Torrentgame – For many Animal Crossing: New Horizons players, achieving the coveted five-star island rating is a labor of love—one that takes months (or years) of meticulous planning and decorating. But one player, Reddit user Dismal-Item-2103, somehow managed to hit the jackpot completely by accident in just 30 days. The result? A chaotic masterpiece that has fans questioning the game’s star-rating system.
A Wildly Unconventional Path to 5 Stars
After restarting their island for the sixth time in four years, Dismal-Item-2103 shared their journey to a surprise five-star rating. Two screenshots accompanied their post: the first showed Isabelle excitedly awarding the rating, while the second unveiled the “masterpiece” behind it.
The island’s design wasn’t what you’d expect from a five-star paradise. Instead, it featured scattered flowers, a few statues, and a grid-like arrangement of mannequins sporting neon green shirts with the word “brat.” If this sounds bizarre, it’s because it is—but there’s actually a method behind the madness.
The Rock Garden Trick That Accidentally Scored Big
Turns out, the player was attempting to build a rock garden using a popular trick. Inspired by YouTuber Mayor Mori, the method involves placing mannequins across the island to block rocks from spawning, forcing them to appear in a designated area.
What Dismal-Item-2103 didn’t anticipate, however, was this setup also fulfilling the game’s outdoor furniture requirements. Since the mannequins count as furniture, they contributed enough points to secure the coveted five-star rating. The spacing also avoided overcrowding, which can trigger penalties for “traffic hazards.”
The absurdity of the situation has led many fans to question the algorithm behind the rating system. As the player noted, while the system makes sense “on paper” (as explained in wikis), the actual outcomes can feel totally random.
Our Take: Don’t Sweat the Stars, Just Enjoy the Game
As someone who loves Animal Crossing but also values my sanity, I’ve never chased a five-star rating. Sure, hitting three stars is worthwhile—it unlocks regular concerts with fan-favorite musician KK Slider. But beyond that? The rewards for five stars (a golden watering can recipe and a rare flower spawn) just don’t feel worth the grind.
Instead, I prefer focusing on decorating my island for the sheer joy of it. And Dismal-Item-2103’s “brat”-filled island proves that fun and creativity should always come first. The rating system might seem arbitrary, but the freedom to express yourself—whether through elegant gardens or neon-shirted mannequins—is what makes Animal Crossing: New Horizons so beloved.
So, if you’re stressing about your star rating, take a page out of this player’s book: embrace the chaos, laugh at the absurdity, and enjoy the journey. After all, an island full of brat mannequins isn’t just a five-star win—it’s a vibe.
