Firstly, it’s important to note that I am not a gamer – at least not until now.

It was never a habit of mine: I got a Nintendo Switch during my first year of university, and played Mario Kart and Animal Crossing. It has since aged into something I pick up on occasion. But this week, my other hobbies have been long forgotten. It is now only Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream.

It’s a “social simulation game”. You act as caretaker of a “digital dollhouse” island. People turn characters from video games, films, TV shows, books, celebrities, real-life friends and family, even pets into Miis: you name it, someone has made it.

I didn’t really get the hype – not for the price of £49.99 anyway. You feed them, clothe them, and just watch them talk to each other? To me, it seemed like The Sims, but with a lot less freedom. Why would I even play this?

But it had been consuming my social media feed, so out of curiosity, I downloaded the demo. I completed it, then uninstalled it, and completed it again: I had no choice but to purchase the game.

But how could this simple game become my new obsession? Let me talk you through it…

Make your characters

My first three were Sonny Angel, Smiski, and Miffy. 

I enjoyed creating these: it’s surprising what you can achieve with such simple character design. My brain spiralled… should I make Donal Finn? Or how about Princess Peach? 

I’ve seen people paint the Mona Lisa or create photo-realistic versions of celebrities using pixel art. I began a list of the future island residents I would make.

Once you’ve created them, it’s time for phase two

Make them meet each other

So, all three characters hit it off instantly. It became a love triangle pretty quickly, but I’m team Sonny and Smiski. They talk, you interact with them and feed them, you slowly unlock the ability to give them gifts, new walks, catch phrases. Sonny walks like a model, Miffy stands cutely.

I wish there were more steps, but that is it. And I don’t know how it happens, but quickly you have ten Miis. Rodrick and Regina George just became sweethearts. Clark Kent and Naomi from the 90210 TV series are in love. Sonny Angel just rejected Smiski, who is still smitten with him.

You can’t really control them – I carefully drew a marmalade sandwich for Paddington Bear, and he didn’t even like it. Sometimes you play mini games with them, but mostly you just observe. 

So what about it is so absorbing? 

I would describe it as a fish tank. 

Squidward has fallen for your best friend, and you sit like a child with your face glued to the glass of the aquarium. Occasionally, you tap the glass or feed them some food, but mostly you just observe. 

You can’t control, you can’t force them to get married, you can’t really do anything – but those very qualities I was confused by became what I love.

It’s anti-modern, anti-social media, and slow. Partly due to being a recreation of an older game, but mostly because it’s my own ant farm with whatever my brain can think up thrown inside. It feels like hearing gossip.

You’re in a slow mindset of just enjoying and watching a game. You never know what you’re going to find. The focus is this chaotic, offline, absurdity rather than polished and structured gameplay. 

It’s all down to how creative you can get. You can draw whichever characters you want and get the most absurd pairings, you can design clothes, food, and decor. And of course, you get to decide what they talk about. 

It reminds me of those improv games you’d play as icebreakers as a child. The ones where you’d pick random words – then those numbers, adjectives, and verbs would form a ridiculous story. Tomodachi Life has no filter, so yes, you could make them talk about how brilliant Concrete is, or how much they love stinky socks. 

Some might use it to talk about non-PG topics, but many online have shown them using it for more wholesome purposes. One Instagram post shared how they designed their dad, who had passed away, and put him in the game. It acted as a comfort zone for them to remember him, relive silly moments, and to help process grief.

It scratches that itch we’ve been searching for, escaping to an older time. 

So, as Mii versions of myself and my partner allow us to fall in love with each other again for the first time, if anyone needs me, you know where I’ll be.

Image credit: Hannah Foley