When thinking of Animal Crossing music, the tunes that often pop to mind are the building themes, villager home preferences, and K.K. Slider songs. Something that is background sound and often not given as much attention are the hourly themes that play while fans wander around their island. They even have rainy variations for when the weather changes.
Those 24 hourly themes in Animal Crossing: New Horizons often have riffed on the original Animal Crossing theme. Some of these songs are beloved, some less so, but all of them have been chosen deliberately for that specific time of day. Certain songs fit their hour better than others, though.
10 12 A.M.
This song feels like the epitome of a dark sky at midnight. With only three instruments playing, it lets listeners relax to the loop of the music. The main theme of Animal Crossing is very obvious in “12 A.M.” despite the song’s minimalist rendition.
The music plays when everything is dark and only bugs are out and about on players’ islands. It brings to mind the image of someone getting ready for bed.
9 2 A.M.
2 A.M is a time that can be seen as either early in the morning or late at night for people who stay awake that late. This song has a gentle piano with bass and feels very dreamy, fitting for a nighttime song. The pace is slow and relaxed, giving it a vibe of montage music.
The aesthetic is great for people secretly staying awake to game in an otherwise quiet house. A fitting image to accompany the song would be either someone looking out a window at night on a bus or friends laughing around a campfire.
8 5 A.M.
“5 A.M.” mimics the stunning piano of other songs, but with other instruments soaring atop the sound like an orchestra tuning. The gentle maraca adds ambiance to the music fitting for a sunrise. The island will have had the whole night to refresh all the items on the ground, such as shells freshly littering the beaches.
The song is ideal for people who rise early in the morning. This Animal Crossing: New Horizons song parallels the feeling of waking up and going onto the porch with a warm drink to watch the sunrise.
7 6 A.M.
Still fairly early in the morning, more people will likely be awake to hear “6 A.M.” play. The song has a bouncy feeling to it thanks to the strings and bongos making a steady beat. The track still feels a little drowsy, like someone starting to wake up.
This is another good song for morning people. It’s ideal for walking along a path and tidying up a player’s island before the day gets going. Images that come to mind are people spring-cleaning or going for an early morning jog.
6 9 A.M.
This time marks the start of many players’ days. “9 A.M.” is a quirky song. While the bongos echo, a mix of many other instruments switch off playing the theme in a way almost identical to the original tune.
While most shops are always open, some places don’t let people in until 8 or 9 A.M. This song gives that feeling of setting a store up for the day or getting tasks like watering plants done before leaving the house.
5 11 A.M.
11 A.M. is a time when the sun is high in the sky. This midday song is a unique take on the original theme. The main instruments used are string, maraca, and piano, which give “11 A.M.” a jazzy feel. It has a mix of both sleepiness and the feeling of getting up and going out for the day. This song could play while someone walks in the mid-morning sunshine either in-game or in real life.
4 12 P.M.
Noon is right in the middle of the day when the world is bustling with energy. “12 P.M.” embodies this as it’s more upbeat than songs that play when the sun is down. It relies heavily on the strings and background instruments to make a catchy beat.
The song has a less obvious take on the main Animal Crossing theme but still gives off an enjoyable sunny vibe for when many players will be in the game. It’s a great representation of spring or summer, with the song evoking images of flowers rustling in the wind. It’s perfect for getting players’ redecorating ideas flowing.
3 5 P.M.
This is a time when the world starts to wind down. “5 P.M.” sounds like a combination of funk and soul music. There is a steady rhythm of bass and drums, subtle electric guitar, piano, and a synthesizer plays the riff of the main theme.
It has a good rhythm and jazzy feel that helps people slow down. Players can chill outside on a bench or table in the woods and this tune will be the perfect background noise. It sounds like music that would be played in a movie when in a park.
2 6 P.M.
6 P.M. is when a lot of people sit down for dinner with their families. It’s a time to relax, and this soothing song does just that. Strings, French horns, and the accordion help bring the daylight hours to a close.
The music fits perfectly with the sunset. It parallels the same walk along the beach that came at sunrise. Lights pop on in villagers’ house windows as they get ready for the evening along with the players.
1 10 P.M.
By this time, most villagers have gone to bed. The song is smooth jazz with lots of strings that evoke the feeling of wishing farewell to guests on the island. It’s late in the evening, a time to relax and finish up any tasks left for the day.
This is also the time that many shops close for the day. The relaxing vibe gives players the image of packing everything away, locking the door, and shutting off the lights to the store.
