Island Planner, developed by Bubble Wand Games, is a standalone planning tool designed to help players map out Animal Crossing: New Horizons island layouts. It provides a sandbox-style workspace with both 3D and top-down views, allowing users to experiment with cliffs, rivers, paths, buildings, bridges, inclines, and vegetation before recreating their designs in-game. A toggleable grid supports alignment and spatial planning for large-scale island structures.

The tool also includes a map-import feature that can generate a rough base layout from a 1280x720 in-game screenshot. Because the in-game map does not fully display elevation data, some manual height adjustments may be required after import. Overall, Island Planner functions as a visual planning companion for players preparing major terraforming or structural redesign projects.

3D visualization and layout workflow

Beyond its core tools, Island Planner emphasizes visual evaluation and spatial experimentation. The ability to switch between bird’s-eye and angled 3D views allows players to assess elevation, terrain layering, and overall island flow from multiple perspectives. This makes it easier to judge spacing, cliff transitions, and the visual balance of large areas.

Because the imported map serves only as a rough foundation, refining terrain and height details becomes part of the planning process. The sandbox structure encourages experimentation, letting players iterate on layout ideas before implementing them in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. As the developer notes, the project is still an early build, and some users may experience performance issues depending on their system or browser.

A practical sandbox for island planning

Island Planner serves as a practical sketchbook for Animal Crossing: New Horizons players who enjoy carefully shaping their island layouts. With flexible 3D perspectives and a map-based starting point, it provides space to explore ideas, refine elevations, and reorganize large areas without pressure. For those planning ambitious redesigns, it offers a structured and approachable way to turn creative concepts into workable in-game layouts.