In Animal Crossing New Horizons, Jack is back and he is ready to scare the other villagers.  Surprisingly he is quite successful at this, meanwhile he is unsuccessful with the player.

On October 1st the players received a letter in the mail addressed by Jack, the Reigning Czar of Halloween.  He gave players a portrait of him and tells them to be on the lookout for him.  During October several items are available to purchase at Nook’s Cranny.  This includes the Spooky arch, Spooky treats basket, Spooky lantern, Spooky standing lamp, and Spooky scarecrow.

While those are available to buy only once, other items like candy in the cabinet of Nook’s Cranny, are available once a day.  After your purchase, the normal Sold sign is displayed.  This candy is available to eat, drop on the floor, or give to other villagers.  

This only promoted the main event, which is trading candy for more candy (lollipop), items, and recipes.  This only happens from 5 pm to midnight.  Lollipops and those tradable items aren’t available to purchase.  Isabelle explains that to participate it is required to dress up (a wet suit and/or your original outfit isn’t acceptable, these villagers will tell you to change).  

The player either approaches a villager or they do their standard running towards the player.  The villagers are all dressed up, whether they are in their house or not. The approaching ones say, “Treat or Treat” and a little blurb depending on the personality of the villager.  If you give them candy, then the exchange begins.  If not, the villager paints the players face and body a different color and the first to do this, explains that you can reverse this by choosing another skin color with your mirror, vanity, or by using the clothes-changing section in the player’s pockets.  Then they give you a wooden table mirror, instead one may not have it.  There is also a pattern that comes with the colors, a pattern with stitches and patches of a leather looking material, and wrinkles like an elderly person (the scariest costume).

If you approach a villager ,the above may happen or they can give you some candy and still talk a bit about Halloween.  This includes, “Happy Halloween!  Can you tell I’ve been hyped for this day for a super-long time?” before the villager gives out candy and, “I am so ready to give 100 percent for Halloween tonight.  I hope you’re pumped too!” after they gave out candy.  Both of these are said by jock type villagers.

The villagers give out items, lollipops, and recipes including the (the recipes start here and it incorporates the ones dropped by balloons) Spooky chair, Spooky trick lamp, Spooky tree, Spooky Tower, Spooky lantern, Spooky table setting, and Spooky garland.  The items include duplicates of the Nook’s Cranny items listed above and Spooky garland and Spooky table setting.  All of these items have the ability to be customized, except they require a certain color of pumpkin instead of the standard Customization kit.  

Meanwhile Jack is aimlessly wandering around the island. If you approach him he tries to scare the player and starts off with, “Trick or Treat” then introduces himself as the same title on the letter.  Following that he asks if the player fits the spot for his “accomplice” (afterwards describes the player as his “little minion” and changes the title again to servant).  

While to some this may sound terrible, some may be more inclined to accept Jack and his offer.  In particular Tabby, a peppy cat villager requests to be Jack’s “accomplice” while the player talks to her with Jack’s face and robe on.

Jack requests a piece of candy, which the player has to keep up with his demands to continue the event.  If the player already has one, he will state that he senses they have a piece of candy and that happens when the player approaches him with candy.  He giggles in glee when the player gives him candy with the orange and yellow striped wrapper and he screams, “No… No! BUT YES! OH, YESSS! HAAAAAPPPPYYYYYYY! HALLOWEEEEEEEN!” when the player hands him the pink lollipop.  

The first gift he gives the player is an outfit called “Jack’s robe”.  Next is the “Jack’s face” gift.  If the player equips this they can scare the other villagers and trick them into giving their candy to “Jack”.  However, by the end of the dialogue they make a remark that they figured it out a little while ago, (probably from the height difference) but allow the player to keep their candy. 

Then is the Spooky wand, a stick with a gold and black helix and an orange pumpkin at the top with a mouth, nose, and eyes carved into it.  Lastly is the Spooky carriage, which is a huge orange pumpkin with a window carved out on both sides.  The window is outlined in a dark purple, the same dark purple as the wheels and material holding up the pumpkin.  After that the items given by Jack repeat that order.  His “extra rewards” line is a scam. 

The recipes for the beloved Spooky wallpaper, Spooky flooring, and Spooky rug are given by either Jack or a villager.

There isn’t any holidays items on the Special Goods section on the Nook Shopping, so now players can look forward to Thanksgiving!