On March 27, Japanese video game company Nintendo announced the release of the second installment of the Tomodachi Life game series, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream for Nintendo Switch 1 and 2 consoles. The game consists of a sandbox-style life simulator where gamers can create Mii’s, form friendships and discover all the strange events that can happen on the island.
The first Tomodachi Life game, Tomodachi Life, released in Japan on April 18, 2013, and was later released in North America on June 6 the following year. It was originally released for the Nintendo 3DS, a hand-held gaming console sold globally. This predecessor follows the same life simulator gameplay loop with interactive characters and engaging gameplay.
On initial release, the first installment of the game series received much praise and great reception. By March 2025, it had sold over 6.72 million copies worldwide. Many enjoyed the game for its quirky feel and unique charm. Now, many regard it as a fan-favorite with its ironic and random humor and shocking situations.
A major point of contention with the first Tomodachi Life game was its exclusion of same-sex couples from the game’s programming. An apology from Nintendo reads, “We apologize for disappointing many people by failing to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life.” Nintendo also pledged that their next installment would be more inclusive, in order to better represent all players.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, supports same-sex couples, and includes marriage and children between Miis of the same sex. Additionally, players can set individual dating preferences for their Mii’s, as well as choose from three varying gender identities: male, female and nonbinary.
“I feel that it was long overdue for players to freely express their Mii’s love through in-game romance. I am glad Nintendo has finally caught up with the times,” said Marina Prado-Echeagaray, a first-year student at the University of Colorado Denver.
Before its release, fans of the game were excited to see what a second installment of the game would bring in terms of features and gameplay. Upon release, the game opened with a score of 81 on Metacritic, a review aggregation website that collects various scores from critics for movies, video games, tv-shows and albums. During the initial launch, players were sharing screenshots of funny and surprising situations their Miis encountered.
One of the biggest draws of the game is its lack of filtering sensitive language. In the first Tomodachi Life game there was a language filter that, while quite flexible, did not allow players to express their ideas fully. Many mainstream video games like Roblox or League of Legends feature extensive language filters aimed at eliminating profanity from these online spaces. Surprisingly, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream has opted not to use one of these filters, thus allowing optimal expression from players.
The game also features new qualities that are upgrades to its predecessor. For instance, users are now able to create elaborate family trees for their Miis — a feature that is especially important for players who like to add people from their real lives into their game.
Another big change seen in the new game is the elaborate island decoration. Players can buy decorations, lighting fixtures, and various other town-building essentials to decorate their islands. They can also use an expansive terrain tool that allows for endless ingenuity and originality.
From my own experience, the game has been a wonderful addition to the Tomodachi Life franchise. With its expansive updates, the game feels like a much needed upgrade to the first installment. Many aspects of the first game are still present in this one, adding a hint of nostalgia to the title. Many of the songs from the original soundtrack are still present in various locations around the map and there are numerous pieces of clothing that serve as callbacks to the first game as well.
Fans are excited to see what is yet to come from the game series, with many hoping for routine updates and additions similar to other game franchises like Animal Crossing. The future of the Tomodachi Life series is one of great excitement, with the game being a perfect sandbox of endless possibility and creativity, waiting for the next eager player to engage with everything it can offer.
