Tomodachi Life Reviews

Tomodachi Life is ranked in the 56th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
DarkZero
FamilyGamerTV
Top Critic
8 / 10
Jun 6, 2014

For a hobby that has so many negative connotations associated with it I found Tomodachi Life allowing my kids to express themselves in a positive and creative way. With humour and also learning that fights with their game characters, just as in real life, can be resolved. I can't say it touched us as a family on a deep level – it's not meant to, it's just meant to be fun. But a truly fun and silly video game can be a therapy itself.

Read full review

Jun 5, 2014

Tomodachi Life is more a weird interactive soap than a game, but that doesn't make it any less compulsive. You might not be entranced by the simple, repetitive gameplay, but you'll become embroiled in your Mii's virtual lives, and you'll be surprised, baffled, boggled and bemused by the whole shebang. If you found The Sims or Animal Crossing dull then it's not for you – there's less to achieve and this is even less a game – but for everyone that hates Tomodachi Life there will be others who keep coming back for more.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jul 14, 2014

Tomodachi Life is by far the weirdest game that I've ever engaged in. And much like my Miis, the experience has been completely unique.

Read full review

8 / 10
Jun 5, 2014

The fact that it's almost impossible to cover every aspect of Tomodachi Life in a single review is perhaps testament to the vast scope of the game. There is so much going on here and so many months of potential enjoyment on offer that this would easily become your most-played 3DS title. But again, that thorny issue remains — is this really a game in the strictest sense? It's closer to being an expanded version of Bandai's famous '90s craze the Tamagotchi, with your main duty being the happiness of your Mii population, rather than any skill-based challenges. In fact, there's precious little skill involved at all — given enough time, you'll be able to see everything this has to offer regardless of how "good" you are at it. Of course, that doesn't make the process any less entertaining or rewarding, but it's worth keeping in mind if you prefer your games to be a little more demanding.Despite concerns regarding its suitability for core gamers, Tomodachi Life is a title which has truly universal appeal; the barrier to entry which exists in many pieces of software — Animal Crossing: New Leaf included — is all but removed here, making this feel more like a casual mobile title. Some will see that as a negative, but under Nintendo's watchful eye, this cookie-cutter concept is expanded and improved almost beyond measure. Tomodachi Life is perhaps best described as the glorious culmination of the Mii concept that was heralded by the release of the Wii back in 2006, and at long last gives your virtual avatar a life of its own — as well as many humorous and entertaining escapades to enjoy.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 6, 2014

Perhaps it was at the point when I saw Chuck Norris doing yoga with Batman, the Joker, and Barack Obama or maybe it was when Princess Peach was rejected by Peter Griffin. At some point while playing Tomodachi Life, I realized how much the game activated my imagination. When I was little, I was never one to play with action figures or make up fake storylines for fictional characters to partake in, but with Tomodachi Life, I have never felt my imagination so stimulated. I feel like I am managing a virtual dollhouse of celebrities; that is okay, because I have never had so much fun planning the daily goings-on of my Miis.

Read full review

80 / 100
Mar 1, 2014

Tomodachi Life is more toy than game, but it's an intriguing, colorful, and consistently surprising one.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2014

Ridiculous, hilarious and full of the unique surrealism that Nintendo does so damn well, it's hard not to fall in love with Tomodachi Life and the characters you create. The sedate pace and minimal interaction might not be everyone's cup of tea, but this is guaranteed to be a cult hit. Worth experiencing at least once to see something genuinely funny and unusual, this is the kind of game that reminds you how imaginative Nintendo can be.

Read full review

Jun 6, 2014

The latest of Nintendo's experiments to create games with appeal beyond the usual clichés of the medium, Tomodachi Life may actually be the most humanistic creation the company has ever put together. While it could (somewhat notoriously) stand to be more inclusive, its focus on the concrete personalities and tangible interactions of tiny digital people make it one of the most addictive and fascinating life sims ever made.

Read full review

Jun 6, 2014

Tomodachi Life finds fun in the most mundane of activities, thanks to quirky style that makes hanging out with digital friends surprisingly engrossing.

Read full review

IGN
Top Critic
8.4 / 10.0
Jun 6, 2014

Tomodachi Life offers a great kind of humor: it's just fun to laugh at yourself and your friends in absurd situations. Nintendo gets a lot out of mileage out of this Sims-like concept, but still manages to find ways to make it simple, accessible, and entertaining. The stiff, robotic voices could use improvement, but the effect of hearing the Miis speak is still novel in it's own way. The easy-breezy pace makes it ideal for short bursts of play, and it leaves me eager to check in on my town early and often.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Jun 19, 2014

Tomodachi Life is a delightful and wholly enjoyable game. Bound to keep kids occupied for many hours with its endless amounts of character possibilities, it seems more suited to the younger generation as its trailers would suggest. Still, if you are a fan of The Sims and Animal Crossing, as much as I hate to refer back to these games as much as I have, then I'm sure you will enjoy Tomodachi Life in some capacity, be that for the short or long term.

Read full review

4.4 / 5.0
Jun 6, 2014

Tomodachi Life is a unique game. It's a simulation, sure, but the random elements and varying personalities of the Miis keep it from being as straightforward as something conventional like The Sims. It's more of an opportunity to put Miis into a virtual world and play around with them. The players won't always have control, but they'll still have a good time. That said, I can see some people who are craving something more straightforward feeling letdown by the fact that don't have total control over the Miis lives and actions. Overall, I think anyone who takes a chance on this unorthodox property will have a positive experience, and hope Nintendo will build upon this franchise.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Jun 6, 2014

[T]his is a wonderful game that I obviously can't stop playing, and I can't speak highly enough of. Endlessly charming and unusually engaging, Tomodachi Life is a fantastic diversion.

Read full review

GamesBeat
Top Critic
90 / 100
Jun 6, 2014

Tomodachi Life reminds me what I love about Nintendo. Another developer might try an experience like this on iOS or Android, but it's unlikely they would leave it unsullied by in-game purchases. I also doubt that many other studios could nail the effortless humor that makes this so refreshing to play. It's not about shooting people. It's not even about jumping on heads. It's about mixing people together to see what happens, and I'm not sure anyone but Nintendo could figure out how to make something that simple so much fun.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Jun 6, 2014

In all, Tomodachi Life is filled with pure, unbridled joy. It puts a stupid grin on my face and keeps it there through its duration. Some might complain that it is "not a game," but they can go on hating. It does require the player to put in some love, flair, and wit, but what comes out is magic.

Read full review

Unscored
Jun 6, 2014

Try it if you're a tween (or a tween-at-heart). Otherwise, avoid it.

Read full review

No Recommendation / Blank
Jun 5, 2014

A life less ordinary.

Read full review

Liked-a-lot
Jun 6, 2014
Tomodachi Life - Video Review (3DS) video thumbnail
B+
Jun 20, 2014

Tomodachi Life isn't going to make all players happy. It can be a touch directionless, and the oddities of the Miis isn't universally appealing. In the end, though, this is the sort of game that open-minded players will love if they give it a chance. There is so much to do and see on a daily basis, it almost becomes compulsory to switch on the game and check in with the Miis. Not a lot of games have as much heart as Tomodachi Life, and I really hope that fans give it the shot it deserves.

Read full review

Yes
Jun 20, 2014

A weird, hillarious, and heartwarming game that still surprises me after three solid weeks of playing it.

Read full review