An intriguing anomaly has surfaced in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons realm, as a player stumbled upon an uncommon bug that situates the NPC Mabel within the confines of Nook’s Cranny. Ordinarily presided over by Timmy and Tommy Nook, this glitch introduces a third unexpected character into the bustling scene of the iconic shop.
Since the inaugural Animal Crossing on the GameCube, Nook’s Cranny has held a pivotal role in the game’s fabric. Throughout various iterations, the shop’s stewardship has transitioned from Tom Nook to his nephews Timmy and Tommy. However, in the New Horizons edition, the shop undergoes only one upgrade from its initial state. Players initially resort to making purchases at Resident Services until the shop eventually opens after three days of buying and selling. Conventionally, the shop operates under the dutiful care of Timmy and Tommy. Yet, for this particular player, a peculiar glitch places Mabel within the establishment where she doesn’t belong.
A Reddit user by the name of DetectiveNervous7426 recently shared a screenshot from their Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience, depicting Mabel in the unconventional setting of Nook’s Cranny. Mabel typically collaborates with her sister Sable at the Able Sisters store, with Sable occupied in the rear of the clothing shop while Mabel assists players in accessing the changing room and fulfilling orders. However, this player has encountered Mabel exclusively at Nook’s Cranny for two years, despite attempts to relocate the Able Sisters’ establishment. Interestingly, when engaging with other players, Mabel promptly returns to her designated location.
Despite this confirmation that visiting players can relocate Mabel, the functionality of the Able Sisters shop in her absence remains unclear. In the Animal Crossing: New Horizons realm, villagers often engage in shopping activities at both the Able Sisters and Nook’s Cranny, while NPCs seldom deviate from their intended roles unless affected by anomalies like this. Furthermore, in fully upgraded islands, NPCs sporadically appear at The Roost in the Museum, offering unique dialogues for players to discover. Additionally, the utilization of Animal Crossing Amiibo can introduce characters such as Celeste, Joan, and Mabel, alongside Sable, into the game.
While other bugs have been reported in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, this particular anomaly involving Mabel stands out as an exceptionally rare occurrence. Unfortunately, DetectiveNervous7426 did not elucidate the method behind Mabel’s unusual placement, leaving the replication of this intriguing glitch currently unknown.