Fantasy Life i is a game that wants to brighten my day

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As a seasoned gamer here, let me tell you, if you’ve been online for longer than a moon cycle, chances are you’ve stumbled upon that Danny Devito meme saying “Oh my god… I get it.” It all started from an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Well, when I booted up Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, and found chunks of my life vanishing over the following days, that was me – Danny Devito-ing it up!

Over time, I’ve come across many individuals who enjoyed playing the initial version of ‘Fantasy Life’ on the Nintendo 3DS. Frequently, these people would place it in their list of all-time favorite games. Our own writer, Mikhail Madnani, is one such person who has endorsed it. Regrettably, I somehow never got around to experiencing it myself.

In today’s world, I found myself unsure about my next choice after playing “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33”. As the year 2025 approached, I didn’t anticipate diving into Fantasy Life so soon. Given its long history of development struggles, I wished it good fortune. I was familiar with the numerous years it spent in development limbo, and much of the pre-release content that Level-5 shared did not persuade me to play it. Initially, it was intended as a Nintendo Switch exclusive title, but the footage they presented appeared to perform poorly.

To be honest, I didn’t have great hopes for

The most interesting description I got about Fantasy Life was that it’s similar to an older version of RuneScape, which isn’t an MMO. Back in the day, I spent countless hours on RuneScape in my internet browser – before they added 3D models. It’s likely one of the first games that sparked the idea of job-class leveling in video games for me, even jobs focused on non-combat tasks like chopping wood, mining, and fishing.

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There’s something about Fantasy Life that has reignited my love for “relaxed RPGs” in a fresh way. I assumed I wouldn’t enjoy this genre anymore, given my advanced age and reduced gaming time compared to before. Yet here I am, over 40 hours deep into Fantasy Life i, and I can’t help but grin every time I pick it up.

In simpler terms, “Fantasy Life 1” appears designed for younger players. The game’s bright and cheerful menus match the oversized heads of its 3D chibi characters, who move around in a whimsical world. Dialogues are light-hearted and free from profanity. Important actions, like striking a critical blow against a monster or collecting resources, are clearly indicated by vivid visual and audio cues. The game’s mechanics are easy to grasp with no complex tricks or meta-references. In essence, the game is straightforward and transparent.

What really resonated with me about Fantasy Life is that it seems designed to bring joy to the player. In 2025, I’ve tried out numerous games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The First Berserker: Khazan, Split Fiction, Blade Chimera, and The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. I want to emphasize that none of these games are poorly made or awful; they may not be my all-time favorites, but a few of them undoubtedly have their own unique strengths.

From that collection of games, none of them initially appear to be designed for uplifting or enlightening experiences. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The First Berserker: Khazan, and The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy set a grim tone right from the start. Split Fiction’s narrative revolves around a common trope of a new technology being misused by its creator, accompanied by the heartrending backstories of its two leads that are progressively revealed as you play. Blade Chimera features a protagonist suffering from amnesia who gradually discovers the truth behind the apocalypse of humanity.

In simpler terms, I’ve enjoyed my time with all of them, but they either start out sad or become sad as the story progresses intentionally. However, Fantasy Life 1 doesn’t shy away from having emotional moments or conflicts, but it handles these elements in a kid-friendly manner that doesn’t overwhelm the player. The story is presented clearly and concisely without being overly dramatic. It doesn’t rely on realistic images or high-end cinematography. Instead, Level-5 encourages players to play at their own pace while offering a narrative goal when they decide to progress.

Over time, I’ve grown to appreciate games that serve as brief escapes from reality. Among the numerous excellent titles released last year, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival stood out for me due to its design philosophy. This video game is straightforward, efficient, and encourages players to engage rather than watch. While I respect the trend of games striving to be cinematic, especially in the RPG genre, it can become monotonous when it seems like almost every new release aims for maximum cinematics… it can get tiring.

Fundamentally, Fantasy Life 1 is a game centered around ticking off various tasks from multiple lists. The 14 professions or “Lives” can be advanced by completing their respective task lists. The tasks are engaging enough that they never feel overly tedious or repetitive. I could easily spend three uninterrupted hours within my base camp’s townhouse, solely focusing on crafting to level up my Alchemist, Cook, Tailor, Carpenter, Blacksmith, and Artist “Lives”. In this time, I achieve a peaceful state of mind. Numerous times have I launched Fantasy Life 1, and before I know it, eight hours have passed.

In this game, each gameplay feature is designed to complement the others. It’s quite easy to lose focus, but Fantasy Life 1 anticipates this and turns potential distractions into engaging experiences instead.

For example, instead of seeking the party member who receives a reward after accomplishing three easy tasks from an NPC, perhaps I’m looking for the one who needs a “Superior” Gold Pickaxe as part of his quest. Since my funds are low, let’s try to mine some gold first. Interestingly, my current Miner assignments have several tasks related to gold ore, so it might be wise to complete those simultaneously.

As a gamer, I might stumble upon some nearby critters that my Hunter needs to complete quests for. Guess it’s time to take care of them too. Wow, the place where those monsters hang out seems to be filled with trees and fishing spots perfect for my Woodcutter and Angler personas. In this moment, I feel a sense of tranquility washing over me.

During this entire detour phase, my three teammates have been encouraging me with various boosts and hindrances. If any of them were a Miner, Lumberjack, or Fisher, they would’ve provided additional assistance. As I advance in levels, they too are progressing, and our bond is strengthening, which grants new abilities at certain milestones. Whenever I manage to craft that Gold Pickaxe, I can also select Blacksmith team members I’ve enlisted to aid me in the process.

I’m absolutely eager to fire up Fantasy Life without delay! This game has brought me countless hours of pleasure, and I’m proud to back it. Kudos to Level-5 for swiftly resolving issues, particularly enhancing the multiplayer aspect. At first, the multiplayer had quite stringent conditions during Early Access, but many were lifted just before its official launch, in a short span of days. Here’s hoping that its success surpasses the impressive 500k sales mark and continues to thrive!

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2025-05-26 22:56