Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Reviews
This has the addictive gameplay loop of completing quests and furthering your lives in tandem. This has the seemingly endless parade of adorable touches filled with cute writing. In a way, even the ambitious scope that threatens to sometimes take down the whole thing is reminiscent of the original and the era that its developer Level-5 was going through with the success of Professor Layton and Yo-Kai Watch. If Fantasy Life i is representative of what they're going to be doing going forward with the likes of Professor Layton, I'm becoming more and more hopeful that they'll be able to reach their old heights. Fantasy Life i is enjoyable even with its occasional slips. I'm happy to be back juggling my multiple jobs of Angler, Paladin, Blacksmith, and Artist.
FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time marks Level-5's triumphant return and shows the steemed developer still has a lot to show to the public.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
As one Steam review pithily, yet totally accurately put it: “It’s like if Runescape was fun.” Fantasy Live i has that big MMO feel to it, yet throughout the adventure never becomes exhausting. Whether the post-game stuff is for you or not, the journey there is such pure, wholesome, moreish escapism that it doesn’t matter. Level-5 took many years to get this out the door, but the wait has been more than worth it.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is an excellent blend of cozy life sim and action-adventure RPG that rarely stops surprising throughout its 50+ hour runtime.
Level-5 has come back swinging with Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, improving on the original in every way and offering a smorgasbord of gameplay ideas without ever feeling like it’s trying too much at once. It balances this level of depth with a laid-back, cosy approach that makes it all too easy to enjoy for hours on end.
Vastly expanding breadth at the cost of depth, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a worthy sequel to the 3DS original, even if it does lose some of that signature Level-5 weirdness in the process. Taking its cues from Breath of the Wild and Animal Crossing might seem pretty unoriginal, but synthesising those ideas into a Fantasy-Life-flavoured version actually works, and we can't really fault Level-5 for giving the people what they want.
The visuals, score and overall presentation have been elevated beyond recognition, and yet, the things that made the original great remain intact. The abundance of gameplay mechanics and variety via the different islands and time periods is a standout feature that makes the endless grind paletable, and while every action in the game borders on basic, it never crosses the threshold to be considered boring.
Despite its shortcomings in multiplayer, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a jam-packed experience that I still don't want to put down. It so easily lulls you into a loop of adventure and exploration and gathering, and just when you start to tire out from your adventure, you're reminded of three other things you could also be doing for a change of pace. I don't know if I'll stop playing it any time soon!
Fantasy Life I successfully expands the laid-back, colorful formula of the original, bringing it to modern platforms with a vast world, flexible class system, and tons of side content. While the story clearly targets a younger audience, the overall experience is rich and rewarding-especially in multiplayer. Combat remains simple but effective, and the excellent localization adds charm. A few camera issues pop up during fights, but nothing game-breaking. Perfect for players looking for a cozy blend of RPG and life sim with a whimsical, fairy-tale vibe.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A mishmash of my favorite dopamine receptors are getting smashed to bits when I play this game, and I’m fine with that. If you’re looking for a cozy, compelling Skinner box of a game, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is perfect for you.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a surprisingly monstrous outing. It can be a seriously addictive RPG adventure, utterly stuffed with things to see, do, and eventually master. The grind can be a bit overwhelming at times, but Level-5's trademark charm and well-designed gameplay loops should keep you coming back. This is vibrant all-ages fun, pretty much from start to finish.
If you've tried the 3DS version, I'd say don't wait any longer and pick it up on any of the platforms where it's available, as you're likely to get hooked on its fantastic simplicity. Meanwhile, if you didn't get to play the first one, but this kind of RPG is more your thing, I also recommend it. I swear you'll become a fan.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you're into games like the new Zelda games and/or Animal Crossing, I highly recommend you take a look at The Time Thief.
Review in German | Read full review
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a free form RPG that delivers in spades with its plethora of quality content, addictive gameplay, and all the enhancements over the first game.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is amazing and well worth the wait, and Level-5 bringing it to multiple platforms to experience it in all its whimsy and wonder was an incredibly smart and measured decision. I'd struggle to find anyone who wouldn't gel with how effortlessly endearing it is, with its vibrant world and charm, dopamine-providing levelling system, a bounty of activities and things to see and do. The side-games that feel like their own games, whether that's exploring a Breath of the Wild-like open world or creating a cute and cozy village of locals à la Animal Crossing, are substantial and meaty, adding to the fun and delight that awaits around every corner. Even the most monotonous task of chopping down a tree is suddenly super exciting. The Fantasy Life series, and The Girl Who Steals Time, are just that magical and effective in doing so. This is a level up for Level-5. Job complete.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time improves on the series in every conceivable way, delivering one of the most feature-rich games of the year.
The combination of the enjoyable lighthearted combat, the nearly endless options of productive activities, or even the less important ones like designing your home and island, the co-op features, and the vast world makes Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time the be-all and end-all for all cozy games.
An enchanting journey with a huge amount of things to see and do, FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a must-play that has something for everyone to enjoy.
Level-5 has done it again by delivering a high quality adventure RPG that is chock-full of a ton of silly fun and stays exciting throughout. 🐲
FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a must-play due to its depth and ingenuity. Whether you're creating medicines, fighting monsters, or rewriting the course of history, there's always something meaningful to be busy with in the game.