Tomodachi Life is a video game released in 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS about taking care of customizable characters called Miis on a player’s own island. It is a sequel to the Japan-exclusive game, Tomodachi Collection for the Nintendo DS. A new release in the series, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, is scheduled to be released April 16 2026, for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
The series has become beloved among fans, mainly for its absurd and endearing character drama and entertaining writing. Many have been vocal about wanting a new, updated and more easily accessible version of the game.
The original Tomodachi Life has been difficult to find official copies of due to its release on an older console and the fact that it can now only be purchased secondhand. Resale prices for a used physical copy of the game can exceed over a hundred dollars, making it inaccessible for many players.
Additionally, the original game received criticism for not allowing same-sex relationships for a players’ Miis. Nintendo of America released a statement apologizing for the lack of inclusion, “We apologize for disappointing many people by failing to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life. . .We pledge that if we create a next installment in the Tomodachi series, we will strive to design a game-play experience from the ground up that is more inclusive, and better represents all players.” This change finally appears in the upcoming game.
In the Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Nintendo Direct posted to Youtube on Jan. 29 2026, the video shows the game now allows players to choose your Miis’ gender dating preferences, along with offering “Non-Binary” as a gender option alongside the existing “Male” and “Female” options.
“I think [those new inclusions] are awesome, because that’s not a very big thing in Japan. It’s kind of a ‘props for Nintendo’ for doing that, because they’re going to get criticized for it and they know that,” said Maddie Brooks, a senior at Ida B. Wells High School (IBW).
Allura Jones, a junior at IBW, said, “I’m excited because when I played the original, I had to make my Mii a boy so she could make out with other girl Miis, so I’m excited to not have to do that.”
Beyond those new inclusions, the game also features a wide range of other brand new features. There is a vast amount of new customization for a player’s Miis, even more than Miitopia, Nintendo’s last major release involving Mii characters.
Outside of character customization, there are also many new ways to enhance the island where players’ Miis live, including terraforming and decorative items. Players can also draw custom designs and apply them to Miis’ clothing, TVs, house exteriors and more to create unique content in the game.
The game also includes typical graphical improvements that come with its release on more advanced hardware such as the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
“I’m buying it as a birthday gift for myself.” Jones said. “[I am excited for] customization options, the creative freedom, better processing so I’m not limited to one specific island, the ability to make my own island, better graphics overall and more dynamic interactions between the Miis.”
Pre-orders are currently priced at $59.99, which is typical for major Nintendo Switch releases. However, for potential buyers who are high school students, and are less likely to have jobs or extra spending money, the cost can still be significant.
“Yes, I will buy it. I will probably wait for it to go on sale, though,” Brooks said.
Overall, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream appears to cater closely to what fans want to see from the series, with strong excitement surrounding its new features. The primary downside for some players remains cost accessibility.
