Provided by Nintendo

“Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream” is a faithful addition to the “Tomodachi Life” franchise.

I have never been more excited to play a new video game than I was for “Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream.” The first version of the game was one of my favorites on the Nintendo 3DS, so, like many other longtime fans, I had high expectations for the newest game on the Nintendo Switch. After spending $60 on it on release day and immediately playing it for hours, I can confirm that it was worth the anticipation and upholds the standard set by the first game in the franchise. 

The original “Tomodachi Life” game was a social simulation game that follows Miis, robotic avatars the player creates, as they live on a tiny island and build relationships with other Miis. “Living the Dream” follows the same premise, but with a few new twists.  

The main difference between the two games is the amount of control the player has over their island. In the first game, players had barely any control over their Miis’ actions, but in “Living the Dream,” the player can actually pick Miis up and force them to interact with others, giving the player a more active role on their island. 

Having more control over the Miis definitely makes everything much more interesting and interactive. Putting Miis in goofy situations is one of the best parts of the franchise, and having more control over them makes the game more hands-on while working off the concept introduced in the older game. 

“Living the Dream” also includes significantly more customizable content than the first game. The in-game Mii designer was expanded beyond the customization options available in older systems and games, including more detailed facial features, hair options and even a freehand face paint tool. The detailed design options make creating Miis significantly easier, and it creates designs that are more dynamic and interesting overall. 

There are also more options for honing a Mii’s personality in “Living the Dream” than there were in the original. Alongside the 16 available personality types, “Living the Dream” also allows the player to give their Miis little quirks, which allow the player to change the way they walk, eat, sleep and generally go about their day. This feature helps make Miis more dynamic and unique, and also generally makes them more entertaining to watch. 

The Island Builder is one of the best additions to the new “Tomodachi Life” game. Unlike the old game, the island the Miis live on is now completely customizable. The player is free to design the island with decorations, paths and greenery however they see fit. The designer is accessible and easy to use, and designing the island is honestly more fun than I was expecting it to be. Designing a miniature town for the Miis adds a fun spin to the already expansive customization aspect of the new game. 

One thing that sticks out negatively about “Living the Dream” is how fast everything seems to progress. Miis seem to make new friends and fall in love significantly faster than they did in the first game, where it would take several days or even weeks for Miis to build relationships. It cheapens the experience of watching Miis fall in love and start families because it no longer feels like the same rare, special event.  

The old game also seemed to simply have more to do at times. There were more events and facilities available to players throughout the day, including a concert hall, rap battles, games in various areas and more. Now, the player spends most of their time either simply watching Miis wander around the island or forcing them to talk to each other until something happens, which can become repetitive over time. 

Although some vital parts of the original “Tomodachi Life” game are absent in “Living the Dream,” the game is overall a fantastic addition to the franchise. “Living the Dream” includes enough new features to keep players interested without losing the heart of the original game. Despite a few minor downsides, “Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream” is one of the best games released on the Nintendo Switch, and was well worth both the money and the wait.

Contact Emma Lynch at [email protected]