Basically, if it registers something as being added or completed.. I, well, complete it. So fish, bugs, museum, Nook Miles Achievements and anything else they might add.
I'll eventually get the catalogue complete, but it isn't really needed for me at all.
I do not consider myself a completionist ( like, I both play and modify Elder Scrolls games but have not once earned all of the achievements or completed all storylines), but I do love cataloguing in AC. I become joyfully fixated on completing the furniture sets I like and collecting all variations of very specific things like folding lamps, tapestries, etc. That sometimes does mean making lists, which I do not see as "Work, therefore Not Fun," contrary to the popular notion that those two modes of engagement are dichotomous. Checking off the final item on my list - ah! I've finally tracked down the yellow espresso machine- feels very good to me, though there is some subsequent melancholy as you can only complete a checklist once. So then I move onto a new goal - maybe this time "every color of the deluxe washing machine" - and it starts all over again!
I like how accommodating AC is to all kinds of players: folks who don't set any/many goals for themselves, folks who are always grinding toward a particular milestone or other. I think we stand to learn a lot from one another so I'm glad this topic was raised.
This is such a good question because for some reason I always feel like my island is incomplete even though I don’t really want it to be complete. I think my version of completing my island is more reflective of just wanting it to look good enough to have a full walk through tour without any empty or limbo areas.
I'm trying to catch all bugs and fish for the museum. I'm usually out there looking the first month new ones come out.
Somehow, I don't really care about fossils though - I just bring em to Blathers as I dig them up. I think I only need one or two more but I won't bother trading for them.
I'd love to complete the art section too, but seeing how infrequently Redd shows up I think that would take years haha.
I'd like to 100% DIYs at some point, I just have a few regular DIY's left, most of which are wreaths/flower crowns. I don't really care to collect ones that are out of season - they make playing in different seasons exciting.
For cataloging, I really only care about cataloging items I like. I'm not really bothered to 100% the whole thing. I AM interested in completing sets though. The first set I completed on my own were the mixers and it made me so happy haha.
I want to complete the museum in time along with getting all the flower crowns and wreaths recipes.
I want to get all the recipes in time, but I'm not in a rush to complete them.
I trade with people a bunch, but I've slowed down in seeking recipes and I'm trying to find most of them on my own now.
It's funny, I don't know that I've ever completed the museum in any AC game before. I remember looking at the number of blank spots in my fish/bug encyclopedia steadily filling up in NL... I may have completed the fish exhibit, but that would be the only time I've ever done so. Fossils are easier, I eventually got there in both WW and NL. Art, of course, is a much longer-term commitment haha.
But now that I'm going through all these guides and there's an achievement/reward system and I can check off all the fish/bugs I've caught this month, I have a little more hope for catching 'em all and I care more about it. I want to see those stamp cards filled out! It's satisfying.
However, I wouldn't grind to reach completion as soon as possible in a game with no time limits or clear finish line. If it's an achievement I can fill up quickly to get a certain activity I don't like out of the way - like digging up clams for example, since I don't use fish bait - I'll go ahead and spend a little time the next few days digging clams as one of my daily activities. Or selling shells.
But for the achievements that I already build upon by playing the way I do, like DIY furniture and breaking tools, I'd like the reward to be a surprise that shows up one day, kinda like how Phineas would just show up one day in NL and that's how you knew you accomplished something. (I still remember when he told me I played for 500 hours and how that's the equivalent of 21 straight days...)
Everything but I slowed down since I started. I really want to catalogue every set/clothing etc. but it's a lot of work. I remember it taking awhile in NL too so slowing down is probably for the best. Still, filling the catalogue is a goal I have.
Getting as many Nook Miles done for sure too, but that's probably lowest on my priority.
Another now low-priority is the museum just because of how rare it is for Redd to show up here.
I like the collecting aspect of the game, what I really enjoy is doing the monthly fishing and bug hunting though. Even with the some really rare spawn rates these are the most fun to do.
I want to complete the museum and my catalog, but thats about it. I'm not rushing to get it done anytime soon. And TBT has so many trading outlets for that so it doesn't make collecting stuff too stressful. I'm pretty similar to you, my job IRL requires me to be extremely thorough and meticulous. I'm also a perfectionist at heart so when I play games, I try to play in a more relaxing manner that doesn't cause me as much stress. Although depending on the game, I have striven for 100% Steam achievements in the past (Witcher 3 lol)
My only concrete goal in NL was to "complete" my town, which to me means landscape the entire area to my liking and similarly decorate my house the way I want it. To do this I collected as many furniture items as possible and chose to display my favorite ones in my homes, and created a town layout that made me happy. Because I am a perfectionist, every tile, flower, and tree outside was purposefully placed. I then saved my creation via dream address at a specific time and date so it remains my perfect vision forever. Because you could not save or share your bug and fish encyclopedia, those were not necessary for me to complete, but definitely a bonus that I did try to work for.
I play NH very similarly, and focus a lot on my island landscape more than anything else, but also try to complete the museum for fun!
I'm not a complete...' completionist,' but strive to get every fossil, fish, and bug donated naturally as I play through each month without time travelling. Some of my friends sell what they catch right away and I'm sitting there like, 'WHY DO YOU DO THIS?'
Also put focus into my catalog for furniture and clothes. Don't actively trade, but will when I see an item or DIY recipe I really like.
The only thing I don't care to complete are house upgrades. I prefer smaller homes but the storage situation has forced me to dump bells into them anyway.
I feel like I must complete the bugs, fish, and fossils in this game. In the previous title, I neglected it and it made my museum feel so empty, but with the addition of fish bait, there is no reason why I can't complete the museum.
For me, completing New Horizons means collecting Every. Single. Item. in the game. Completing the museum, participating in every event, and finishing every Nook Mile reward. And of course, end up with a town I'm very happy with and will be proud to show off to visitors, although of course, in my opinion, a town is never finished, since my mood and style changes and so my town also will.
In past games, I never really completed anything, not even the museum. I just played it casually.
New Horizons is a bit different. This time, I really aim to complete the museum and collect all KK Songs at least. Also, I'm trying my best to collect all available furniture sets.
I set out to complete everything. Realistically, I won't bother completing certain things. Like, hybrids...I'll never go out of my way to do that. But, anything that has a definitive checklist (nook miles, catalog, museum, etc)...those things I will definitely complete.
I'm a psycho who loves spreadsheets, so spend a lot of time making them to personally track completion of museum and catalog. Strangely enough, the only thing I don't care too much about is getting villager photos. I'm not particularly in a rush though, so I'll get there when I get there.
I'm pretty similar to you, my job IRL requires me to be extremely thorough and meticulous. I'm also a perfectionist at heart so when I play games, I try to play in a more relaxing manner that doesn't cause me as much stress. Although depending on the game, I have striven for 100% Steam achievements in the past (Witcher 3 lol)
