Skin tone

The player's skin tone is a customizable feature that determines how light or dark the player's skin is. In the main series games prior to, all players start with a pale skin tone, and it can only be changed by tanning, a process in which standing in the sun for prolonged periods of time darkens the player's skin tone. Beginning in, skin tone is selected by the player at the beginning of the game and can be changed later in a menu.

In
In, the player can tan by staying in the sun during summer for prolonged periods of time. Because Animal Island is always set in summer, the player can also tan there all year. Tanning can be prevented if the player is holding an umbrella.

In, , and
In, , and , the player can tan by staying in the sun during the summer, from July 16 to September 15, for prolonged periods of time. Their skin will darken by the following day. In and  there are six skin tones, and in  there are eight. Tanning can be prevented if the player is holding an umbrella or wearing certain headwear. If the player stays out of the sun, or when summer is over, their tan fades away each day.

In, similar to Animal Island in , the player can travel to Tortimer Island to tan outside of the summer season.

In
In, the player chooses between eight skin tones at the beginning of the game, and their skin tone can be changed at any time by using a mirror. As a result of this, tanning does not appear in. The 1.5.0 Fall Update, an item known as the, which can be purchased from the Nook Miles Redemption, was added. This item unlocks four Halloween-themed body paint options, which are treated as skin tones.

In and
In, the player's skin tone, face, and hairstyle can be customized at the beginning of the game. They can freely change their skin tone afterwards upon unlocking the Styling Machine.

In, the player is able to customize their skin tone, face, and hairstyle in the tutorial and in the Settings menu.