REVIEW: The Mii Renaissance: Is ‘Living the Dream’ Worth the $60?

by Janelle Trujillo '26

For some people, it’s hard to find a game or show to stick with, and I’m definitely one of those people. However, “Tomodachi Life” has caught my attention and has stuck with me since the day I downloaded it.

Nintendo released “Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream” on April 16, 2026. It’s available for purchase for $60 and can be played on all Nintendo Switch consoles (1, 2 and Lite).

This well-anticipated game has mixed reviews from people around the world, from Australia to England to the United States. There are things I’ve heard that I agree with and a few things I disagree with; however, opinions cannot change how addicting this game has been. I cannot deny the fact that I already have over 50 hours of playtime.

Creating characters—whether they’re people we personally know, characters from media or even just our original creations—and watching their interactions while rooting for friendships and relationships is what makes this game so fun.

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“You literally get to add whoever you want. It could be the most weird array of characters to ever mingle with each other, yet it still makes sense. That’s what ‘Tomodachi Life’ serves as a purpose,” is what WHS senior Elijona Avdimetaj proudly claims. Her claim isn’t wrong at all; in fact, I wholeheartedly agree with her. Waiting to see if you end up being best friends with your favorite character or what foods your characters hate makes it addicting. There’s so much to learn about every character you make.

The charm of this game is even more appealing. The nostalgia behind being able to play a game that was originally on the Nintendo DS that’s adapted to the newer Switch is refreshing. People yearn for that retro feeling, and so do I. The curiosity behind seeing what they bring into the newer version is riveting.

Many players have commented on the features the original “Tomodachi Life” game had that this game is lacking. Nintendo missed the mark on adding a few notable features from the game prior. For example, the concert hall, where you can create whatever lyrics you want for your Miis to sing and dance to. Another part of the game that is truly missed by longtime fans is the island ranking board, where you can see how your system ranks your Miis. The ranking board told players who the system believed were most compatible or superlatives like “most spoiled” or “most popular.”

In my opinion, I do think that these features were amazing to have in the DS version. If Nintendo were to update the Switch game and add those features, I’d be delighted. However, I don’t believe that not having these features takes away from how great this game is on its own.

Comparisons aside, “Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream” is an extremely amusing and addictive game. WHS junior (and “Tomodachi Life” player) Ximena Reyes adds, “Watching Janelle play ‘Tomodachi Life’ made me literally take the dust off of my Nintendo Lite and download the game. Ever since I’ve downloaded the game, I’ve been obsessed.”

The most loved new feature added to this game is the flexibility for more creativity. You’re able to design your own house, pets, items, rooms, faces, foods and so much more. The possibilities are endless. On top of that, the game has added “lingo” to the game. Players can add their own words referring to anything they’d like. You can make your Miis talk about anything that interests you.

I’m not the most artistic person, but seeing everyone’s ideas on social media has been extremely entertaining for me. This game can be random, but also as unique as you make it. Personally, I’ve added silly topics that could apply to my own life. For example, my Miis talk about going on Target runs all the time.

You can build friendships, families and enemies. I believe the most charming aspect of the game is how the Miis can interact with each other. They interact while you’re playing and even when you’re not actively playing. One day you could open your game to two best friends fighting or maybe one of your favorite couples decided to have a family—who knows! Every time I check on my island, I get excited to find out what else my Miis have been up to since I last checked in.

The possibilities are truly endless, and that is what makes this game so exciting. Even after playing for 50 hours, I still can’t get enough of “Living the Dream.”

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