Walking through the halls, it can be difficult to miss the growing number of students carrying Nintendo Switch consoles between classes.
Much of this renewed interest in the console is tied to the launch of “Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream,” which was released on Apr. 16, 2026. The game serves as the long awaited sequel to the original “Tomodachi Life,” released exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS. Known for its quirky humor and unpredictable gameplay, the series allows players to create characters, build relationships, and manage their own virtual community.
Since its release, the new installment has created lots of excitement among students. Many are drawn to the expanded customization options and new interactive features that were not available in the original version.
Some students have noted the elevated inclusivity of the new game compared to the original, particularly the addition of LGBTQ+ relationships.
“I remember in the 3DS version it didn’t allow same-sex relationships,” said sophomore Emory Kool. “If you wanted two Miis to fall in love, it had to be set as a boy and a girl.”
Kool also noted that the new added features make the game feel more realistic and engaging.
“There’s just more you can do now,” said Kool. “It feels more like I’m controlling a community instead of just watching things happen.”
Other new features that were not included in the first installment include a customizable island instead of a pre-set one, and the ability to draw custom clothing, food and items pixel-by-pixel.
However, not all students believe the new version is better. Some argue that while “Living the Dream” adds more features, it loses some of the personality that made the original memorable.
“In ‘Living the Dream,’ the Miis are too nice,” said junior Amelia Throesch. “In the original, they were more unpredictable, which made it entertaining.”
Throesch also pointed to the simplicity of the original version as part of its appeal.
“I like how random it was in the old game,” said Throesch. “Now it feels more controlled, and it doesn’t have the same features as the original.”
Despite mixed opinions, the game’s popularity continues to grow as the new installment remains a major topic of conversation among students.
concerned mii • Jun 1, 2026 at 9:43 am
i’m a fan of living the dream, however, besides the addition of customizability features to better represent islanders and create interesting setpieces, it came at the cost of a majority of content from the original. there simply isn’t enough to do. on the DS my daily tasks would involve visiting the variety of timed island events, checking the shop/news rotation, and *then* mii problems. there isn’t really anything more than mii problems, shops/news, and building stuff yourself. the tiny event cutscenes are fun but after not too long you just see the same ones over and over, you can’t even give miis toys, like swingsets and minigames. as well, the drama between miis is reduced even further than the hidden menu it had in the original- nearly even relationship is instantly friendly, and miis will fall in love at a pindrop. overall i just… wish there was more to do. the customization was incredible but it feels like it was at the cost of the rest of the things that make tomodachi life, well, tomodachi life.