By Gabbi Pie’
Correspondent
When “Tomodachi Life” was released for the Nintendo 3DS back in 2013, it was unlike anything else on the console at the time, let alone anything Nintendo had ever released. Serving as a sequel to the 2009 Japan-exclusive “Tomodachi Collection,” this social simulation game was similar to “The Sims,” only it starred Nintendo’s quirky Miis, little customizable humanoids with funny faces and tiny bodies that were first introduced on the Wii.
In “Tomodachi Life,” players could make Mii versions of anyone imaginable: themselves, their families, friends, celebrities and even fictional characters. These Miis could talk with each other, form relationships, have children and much more. The game became hugely popular for its almost limitless possibilities and odd sense of humor. Even long after its release, fans continued to enjoy the game and hope for a sequel.
Finally, after over a decade of hoping, a Nintendo Direct in April 2025 announced that a sequel called “Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream” would be released the following year. In January, a Tomodachi Life Direct was released, going into more detail about the game and announcing it would be released on April 16. To generate hype, a demo was released on March 25, allowing for the creation of three Miis and access to a few of the game’s features.
Now, with the full game available to the public, fans have jumped at the opportunity to flood their islands with Miis and see what the long awaited sequel has to offer, complete with an entirely new original soundtrack and high-resolution graphics.
The layout of this game differs from the first one in several ways, starting with its customization features. There are many more customization options for creating Miis, such as additional eye types, hair styles and colors and a face paint feature that players have already exploited impressively.
The game also allows Miis to identify as nonbinary and have specified dating preferences, creating a LGBTQ+ friendly experience that is a vast improvement from the first game, where same-sex marriage was controversially not included. The game has also quickly become infamous for its lack of censorship when it comes to customizable phrases for Miis, leading to some funny, vulgar interactions that have gone viral online.
The island itself can also be customized via house construction, town building and terraforming. Custom items can even be created. The Mii characters can also be seen freely walking around and talking to each other out in the open. Whereas the first game had a fixed landscape for the island, this game is reminiscent of other life sims such as 2020’s “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” and adds a fresh new element to the gameplay that makes every player’s copy unique.
There are, however, certain features that this game lacks when compared to the first game. For example, while the 3DS game allowed for the creation of 100 Miis, “Living the Dream” only allows 70 to be created. This is likely because of the Miis’ expanded mobility across the island and players can have multiple islands across different Nintendo Switch profiles, but this has nevertheless led to some complaints from players who have endless ideas for Mii characters.
In addition, the Concert Hall, where Miis could perform customizable songs of different genres, does not make an appearance in this game. This was one of the 3DS game’s most beloved features, as it allowed for many goofy moments, and so it is no surprise that fans have expressed disappointment.
However, despite these differences, the reception to the game has been overwhelmingly positive, with fans excited that the franchise has finally made a comeback after years of waiting. The original game has a lot of nostalgia tied to it for many players, and thankfully, the sequel is just as wacky and off-the-walls as its predecessor. It is not hard to smile when seeing your Miis say strange sentences, have weird dreams or talk with each other about pasta. “Living the Dream” is a game that radiates joy, goofiness and good vibes.
