of having them assessed by Blathers and adding to your collection in the early days was unmatched.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fossils

In New Horizons, fossils spawn much more frequently. Previous games had the rate of just four per day while some players are reporting anywhere around five or six within that same 24 hour period.

Let's go over the basics. Fossils can be found buried in the ground in spots denoted by a dark star-shape on the ground. Simply dig up the star to find one. Players will know its a fossil from its circular shape, indigo coloring, and spiral shell and star pattern. There are a total of 76 fossils to be collected on your island.

Once collected, fossils can be taken to Blathers to be assessed. One could think of the item dug from the ground as a "raw" material which is then "refined" by Blathers' determination. He will tell you what kind of fossil it actually is and, now, whether or not it can be immediately donated. The type of fossil is often random.

In previous titles, every fossil had to be assessed and donated one at a time.

Previously obtained fossils can be sold to the Nooklings for a decent price depending on the fossil's size and rarity.

The best way to find fossils is to search your entire island. Roam from top to bottom and keep your eyes peeled for stars—yes, this includes behind buildings. Fossils can spawn in any uncovered natural area. Additionally, be sure you're checking back every so often.

Don't forget the capabilities of your camera, either. Using the right joy-con, angle your camera low to the ground when standing behind something. This can make the object blocking your view "disappear" so you can see clearly what lies behind it.

If you're terra-forming and have an area you don't want fossils to spawn, the answer is as easy as paving or planting over it.

Happy hunting!