Island Residents
Spoilers may be contained on this page.
Island Residents are all of the player’s friends that live and work on the island. By giving gifts, the player can upgrade their friendship level with a given character, unlocking items, color palettes, and quests.
Island Visitors have more limitations on how they interact with the player and do not level friendships like standard Residents do.
For more detailed information about Island Visitors, refer to the Island Visitors page.
Residents
Resident Friendship
The player can normally give Residents 3 gifts per day to raise friendship. Increased friendship may unlock Companion Abilities, avatar palettes, furniture, recipes, Crafting Plans, and/or various quests. More gifts can only be given with the use of a 
Friendship Blossom or 
Friendship Bouquet.
Not all friendships rise at the same rates. Some Residents do have lower max levels than other; however, some Residents also require many more gifts to reach their max level. Later-game characters are more difficult to level.
Friendship progresses from (New) Friend, to Good Friend, to Close Friend, and finally to Best Friend. Good Friends and Close Friends both earn a return gift increase of 1. Good Friends also unlock the ability to receive multiple gifts at a time. Best Friends give Character Gift Boxes, which contain the standard return gift with additions, and also can be asked to collect items for the Collection Box.
For recommendations on the best gifts to give characters, refer to the Character Gift Guide.
Available at Start
The following are introduced during the opening sequence and available to befriend from the start of the game - if the player can reach them. Certain Tools, increased stamina, or the completion of some story quests may be necessary to approach them.
Available Later
The following are unlocked at later points in the game by completing certain quests.
Visitors
The following characters are able to visit the island by staying in 
Visitor Cabins that meet their requirements. Some are able to visit anytime, but others only travel on a set schedule. Once they are staying on the island permanently, the game refers to them as "residents" but does not treat them like the regular Island Residents. Their friendship is measured in stars instead of hearts and can not go above 5 stars.
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Other Characters
These characters can be found around the island, sometimes during quests. They have yet to be established as Residents or Visitors.
