Fantasy Life

 3DS
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 275 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 217 out of 275
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 275
  3. Negative: 19 out of 275
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  1. Ratchet_Robbie
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    What a life! I was wondering if this was going to be as entertaining as it is adorable, and the answer is yes! I read a lot of reviews where people said this was a boring or repetitive game, but I don't think people are taking this into context as for what it is. Awesome animated graphics and the definite plus, along with a giant world. Open world play shines, along with being able to doWhat a life! I was wondering if this was going to be as entertaining as it is adorable, and the answer is yes! I read a lot of reviews where people said this was a boring or repetitive game, but I don't think people are taking this into context as for what it is. Awesome animated graphics and the definite plus, along with a giant world. Open world play shines, along with being able to do so many different things. The crafting is just as engaging as any other game that has crafting, like Final Fantasy XIV for example. Are there fetch quests? Yes. If you get bored, simply do something else for a while. This is not a "hardcore" RPG nor is it as customizable as Animal Crossing, though the mix of the genres makes this better in my opinion. I think this game is very underrated and highly suggest this, as it is all about exploration and fun. Yay for Fantasy Life!… Expand
  2. whitetails
    Oct 24, 2014
    9
    When I first saw the trailer and the gameplay it looked awesome. I definitely enjoyed the many lives you can have in the game. Like if you were to play as a wizard and you do not want to buy potions you could do alchemy instead of constantly wasting gold to buy potions. The best part about the game is that the you can change to any of the 12 lives without any hassle. People say its likeWhen I first saw the trailer and the gameplay it looked awesome. I definitely enjoyed the many lives you can have in the game. Like if you were to play as a wizard and you do not want to buy potions you could do alchemy instead of constantly wasting gold to buy potions. The best part about the game is that the you can change to any of the 12 lives without any hassle. People say its like Animal Crossing but the thing is that it is in the housing and gathering aspect. Which is somewhat true but its more comparable to a tiny mmo because the world is pretty big. Overall this game has pulled me and It is definitely worth the money.… Expand
  3. swampmermaid
    Oct 26, 2014
    10
    To say how much I love this game, I created an account on here just to write a review. I had been looking forward to this release since I heard about it a few months ago, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. It would not be entirely inaccurate to describe it as a cross between Zelda and Animal Crossing, with a little bit more RPG elements and cuteness thrown in for good measure.To say how much I love this game, I created an account on here just to write a review. I had been looking forward to this release since I heard about it a few months ago, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. It would not be entirely inaccurate to describe it as a cross between Zelda and Animal Crossing, with a little bit more RPG elements and cuteness thrown in for good measure. I love the fact that you can switch your class at any time, and you can use skills you've learned from other classes while in a different class. The maps are huge, with tons of side quests and different ways to do them. Gameplay is simple, but addictive. There are tons of things to do in this game, from riding a horse, to crafting, fishing, and fighting giant dragons...and that's probably barely even scratching the surface. I've spent well over 10 hours over the past two days just trying out the different classes and exploring the world, and I can't wait to spend even more time in Reveria. To anyone who is on the fence about this game, I can't recommend it enough. Fans of Zelda and/or Animal Crossing will have a great time with Fantasy Life, and this makes for a great addition to the already-great library of games for the 3DS.… Expand
  4. cloverblob
    Oct 29, 2014
    10
    When it's 12AM and you're at the end of a quest, and you decide you'll just run to the other side of town, get your reward and then turn off your 3DS. You don't. You decide you'll just. do. one. more. thing. And then you look at the time and it's 3AM and you have school the next day and you realize you messed up pretty bad but at least you finally reached Adept in three different classes.When it's 12AM and you're at the end of a quest, and you decide you'll just run to the other side of town, get your reward and then turn off your 3DS. You don't. You decide you'll just. do. one. more. thing. And then you look at the time and it's 3AM and you have school the next day and you realize you messed up pretty bad but at least you finally reached Adept in three different classes.

    As the critic reviews in contrast to the user reviews so clearly display, this game is not for everyone. Like any other Level 5 game, it's a niche title and appeals to a specific type of gamer. Me and my buddy picked up this game on its release date and haven't been able to put it down since. I get an odd pleasure from chipping away at the world just a little bit at a time. And it's a much bigger world than one would think. You don't play this game for the story or the combat, you play because there is something crazy relaxing about doing just. one. more. thing.    … Expand
  5. James009
    Oct 31, 2014
    9
    This is a FANTASTIC and charming little game. And when I say little I mean HUGE because there is quite a lot to do and explore. Each of the 12 classes feel unique with their own little story bringing a variety of gameplay experiences. You get to customize a character which is pretty deep for a 3DS game with a lot of options for appearance and selection of your stats as you level.

    Only    This is a FANTASTIC and charming little game. And when I say little I mean HUGE because there is quite a lot to do and explore. Each of the 12 classes feel unique with their own little story bringing a variety of gameplay experiences. You get to customize a character which is pretty deep for a 3DS game with a lot of options for appearance and selection of your stats as you level.

    Only thing it is missing is the ability to get married (like any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game), farming, and being able to switch characters on the fly (where they exist in the same game world). Still, this game is a solid 9/10.    … Expand
  6. Cycopather
    Oct 27, 2014
    9
    An awesome game, made perfectly for Nintendo 3DS. I say that mostly because, I don't think I would enjoy the game on a home console. The game is built around Quests, which aren't usually too long. Thus, it's easy to pick up and play the game for any amount of time.

    All the quests come from the games loose plot, as well as the various "Lives" (Classes) you'll get to live. Nothing felt    An awesome game, made perfectly for Nintendo 3DS. I say that mostly because, I don't think I would enjoy the game on a home console. The game is built around Quests, which aren't usually too long. Thus, it's easy to pick up and play the game for any amount of time.

    All the quests come from the games loose plot, as well as the various "Lives" (Classes) you'll get to live. Nothing felt too forced, and you're really free to do as you please! I wasn't required to do anything, and thus, I could spend the time in game doing things I wanted to do. Not weighed down by plot, I could spend countless hours working on just one skill if I pleased.

    It's very difficult to become lost or confused, and the cutesy environment, coupled with the awesome music, makes Fantasy Life an awesome Nintendo 3DS Title!    … Expand
  7. Pkrockinomega
    Oct 24, 2014
    8
    Best way I can describe it is '07 Runescape-esque mechanics with Zelda gameplay and Level-5's trademark charm. And it's pretty dang good, plus the gameplay and content fits perfectly for a handheld title. The story is rather lackluster but everything else is done really well.
  8. tech101
    Oct 27, 2014
    10
    This game is so fun! I'm 15 hours in and just hit chapter one. There is just so much to distract you from the main story.

    Love that they have pets you can take along with you and fight. In my first 10 hours of play i only fought for about one hour of that. I was too busy crafting as a Carpenter and exploring the main town and surrounding areas. The game has plenty of charming    This game is so fun! I'm 15 hours in and just hit chapter one. There is just so much to distract you from the main story.

    Love that they have pets you can take along with you and fight.

    In my first 10 hours of play i only fought for about one hour of that. I was too busy crafting as a Carpenter and exploring the main town and surrounding areas.

    The game has plenty of charming characters along with eqaually charming dialog. I wasn't sure how much i was going to like this but i can see this game taking me all the way to the release date of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.

    If you think this is an Animal Crossing rip off you would be wrong as it's only about 10% that. It's mostly an rpg with life sim jobs. You do get to decorate your own home though and that's fun.

    Lastly, the game seems rather big once you start exploring outside of the main town area and with plenty to do. If you like rpg's and would like to tackle certain jobs this game was mafe for you.    … Expand
  9. NintendoPlayer1
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    German:
    Dieses Spiel ist so gut! Es macht so viel Spaß beim Spielen und die verschieden Leben sind auch sehr schön gemacht. Vom Musikalischen her ist das Spiel auch bombastisch! Sehr viele Ohrwurm Tracks.
    Die Story ist auch nicht schlecht und wie die Story durch die Quests voran getrieben wird ist auch sehr schön gemacht. English: This game is so awesome! It's very funny and the    German:
    Dieses Spiel ist so gut! Es macht so viel Spaß beim Spielen und die verschieden Leben sind auch sehr schön gemacht. Vom Musikalischen her ist das Spiel auch bombastisch! Sehr viele Ohrwurm Tracks.
    Die Story ist auch nicht schlecht und wie die Story durch die Quests voran getrieben wird ist auch sehr schön gemacht.
    English:
    This game is so awesome! It's very funny and the different lives are nice. The music in this game is good too. The story isn't bad and how the made is epic.    … Expand
  10. cwinters710
    Nov 8, 2014
    10
    Fantasy Life is an extraordinary game with so much to offer you'll see yourself forgetting about your own life. The game is a massive compilation of Harvest Moon, Cooking Mama, Final Fantasy, Elder Scrolls and Animal Crossing compiled into one. The game offers a very cool job system called Life, and you can switch around many life's to do all sorts of quests the game is also filled withFantasy Life is an extraordinary game with so much to offer you'll see yourself forgetting about your own life. The game is a massive compilation of Harvest Moon, Cooking Mama, Final Fantasy, Elder Scrolls and Animal Crossing compiled into one. The game offers a very cool job system called Life, and you can switch around many life's to do all sorts of quests the game is also filled with loveable characters and really nice music that will sure transport you into Reveria.… Expand
  11. TheUltimateApe
    Nov 12, 2014
    10
    I think this is the best handheld game I've ever played. So many things to do, enemies to fight, skills to learn and master, weapons to wield, items to make...sooo much! It's so ridiculously fun and I can't put it down! You won't regret getting this game! I've played a lot but only just begun and can't wait to play more!
  12. GregR
    Nov 7, 2014
    10
    I was reluctant to buy this game. All the reviews talked about the game being repetitive. I'm glad that my curiosity got the better of me. The gameplay is casual and very open world. You can do whatever you want. It's plays well in short bursts to kill minutes or hours. The crafting system uses similar functions, but everything you craft is created using a random sequence of steps. ThereI was reluctant to buy this game. All the reviews talked about the game being repetitive. I'm glad that my curiosity got the better of me. The gameplay is casual and very open world. You can do whatever you want. It's plays well in short bursts to kill minutes or hours. The crafting system uses similar functions, but everything you craft is created using a random sequence of steps. There are power ups, power moves, quantity counts and if your character has made the item enough times they can auto-craft the item avoiding these mini-games altogether. The crafting system is also skill based. Your precision, your timing, etc are all important. Execute a recipe and the game will reward you with a superior item that goes beyond the stats of the original item, in some cases the game will reward you in items or both. Make one gold ingot perfectly and you'll get 3 more for free without using an extra materials. The life-leveling stays with your character forever. If you mine ore and then decide to change to a Paladin, you keep your miner progress allowing you to mine ore regardless of whatever life you decide to change to. The only limitations here special power up moves that remain restricted to your current life. Do be mislead either, there's no non-combat life. (e.g. A blacksmith has to engage enemies to get to ore deposits, as does a fisherman to get to prime fishing locations). I started with a miner, switch to blacksmithing and then to paladin. It really started to remind me of a portable version of vanilla World of Warcraft. Killing enemies, mining ore and building my weapons and armor. It goes beyond that to as you can purchase homes in different zones. You can furnish them, either buying items from vendors or making them yourself. It's one of those games that always has "one last thing to do". There's also an expansion pack available to greatly extend the gameplay. This is definitely one of my favorite games on the 3DS. I would highly recommend it.… Expand
  13. Meringue
    Nov 10, 2014
    10
    This games coverage does a good job highlighting all of the issues with the modern, enthusiast review: they're completely out of touch with the average video game fan. They're outlets for promoting bloated, annual releases and covering them in an inoffensive, dad-gamer manner.

    With the landscape being covered in a menagerie of oddball titles, F2P titles, service game titles, hobbyist    This games coverage does a good job highlighting all of the issues with the modern, enthusiast review: they're completely out of touch with the average video game fan. They're outlets for promoting bloated, annual releases and covering them in an inoffensive, dad-gamer manner.

    With the landscape being covered in a menagerie of oddball titles, F2P titles, service game titles, hobbyist titles, etc, it's a shame we need 82,000 outlets dedicated to saying that Call of Duty is Call of Duty and Smash Brothers is Smash Brothers. Anything that strays outside of the norm doesn't even get full attention paid to it in it's own review (see reviews likening it to a traditional RPG)    … Expand
  14. ValorousJackal
    Nov 2, 2014
    9
    I did not expect to love this game nearly as much as I do. To me, Fantasy Life feels like a cross between Animal Crossing and Final Fantasy, with a hint of the Rune Factory series. Below, I will ramble on about my likes and dislikes regarding this game.

    There is so much to do. There is so much to see. Best of all, I get to do it with a pet by my side! The combat is actually rather    I did not expect to love this game nearly as much as I do. To me, Fantasy Life feels like a cross between Animal Crossing and Final Fantasy, with a hint of the Rune Factory series. Below, I will ramble on about my likes and dislikes regarding this game.

    There is so much to do. There is so much to see. Best of all, I get to do it with a pet by my side! The combat is actually rather fast-paced, which came as a pleasant surprise to me. Monsters are not too easy to defeat, but they're not too difficult to defeat either. Adding a pet or an NPC to your party definitely helps you out, but it does not make the game overly easy. The music, which is reminiscent of tracks from the Final Fantasy series, is charming. The sheer variety of things to do is just great! Between gathering, crafting, exploring, questing, and fighting baddies, I never get bored. The bounty system adds another fun element to exploring. The fact that you can buy pretty much every crafting item from merchants is convenient. I enjoy the quests. I also enjoy how you don't have to bother picking up your Life quests, they're just there. A full day/night cycle takes 30 minutes if I'm not mistaken, which is not too short or too long. You can manipulate time so that you only play during the day or during the night, if you want to.

    There are only two issues I have with this game. SP (energy/mana) regeneration feels a bit too slow. Also, there is a ton of NPC text. Then again, it is an RPG. Plus, the dialogue is witty and fun more often than not.

    There is so much good that I could say about this game. So much, in fact, that I've forgotten many of the things I wanted to type up. Overall, I give Fantasy Life a 9/10. It's a wonderful game, packed with charm and fun, that provides a great escape from reality.    … Expand
  15. Dethbringerx
    Nov 12, 2014
    9
    This game kind of came out of blue. it a fun and deep RPG that feels right at home on the 3ds, the Jobs are interesting and add a fun additional element to the game. the art style is also a plus. this game reminds me of zenonia and animal crossing combined, its got a little something for everybody.
  16. fastica
    Nov 6, 2014
    10
    What can I say. Rune Factory and Ni No Kuni had a child, and he is Fantasy Island. Their grandparents are Dragon Quest VIII and Animal Crossing.

    I'm a gamer since 1993 and after almost 30 hours in this game I can say without a doubt that this is in my top five of favorite games. I have a gamer PC, a PS4, a PS3, a Vita, a WiiU and a 3DS, so as you can see, gaming is my main hobby.    What can I say. Rune Factory and Ni No Kuni had a child, and he is Fantasy Island. Their grandparents are Dragon Quest VIII and Animal Crossing.

    I'm a gamer since 1993 and after almost 30 hours in this game I can say without a doubt that this is in my top five of favorite games. I have a gamer PC, a PS4, a PS3, a Vita, a WiiU and a 3DS, so as you can see, gaming is my main hobby.

    Just like in Rune Factory, everything you do you're advancing at something (unless you're maxed out, but that's going to take a while). To be fair I never get hooked to Rune Factory 4. Instead, I got hooked immediately to this game.

    Fantasy Life is much more straightforward, has a LOT of quest, the world is prettier and the characters are much more interesting than in RF4. Obviously, most quest are

    gathering quest so if you don't like fetch quests this is not the game for you. The main quest so far looks very funny and interesting. The world is beautiful and reminds me a lot of Ni No Kuni and Dragon Quest VIII (all games are from the same developers btw, Level-5). I spent 20+ hours just exploring the first area doing sidequests and starting a couple of lives (jobs). Every life starts with a tutorial that you can skip, but I wouldn't recommend that if it's your first gameplay. Also, every job starts with a funny mini story.

    I can wait to keep playing this game, even after playing it for 30 hours. That not something I can say with most games. I won't stop until I maxed out every life. It really is my fantasy life.

    Buy the game if you>
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Like action JRPGs
    Like the Rune Factoy series
    Don't mind fetch quests
    Are a completionist (this is a completionist wet dream)
    Have an inner child
    Don't mind reading text without voices
    Love games

    Don't buy this game if you>
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Already have it :)    … Expand
  17. ricklongo
    Dec 28, 2014
    9
    As a fan of deep, customizable role-playing games, I’ve always been enamored with the MMORPG concept. Alas, the “online” part of the genre brings with it something I just can’t stand when it comes to gaming: social obligations. As much as I love extended sessions of Smash Bros. and Mario Kart with friends on my living room couch, I prefer to experience my RPGs on my own pace, playingAs a fan of deep, customizable role-playing games, I’ve always been enamored with the MMORPG concept. Alas, the “online” part of the genre brings with it something I just can’t stand when it comes to gaming: social obligations. As much as I love extended sessions of Smash Bros. and Mario Kart with friends on my living room couch, I prefer to experience my RPGs on my own pace, playing whenever I feel like and not having to hastily log on after work to join a guild raid. With Fantasy Life, Level-5 gave me the best of both worlds, providing a sizeable MMO-like adventure with an almost intimidating number of things to do, and allowing me to play it entirely on my own if I so choose.

    In the game, your custom-made avatar is just starting to face the harsh reality of life: eventually, all of us have to start paying them bills. Because of this, you’re immediately tasked with choosing one of twelve possible occupations (or Lives, with an uppercase, in the game’s terminology). Some of them are combat-oriented, such as the Paladin or the Mercenary. Others focus on resource collection, such as the Woodcutter or the Miner. Finally, others are minigame-based crafts, such as the Alchemist or the Blacksmith.

    You can change between occupations at will on the world’s various Guild Offices, and this marks the true beauty of the system: each Life fuels the others, meaning you’ll want to be experienced in at least a few different jobs if you want to take the most out of the game. A miner, for example, is able to gather ore, which a blacksmith can then turn into armor and weaponry, which a paladin can then use to hunt down monsters, and so on.

    If there’s a problem with this setup, it’s the way similar lives feel too close to each other: making potions as an alchemist, forging weapons as a blacksmith, and crafting furniture as a carpenter, for example, all make use of the same mini-games. By the same nature, chopping down trees and mining gemstones use the same basic mechanics. Even so, the amount of different gameplay options on display is certainly impressive, and there’s a good chance you’ll be spending dozens of hours immersed in the incredibly addictive available activities.

    The general storyline puts your avatar in the middle of a world-spanning plot that feels very similar in places to Dragon Quest IX for the Nintendo DS, another Level-5 masterpiece. Often, it will get a bit too dialogue-heavy, but you’ll soon realize you can mostly button-mash your way through lengthy conversations you’re not really interested in. It’s refreshing how there really aren’t any bad guys on the game: you’ll travel around several city-states, each with their own beliefs and way of living, and even though they not always get along, your many epic battles will be waged against wild beasts and mythic monsters, not against incarnations of pure evil set on world domination. This plays into Fantasy Life’s life simulation aspect, and the result is pleasant and fresh.

    Of course, for all of my praise of lonesome role-playing experiences, Fantasy Life also offers something for those obsessed with online multiplayer, allowing you to pair with a friend and take on quests together. I didn’t really try this mode (you know, because of everything I’ve said about my MMORPG turn-offs), but it’s nice to know they took the time to add that option to the final package.

    Certainly not a game for the impatient, Fantasy Life is an impressive effort to trim down the basic MMORPG formula and confine it neatly to offline play sessions on Nintendo’s handheld. It’s filled with charm, cute graphics and great music, and, if you allow yourself to be immersed in its peculiar reality, it will certainly eat sizeable chunks of your free time. It’s the kind of game that could be expanded into a wonderful new franchise, and I hope Level-5 seizes the opportunity to do just that. Until then, I’ll be relentlessly working my ass off in the daily routine of Reveria. Those “Legend” ranks on each occupation won’t earn themselves, you know.

    Rating: 9.0    … Expand
  18. timsdeece
    Nov 4, 2014
    10
    I can't stop playing this game. The basic fetch quest system is unbelievably addictive. The world in which you play out these quests is also superbly crafted. The locations all look stunning and really feel alive. The music always helps capture the essence of the location or the moment. There's so much to do in a world that's very interesting. The concept of jobs helping other jobs outI can't stop playing this game. The basic fetch quest system is unbelievably addictive. The world in which you play out these quests is also superbly crafted. The locations all look stunning and really feel alive. The music always helps capture the essence of the location or the moment. There's so much to do in a world that's very interesting. The concept of jobs helping other jobs out means I am constantly switching and improving.

    I've not felt this sense of addiction to a game in a very long time. Considering there's so much content in the game too, I honestly feel like it's the best handheld RPG made since pokemon red those 20+ years ago.

    Only criticism - framerate drops. But not enough to detract from the score.

    10/10    … Expand
  19. Daggdroppen
    Nov 2, 2014
    10
    Best game on the 3DS! Over 150 hours of gameplay :) 75 % are misleading. Look at the user scores that are 91%. That is more correct for this gem! Hope there will be a fantasy life 2 for next nintendo handheld!
  20. Buttman_ZX
    Dec 25, 2014
    9
    When you play an RPG, you're always given the task to go defeat the evil dragon that will destroy the world or set out to defeat an army that plans to overthrow yours and take over the kingdom. However, in Fantasy Life, you can choose to begin your quest...as a chef.

    Fantasy Life is basically a kid-friendly Skyrim or RuneScape. When you start a new game, you are able to freely customize    When you play an RPG, you're always given the task to go defeat the evil dragon that will destroy the world or set out to defeat an army that plans to overthrow yours and take over the kingdom. However, in Fantasy Life, you can choose to begin your quest...as a chef.

    Fantasy Life is basically a kid-friendly Skyrim or RuneScape. When you start a new game, you are able to freely customize your character to your liking and then choose what sort of Life you want to begin with. There are 12 jobs or Lives to choose from, ranging from a basic mercenary to an artistic carpenter. Being someone who loves RPGs and is constantly given the quest to go out and defeat all evil, I decided to start with a peaceful life before working my way up to becoming a mercenary by starting off as a carpenter.

    As simple and repetitive as it sounds, it's actually quite complicated in detail. Every Life you choose comes with its own mini-quest, teaching you the ropes of what the job or Life is all about. Upon completion of the mini-quest (when you choose to have more than one Life, you can actually skip the introduction and immediately receive the license for that Life), you are rewarded with the license of living that Life for as long as you want or whenever you decide to have a different Life. There are no deductions or consequences in changing your Life, so, technically speaking, you can acquire every single license for all the available Lives. You keep your skills for previous Lives so you can experience other Lives as well, which is a good gesture.

    Fantasy Life's story doesn't really seem as interesting as it sounds, but really, it's actually a game where you experience many different professions, hence, why I mentioned Skyrim or RuneScape earlier. If you put enough time, say over a thousand hours into the game, you could become a master in every Life.

    As for the technical bits and pieces for the game, it runs smoothly without frame-rate drops, the controls are very responsive, the writing is fantastic, and the best part is that the music is composed by Nobuo Uematsu, the same composer for the Final Fantasy series. Overall, Fantasy Life is an amazing and extremely addictive open-world RPG with lots of replayability.    … Expand
  21. cheeseman585
    Nov 4, 2014
    10
    I can't stop playing this amazing RPG masterpiece! Imagine the depth, content, and scale of an MMORPG condensed perfectly to fit on a handheld console. The writing is hilarious and clever, the combat is diverse and balanced, the missions are plentiful, and the levelups are extremely rewarding. As a gamer who loved the collectathon era of Banjo-Kazooie, I have an unquenchable thirst toI can't stop playing this amazing RPG masterpiece! Imagine the depth, content, and scale of an MMORPG condensed perfectly to fit on a handheld console. The writing is hilarious and clever, the combat is diverse and balanced, the missions are plentiful, and the levelups are extremely rewarding. As a gamer who loved the collectathon era of Banjo-Kazooie, I have an unquenchable thirst to grab all of the free items lying around the map, and it pays off tremendously when some villager asks you for items you already have, or you can rank up multiple times in a skill without leaving the work area because you already have the materials you need.

    One of the best functions of the game is local multiplayer. If you have just one friend who will play the game with you, you can split up the responsibilities between you and your friend(s) by picking lives that match your particular skillset better. For example, I was a mage who focused on Intelligence and Focus while my friend was a mercenary who put his points in Strength and Vitality. He was able to mine and woodcut while I fished and sewed. Our combined skills were able to complete most of the missions in the town, and it is INCREDIBLY satisfying to work together to beat a huge boss that one of us needs to rank up. Though most of the side missions are fetch-quests or "kill X of this monster," it doesn't get boring. It just gives you more of an excuse to go out and develop your skills and continue playing this wonderful game.    … Expand
  22. Wildkry
    Nov 11, 2014
    10
    I was extremely excited about this game before it came out and went to buy it the day it came out. I can honestly say, I'm not disappointed. This game is amazing and has quickly become one of my favorite ds games. The game is insanely cute and the music is brilliant. Combat is a lot of fun and the in-game party members are actually useful and extremely helpful. My only complaint with thisI was extremely excited about this game before it came out and went to buy it the day it came out. I can honestly say, I'm not disappointed. This game is amazing and has quickly become one of my favorite ds games. The game is insanely cute and the music is brilliant. Combat is a lot of fun and the in-game party members are actually useful and extremely helpful. My only complaint with this game is how the crafting is very repetitive. It is unfortunate that you use the same controls for each of the different crafting skills. The world is very expansive and is a lot of fun to explore. I wish more games were like this because this one is probably one of the games that will be overlooked, but it is easily a precious gem that should model future games like this.… Expand
  23. potatoewitheyes
    Nov 13, 2014
    8
    Fantasy Life is a great rpg with a very different pace. I really enjoy the mix of diffent types of tasks, from tailoring to archery!

    The start of game is a little slow, with a lot of tracking back and forth, but once you get access to multiple lives it really opens up and gives you tonnes to do.
  24. NotAReptar
    Nov 21, 2014
    9
    Cleverly addicting game that even rivals those on the console. While the story is fairly predictable, the characters are full of entertainment and personality in a huge hand-held world. The enemies are fairly difficult and bosses provide a great challenge. My absolute favorite thing about the game is how it rewards you for your efforts by encouraging you to seek further paths in life. ThisCleverly addicting game that even rivals those on the console. While the story is fairly predictable, the characters are full of entertainment and personality in a huge hand-held world. The enemies are fairly difficult and bosses provide a great challenge. My absolute favorite thing about the game is how it rewards you for your efforts by encouraging you to seek further paths in life. This is a true gem for the 3ds.

    My only main problems;
    1) While carrying captured treasure/bosses behind your character added difficulty it was frustrating how friendly fire from your own character could destroy it easily. It didn't make it any easier that the button to pick up items is the same as the one that attacks.
    2) The inventory system doesn't let you discard items which can be a hindrance.
    3) Having to constantly go back to the quest office to change life's is a hassle.    … Expand
  25. Murf85
    Nov 20, 2014
    8
    This was purchased for me as a gift, and I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was Animal Crossing with murder. I enjoy it. I chose to be a Hunter in order to take lives at a distance, and then started trying out the other "Lives" when my bags were started getting annoyingly full.

    The game-play is pretty simple, but there's plenty of things to do. You kinda have to go out of your way    This was purchased for me as a gift, and I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was Animal Crossing with murder. I enjoy it. I chose to be a Hunter in order to take lives at a distance, and then started trying out the other "Lives" when my bags were started getting annoyingly full.

    The game-play is pretty simple, but there's plenty of things to do. You kinda have to go out of your way to keep from crafting. Everything you pick up is usable in a profession and all professions bleed over into the others. It becomes worth it to just pick up the other lives because things tend to cost a pretty penny unless you're making said items OR making stuff that sells.

    The story is pretty predictable. You know what's going on almost from the get-go, and it's sugary sweet. This game doesn't really create or hold tension in it's main story so this game always keeps a plucky attitude. Even in the face of certain doom, the characters keep up a steady stream of "groan-able" jokes and general silliness.

    The only real thing that bugged me is the music, which is noticeably repetitive and I found myself getting annoyed with it. I usually have the sound off.    … Expand
  26. Amnforge
    Dec 13, 2014
    10
    Along with Rune Factory 4, this is one of my favorite games. I've spent 30 hours playing so far. This is a must buy for any 3ds fan. Fune and Cute. These types of game you just wont find on a home console.
  27. Jkurnas
    Dec 28, 2014
    9
    Fantasy Life is one of my favorite games with very little reservation. I am 90+ hours into game play, 9 mastered classes and still having fun. The dialogue could have used some cuts, nothing dramatic. My favorite parts of the game were the introductions to each class, the humor and creating armor and weapons.

    My favorite class was probably, wizard. Good game! Give it a go.
  28. spidershan159
    Feb 24, 2015
    10
    Highly Addictive game. Really good value for the money. I feel as though its 8 games in one as you have 8 different lives to complete challenges for.. also the main quests and side quests. I am 45 hours into the game and not even half way there. It gets more entertaining as it goes along. One of my favorite titles for the 3DS. I originally bought this console for Pokemon, my Pokemon gameHighly Addictive game. Really good value for the money. I feel as though its 8 games in one as you have 8 different lives to complete challenges for.. also the main quests and side quests. I am 45 hours into the game and not even half way there. It gets more entertaining as it goes along. One of my favorite titles for the 3DS. I originally bought this console for Pokemon, my Pokemon game is currently on hold as I am so addicted to Fantasy Life.… Expand
  29. ilikecamperz
    Feb 22, 2015
    9
    Very good game with near excellence, its a fortune to own the game with a lot of lives you can choose from and the battle mechanics. Also creating battling is fun too! You also get excited when you get armor and professional items!
  30. Iznax
    Oct 24, 2015
    10
    What can i say about this game it was one of my first 3ds games (my second to be exact) and after a dozen of (great) games is the one that i still play and enjoy, if i have to choose only one game to hold up with my beloved new 3ds this will be it.
    I will not analyze any particular mechanic or feature of the game i will just say this. This is a game that can be almost anything you like it    What can i say about this game it was one of my first 3ds games (my second to be exact) and after a dozen of (great) games is the one that i still play and enjoy, if i have to choose only one game to hold up with my beloved new 3ds this will be it.
    I will not analyze any particular mechanic or feature of the game i will just say this. This is a game that can be almost anything you like it to be, from a very casual and relaxed experience to a very deep, and immersive game. After all the title describes the game perfectly as you explore, fight, gather, craft, buying, selling, building your house and over all living in a beautiful (and lighthearted) fantasy world.    … Expand
  31. kuehnau
    Sep 8, 2015
    8
    A diamond in the rough of crappy Nintendo 3DS games, Fantasy Life takes the concept and game mechanics of "Animal Crossing" and enhances and builds upon the concept. Imagine if Animal Crossing and Final Fantasy had a baby, this would be the result.

    Unfortunately the game still suffers from minor issues, such as the massive amount of filler dialog you are forced to scroll through. I    A diamond in the rough of crappy Nintendo 3DS games, Fantasy Life takes the concept and game mechanics of "Animal Crossing" and enhances and builds upon the concept. Imagine if Animal Crossing and Final Fantasy had a baby, this would be the result.

    Unfortunately the game still suffers from minor issues, such as the massive amount of filler dialog you are forced to scroll through. I often found myself just mashing the 'A' button just so I could get through long winded scenes. The game is also a massive grind fest, so if that isn't your thing, avoid at all costs.

    Still, there are things missing, they have a mostly boring selection of lives for players to choose from. I don't understand why they didn't have lives such as artists, dancers and more. The fact is, they missed out on a lot of topics they could have covered.

    It would have been nice if they would have allowed for farming, owning cattle and more. As it is, you simply wander around the countryside slaying monsters to collect things such as wool, eggs and milk, they could have gotten a little more creative.

    It's a shame they didn't have a marriage mechanic either. Such a small thing that people almost always expect and they failed to make sure it was there.    … Expand
  32. KillaRiku
    Dec 29, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. At first I thought this game was okay, but then a parrot talked to me in leetspeak. 5/7 I love this game.

    And now for the serious part: This game reminds me a little bit of Dragon Quest and Animal Crossing. The artstyle is great, the cutscenes (even though they have really bad fps) look great. There are 12 "Lives" in total, 4 of them are for fighting, 4 for crafting and 4 for gathering materials. The only thing I have to critisize about that is the fact, that they all kinda feel the same. Especially the crafting, where all you have to do is quick time events (not even different ones). But overall the live-system is pretty fun. There are many well-designed places to explore. And sometimes there's even backtracking involved (not in a bad way), for example: Right in the first level there is a dragon, that you probably can't defeat when you're at level 1-15 (it's not impossible, just very hard). You can come back later and defeat him, though. There's even crafting materials, that you can't gather right away.

    The story is not bad but not especially good either. I think it's an acceptable story for a game like this. The quests can be a little bit boring, though, because they are mostly "kill this" or "get this" quests. But from my point of view: In this games the story isn't the important thing. It's more the exploring and living your everyday life part. You can even play with friends together, but I can't confirm if that's a good part of the game (because I have no friends ;l ).

    If you are one of those people, who like to customize their everything, then this game is probably for you. I highly recommend it as a game for casuals and hardcores.    … Expand
  33. turlockmike
    Dec 18, 2014
    10
    This game is exactly what I hoped it would be. Simple game mechanics with a really diverse range of classes to play. Switching classes is quick and is incentivized. While doing one class you will often acquire things needed for another class. Once you learn a skill you can use it (less effectively) at any time. So while questing as a paladin I can still fish, collect things, mine, etc.This game is exactly what I hoped it would be. Simple game mechanics with a really diverse range of classes to play. Switching classes is quick and is incentivized. While doing one class you will often acquire things needed for another class. Once you learn a skill you can use it (less effectively) at any time. So while questing as a paladin I can still fish, collect things, mine, etc.

    The only complaint I have is the lack of organization of items in your bags and storage. While it is stored by type, it's hard to distinguish sellable trash items, consumable items, and materials without looking at the item text.

    If you want a simple rpg crafting fighting game with minor story elements, then this is the perfect game.    … Expand
  34. Aozz101x
    Mar 15, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fantasy Life is one my fav RPG games for Nintendo 3DS, i really like the game style that level 5 take on this game, i really like the story and aspect of it simulation from Animal Crossing… Expand
  35. Bensterbas
    Jan 17, 2015
    10
    Another great title from level 5. It's an awesome experience and one that should not be missed if you own a 3ds and enjoy games such as animal crossing, harvest moon and rune factory.
  36. saxo27
    Nov 12, 2014
    8
    This is a very fun game and has been a real surpise to play. The world is quite large, well massive. The art style and color scheme is very bright and captures the Nintendo feel. The dialouge is fun and lighthearted and you can see a lot of effort was put into localization. What really makes this game shine is the music and sound effects--in short, there is a widely diverse amount of musicThis is a very fun game and has been a real surpise to play. The world is quite large, well massive. The art style and color scheme is very bright and captures the Nintendo feel. The dialouge is fun and lighthearted and you can see a lot of effort was put into localization. What really makes this game shine is the music and sound effects--in short, there is a widely diverse amount of music and sounds, sounds and music that match the bright and joyful motif of the game. The job system is fun and provides the player with a lot of diversity and things to do. I do not have many complaints about the game. Sometimes finding a person to give an item to, after completing a quest, can take a bit of time. Generally, a fun game. A very light and carefree sort of RPG with a mass amount of content. Enjoy!… Expand
  37. faloop
    Jul 8, 2016
    10
    Like a chibi Skyrim... Addictive as hell!! It is really a big world with lots lots of hours of fun, even has a dlc! (Yes, the game is complete, the dlc is an extra region :3) It´s beautiful, music is great and mechanics are the best! The story is childish but cute... not the strongest point...
  38. Daidouji
    Dec 23, 2014
    10
    This game is so addictive! I love it! I am a veteran at PC Online Gaming... so I like online games with at least some kind of "end game" or something to pursue. But this game... wow I just can't believe it has drawn me so much! It's really entertaining!

    You get to be whatever you like, whenever you like. And if you think you messed up your stats just go and pay 30,000 Dosh and reset    This game is so addictive! I love it! I am a veteran at PC Online Gaming... so I like online games with at least some kind of "end game" or something to pursue. But this game... wow I just can't believe it has drawn me so much! It's really entertaining!

    You get to be whatever you like, whenever you like. And if you think you messed up your stats just go and pay 30,000 Dosh and reset them and start over again! You won't lose any progression or such, just reset your point allocation btw...

    If you just go through the main story you'll get something around 50 hours of gameplay tops. But if you are an obsessive completionist like I am and want to get every god damn quest, item, side quest and life complete... and there are 12 different Life you can choose from... you'll at least juice off 150 hours of gameplay and I'm not even counting the DLC which you start experiencing after level 50. Although you can get if right from the beginning and it doesn't make a difference besides the bird pets since the dragons do need a specific story quest to be completed before being able to use them, and also the online part... if a friend doesn't own the DLC you can't play with them online or ad-hoc.

    Playing online is really fun and even though you can't advance story mode or side quests or turn in challenges. You can get a party of friends, check a Life you want to train, and start getting all the challenges you can! Since you can enter the other zones your friends have available at their saves, the only thing is they need to "host" the game and invite you in.

    I love this game and honestly it's the first game that has drawn me this much since Luminous Arc or The World Ends With You on the Nintendo DS, so give it a try and don't get yourself shun away by the Metascore, I was about to NOT buy the game because of it... and I am happy I didn't chose to leave it standing on the shelf.

    This game is really nice and even though you have the same "go and kill x" or "talk to x" and such... you won't get bored and hell I had my own dose of "go to kill x" and "talk to x" quests in all those MMORPG I played over the years.

    Everything done is rewarding and getting good stuff and playing with your friends was the best part of it, as the story wasn't that deep and such, the lil' cute Butterfly made me laugh more than once with her witty comments and hidden pop culture hidden references.

    TL;DR: the game is awesome, don't get shunned by the Metascore, give it a try first and then decide if it's worth your time or not!

    Cheers!    … Expand
  39. Sploin
    Jan 18, 2015
    8
    Absoluty a game to spend your 100000 hours into it. The true world where you could do anything to progress your character. Fishing? Cooking? Hunter? Magician? It can be anything. And grinding bosses with your friends on online are fun.
  40. cedarus
    Jan 27, 2015
    9
    Great game for just about anybody who enjoys RPG games. The graphics are a bit too cartoony for my taste but the target audience IS much younger than me. Overall, the game has kept me entertained for almost 60 hours and it looks like I'll have to put in another 40 minimum to see whether the DLC is worth it or not.
  41. yusefmekaoui
    Mar 4, 2015
    9
    This game has so much content in it. Just when you think it's going to be repetitive the game changes and asks you to do something else. I love the animations, the cut scenes, but most of all I'm surprised by and love the ability to do whatever you want for the most part of the game.
    I'm on 40 hours and still haven't done much.
    I'm so glad there is so much more of the game I can play.    This game has so much content in it. Just when you think it's going to be repetitive the game changes and asks you to do something else. I love the animations, the cut scenes, but most of all I'm surprised by and love the ability to do whatever you want for the most part of the game.
    I'm on 40 hours and still haven't done much.
    I'm so glad there is so much more of the game I can play. It's so addictive... I love it! Once again thank you Nintendo.    … Expand
  42. Jamiesue
    Jun 1, 2015
    9
    I purchased this gem back in October 2014 when it came out but had a long back log so I left it collecting dust on the shelf. What a mistake! This game gives me way more bang for my buck than most. You can play using 12 different lives which keeps the game interesting and fresh. I am 140 hours in and still have not reached legend rank in all of the lives. There are side quests that canI purchased this gem back in October 2014 when it came out but had a long back log so I left it collecting dust on the shelf. What a mistake! This game gives me way more bang for my buck than most. You can play using 12 different lives which keeps the game interesting and fresh. I am 140 hours in and still have not reached legend rank in all of the lives. There are side quests that can be done for the villagers which keep the game engaging when you are in between the main story or life quests. The only quibble I have is the DLC. I want to purchase the DLC but also feel that $50 for a DS is a bit overpriced. I plan to play until I am legend and possibly purchase the DLC if I am still interested. If you like games with an open world feel and many different quest options you will enjoy this game.… Expand
  43. Yakumoki
    Jul 23, 2015
    10
    I am 60+hours into the game. I was hesitant to purchase this game after looking up reviews. People were saying it's repetitive. In a sense, kind of, but if you enjoy the aspect of completing tasks and quests then the repetitive style doesn't matter too much. Only some classes such as the crafting, blacksmith etc use the same method in the game. The main story is cute, it is also quiteI am 60+hours into the game. I was hesitant to purchase this game after looking up reviews. People were saying it's repetitive. In a sense, kind of, but if you enjoy the aspect of completing tasks and quests then the repetitive style doesn't matter too much. Only some classes such as the crafting, blacksmith etc use the same method in the game. The main story is cute, it is also quite humorous ! The music is amazing! My favourite 3DS game so far. The multiplayer is well done. There are plenty of challenges to keep you going and keep you motivated to reach your next rank. 63 hours in and am only master in about 5 classes. You can take your time with the game. However, as your level increases, mastering new classes becomes extremely easy, but it is still enjoyable C: The woodcutting takes me back to runescape days. Nostalgia. Sitting in the forest chopping down trees. Definitely recommend. Anyway, time to go and chop down some annoying elder fir logs.… Expand
  44. TheCyborgFalcon
    Dec 7, 2015
    8
    If you are only looking for an RPG with a great story, then this game is not for you. If you are looking for a game with fun gameplay, much like an MMO, but without all of the micromanaging and tedious farming, then this is the perfect game. This game's story is disappointing at best, but the impeccable and fun gameplay makes up for that. There is so much to do, and many quests to obtainIf you are only looking for an RPG with a great story, then this game is not for you. If you are looking for a game with fun gameplay, much like an MMO, but without all of the micromanaging and tedious farming, then this is the perfect game. This game's story is disappointing at best, but the impeccable and fun gameplay makes up for that. There is so much to do, and many quests to obtain and complete, and you really feel as though you are helping people out while having lots of fun. You have many options on combat, although they are based off of the basic classes, but even those have many different choices in combat per class, or "Life". There is so much customization with these, even your weapons. The flaws, and the only real reason why I could not give this game a 9 or a 10, come with the story, as I mentioned. You can tell they made the storyline compatible for any life. This means the only gameplay for the whole story is running around and talking to people, with some OPTIONS to fight (it really asks you if you want to fight or not). It's not good game design, as I highly doubt anyone played the game only doing crafting classes, which brings me to the next flaw. The crafting systems are fun, and I do not have many problems with it at all, but the fact that they made the crafting systems all the same is somewhat lazy. All craftings have you move between 3 stations to craft and item: one where you time hitting a, one where you button mash a, and one where you hold down a (there may be another for some of them I do not remember, but still. If these two portions of the game were fixed (c'mon, did anyone ACTUALLY only play the somewhat boring crafting and not combat?) this game would be near perfect, as every other aspect if performed flawlesly, and is so fun, even if it is simple. This does not mean I do not reccomend this game, as I highly due, but take these aspects in regard to tell if this is the type of game you are looking for.… Expand
  45. KielW
    Jul 15, 2016
    10
    It's a little goofy looking, and feels like it's geared to a slightly younger audience when you look at it, it's a fairly strong game behind its cute graphics. Switching careers out could be a little less annoying, but it's very fun regardless.
  46. Mivo
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    I had no high hopes or expectations when Fantasy Life came out in Europe (a month before the NA release), and only looked for something to kill a bit of time with while waiting for Borderlands and Pokemon. I was in for a surprise, because it didn't just kill some time, it slaughtered it!

    Fantasy Life grabbed me straight away and pulled me into its world like few other 3DS games have.    I had no high hopes or expectations when Fantasy Life came out in Europe (a month before the NA release), and only looked for something to kill a bit of time with while waiting for Borderlands and Pokemon. I was in for a surprise, because it didn't just kill some time, it slaughtered it!

    Fantasy Life grabbed me straight away and pulled me into its world like few other 3DS games have. Right from the start, I got addicted to the freedom to do whatever I wanted to do, and to go wherever I felt like going. Instead of fretting about which "class" I should play, and where I should spend my points, I could just start playing without a worry, because you can do everything with the same character, and there is no way that you can mess up. Even if you misplace your stat points, or change your mind later, you can eventually "respec" and reset them!

    In the mood for hunting monsters? No problem, go to the Guild Office and change to a combat life. Don't know what combat life to play as? Just level them all! Tired of bashing in monster skulls? Sure thing, go and fish, cook, or craft! Sleepy and not really up for either activity? Put on your woodcutter or miner hat, and run around gathering materials. Feel creative? Decorate one of your six houses with items you found, were given as quest rewards, or crafted yourself! All of this with the same character, no limitations, no need for multiple save games!

    Gameplay-wise, Fantasy Life somewhat resembles Rune Factory, but is a little heavier on the action. The combat is in real-time, almost Zelda'esque, but it's not overly complicated or even twitchy. Monsters and gathering nodes respawn, so you can farm as much as you want. There are no real death penalties, which makes the game easy and forgiving, but it's really all about leveling your lives (jobs), unlocking recipes, doing challenges, and getting (crafting and finding) the best equipment.

    Crafting consists of interactive, reaction-based mini games where you have to mash buttons as fast as you can, which also determines the quality of the items you create. They are all fairly same-y, with exception of fishing, but it still beats the "click a button and check back a few minutes later" kind of crafting that most other games have.

    It is worth mentioning that you can craft and gather while you're in a different life. In case of gathering that's just fine (you get slightly fewer materials if you mine while you're a paladin, for example), but for crafting you want the bonus that you get from being in the respective life (changing is trivial and painless).

    The story is not particularly complex or original, though I found it entertaining enough, but it serves the purpose of introducing you to the world and the lore. It's definitely on the light side, so if you're looking for a complex plot with many surprises, this game won't offer it. You advance the story whenever you are ready for the next chapter by completing Flutter's requests (mostly talking to NPCs and visiting specific places). Completing a story section opens up new areas, so there is no rush and you can go through the story mode as quickly or as slowly as you prefer.

    There are no "missables" in the game. You can't go wrong no matter what you do, and you can change your mind at any time without punishing consequences. The post-game and the DLC offer a lot of things that you can do, either solo or together with friends. "Tower Runs", for loot and experience, are popular, and are a good way to collect great loot for all of your lives!

    Day-one DLC is a downside, but it's quite crucial since it adds a lot of content, most of it post game, plus the friendship/social system. It also raises the level cap. Unless you can't afford it at all, my recommendation would be to grab the DLC right away when you start playing (friendship system and additional customization options as well as an extra pet type are immediately available).

    A great aspect of the game is that you never have to become all "OCD" over decisions. In the post-game, you can "respec" your character on the fly and re-assign your stat points (you can do everything even with the "wrong" stats, but they do give a bonus and it's easy to change them). Dosh, as money is called in Fantasy Life, is easy to farm, so if you want to go from being a paladin to being a hunter, you can do so within a few seconds. Whatever you feel like, in Fantasy Life you can be and do it. If you do everything, you're looking at about 200+ hours of gameplay here.

    For me, Fantasy Life is one of the best games the system has to offer. It came out of the blue and was a complete surprise to me. If you like Rune Factory and similar games, but always wished they were a bit heavier on the action, Fantasy Life will deliver. In many ways, it's even quite a bit like Skyrim, just packaged very cutely.

    If any of this sounds interesting to you, check out Fantasy Life. You'll quite possibly love it dearly!    … Expand
  47. Sapphiress
    Nov 3, 2014
    9
    If you're a fan of RPG's then you definitely want this game in your collection! My only complaint is that it can be tedious getting from place to play. I wish they planned the travel system a little bit better especially in the early parts of the game, that's the reason I didn't give it a perfect score.
  48. Demonik420
    Oct 26, 2014
    10
    This game is incredible. A lot of the "game journalists" will try to tell you why it's bad because of what it's not. Metacritic's user score proves that game journalism is just a bunch of BS. This game is a fantastic escape and is currently my second favorite 3DS game.. Bravely Default beats it just ever so slightly.

    Some may try to tell you it's a kids game. I'm 26. If you have    This game is incredible. A lot of the "game journalists" will try to tell you why it's bad because of what it's not. Metacritic's user score proves that game journalism is just a bunch of BS. This game is a fantastic escape and is currently my second favorite 3DS game.. Bravely Default beats it just ever so slightly.

    Some may try to tell you it's a kids game. I'm 26.

    If you have played Dragon Quest 9 this game is basically built on the same engine (with far superior graphics of course) and reviewers praised that game. Fatnasy life is one of the greatest Level 5 games to date. If you are in any way a fan of these titles I will list you CANNOT pass up this GEM. This game is like a dream mashup of the games I will list below. AND IT WORKS SOOO WELL and in my opinion is a dream come true

    Zelda A link to the past (or ALBW) [combat system, world exploration, dungeons]
    Skyrim [Crafting, Open world exploration, Quest System]
    Dragon Quest [Especially DQ 9 engine is very similar as is questing system]
    Final Fantasy (older games) [tons of different qweapons, items, potions ect AND JOB CLASSES]
    Harvest Moon [The simulation elements and has a similar feel in non combat parts]
    Rune Factory [Again similar but has so much more to offer than rune factory]
    Animal Crossing [House customization, Item colection, NPCs]

    Its my opinion that this game does what it does almost better than this list. In almost all of these games I always felt that something was lacking, Fantasy Life fills those holes in EACH case.    … Expand
  49. benneh
    Oct 31, 2014
    10
    Good game, it's fun and addictive without ever feeling tedious, art and music are both brilliant. like a mix of 4 heroes of light, dragon quest IX and rune factory 4
  50. Rysingzombie
    May 18, 2015
    9
    I just got a 3ds XL for my birthday this past Thursday and couldn't wait to try this game. From the moment I picked it up I was impressed by the way the story draws you in and the color and delightful graphics! Even more amazing is how much there is to do in the game which is filled with interesting and fun characters. I enjoyed Animal Crossing in the past but found myself wanting moreI just got a 3ds XL for my birthday this past Thursday and couldn't wait to try this game. From the moment I picked it up I was impressed by the way the story draws you in and the color and delightful graphics! Even more amazing is how much there is to do in the game which is filled with interesting and fun characters. I enjoyed Animal Crossing in the past but found myself wanting more and now that I have a game that is similar, but with fantasy RPG elements I am truly satisfied. I honestly don't think I will be playing my other games anytime soon. This is just too addicting!… Expand
  51. Mando44646
    Nov 7, 2014
    9
    What the hell is with the low 'critic' review scores? Thus is the best game on 3DS this year, period. There is so much content and so many different things to do, its easy to get lost in the game. Highly reocmmended
  52. Gnork
    Jun 8, 2015
    10
    This is a FANTASTIC game for me! I normally do not write reviews, but when the critics give it a 73 then I have to express my disagreement.

    I have put 100+ hours into the game and have not yet touched the expansion. There is soo much to do and it never really gets to feel like a grind if you stay away from crafting.

    Thumbs up from here and please make a sequel.
  53. rubin
    Oct 27, 2014
    6
    Jack of all trades, master of none. That phrase probably best describes my thoughts when playing Fantasy Life. The game, advertised as a life sim, is actually a simple jRPG with an even simpler story. Fantasy Life's main strength lies in a vast, beautiful game world (by handheld standards) and addicting gameplay (if spite of it's simplicity). Multiplayer (online and wireless) is alsoJack of all trades, master of none. That phrase probably best describes my thoughts when playing Fantasy Life. The game, advertised as a life sim, is actually a simple jRPG with an even simpler story. Fantasy Life's main strength lies in a vast, beautiful game world (by handheld standards) and addicting gameplay (if spite of it's simplicity). Multiplayer (online and wireless) is also surprisingly fun, although the game's niche status means you probably won't get to experience it very often. Unfortunately, major design flaws prevent Fantasy Life from becoming something more than a fun little timewaster. The game supposed major selling point - 12 different character classes (standard ones like paladin or mage, but also woodcutter, miner, cook, tailor etc) - falls flat when you realize most of them are essentially clones. This is especially true for crafting classes like tailor and blacksmith, all of which use the same minigame for creating new items. Another big flaw - questing system, which is the standard kill&fetch fare most of us got bored off ages ago with their MMO of choice. Moreover, the questing rewards are often so pitiful that doing them is simply not worth the player's time. Third and final flaw I'd like to present is music, which is boring at best, and painful to listen to at worst (just search for the Main Menu music on YT to see what I mean). There is also a hefty amount of smaller flaws (like horses terrible controls), but to prevent this text from becoming needlessly long and nitpicky I'd like to end my review here.… Expand
  54. rodericrinehart
    Feb 7, 2015
    9
    I've only watched my daughter play it and I think it looks really cool, like an Animal Crossing with a lot of RPG elements thrown in. She has had a lot of fun with it and definitely got her (my) money out of it, so I'm definitely happy with it!
  55. TemplarGR
    Sep 9, 2016
    10
    One of the best games on the 3DS, and my personal favourite. Severely underrated by people who should never get paid to write "professional" reviews again, ever.

    This game is the complete package: It has incredible graphics with a unique style, charming music, good gameplay with many things to do, cute story. It is kind of an Open World RPG, the closest thing to Skyrim you can get on    One of the best games on the 3DS, and my personal favourite. Severely underrated by people who should never get paid to write "professional" reviews again, ever.

    This game is the complete package: It has incredible graphics with a unique style, charming music, good gameplay with many things to do, cute story.

    It is kind of an Open World RPG, the closest thing to Skyrim you can get on a 3DS. It has great production values, and is very cute and full of joy. It put a smile on my face. I really enjoyed it, and i am a 33 year old man with tons of "gritty" experience, both in my life and in games.

    It is not without faults, it can get very repetitive, the main story is not hard, and there is grinding if you want to 100% it. But as far as 3DS games go, those faults aren't that important.

    Don't let the "kiddie" graphics and story fool you, this game can be enjoyed by the whole family, including adults! Give it a try, you might like it!    … Expand
  56. lowkey42o
    Dec 24, 2014
    4
    Im sorry I know this game is well received from the numbers here but the graphics make think im playing gameboy advance game. It feels ugly. Cutesy menu and slow story. I enjoyed remake of pokemon much more that game was tuned perfect and paced so you want to play it. I never like animal crossing or farm hero on Facebook.
  57. EZ4
    Nov 1, 2014
    7
    Fantasy Life is a well crafted TO-DO list game with a large and colourful world to explore. It is easy to pick up on the go and if you are a gamer capable of setting your own goals, the post-game in Fantasy Life can last you hundred of hours of quality entertainment.

    Graphically and musically, this game took the right direction. However the story falls flat and it is written for a    Fantasy Life is a well crafted TO-DO list game with a large and colourful world to explore. It is easy to pick up on the go and if you are a gamer capable of setting your own goals, the post-game in Fantasy Life can last you hundred of hours of quality entertainment.

    Graphically and musically, this game took the right direction.

    However the story falls flat and it is written for a younger audience. Everyone is good, everyone is happy, the humour is forced, all in all uninteresting from my perspective. This is not a bad thing, but hardly enjoyable for the mature audience in a game filled with blocks of texts.

    This title has a lot to offer, the cheerful amount of content is impressive but lacks in depth. Is it worth picking up? If you are a fan of sim-RPG games, absolutely! If you are expecting a deeper RPG aspect or do not like to read/skip through lots of dialogues, I suggest you pass on to the next game.    … Expand
  58. SylaxSYN
    Nov 1, 2014
    7
    Fantasy Life is an overall decent and fun game but suffers from terrible pacing. The story is rather minimal but everything is extremely long winded. You get locked into overly long dialog scenes constantly. And the worst offense to this the game does is in between story chapters. Before you can even progress in story, you're forced to go talk to several people which takes quite awhileFantasy Life is an overall decent and fun game but suffers from terrible pacing. The story is rather minimal but everything is extremely long winded. You get locked into overly long dialog scenes constantly. And the worst offense to this the game does is in between story chapters. Before you can even progress in story, you're forced to go talk to several people which takes quite awhile and doesn't have much of an impact on story. It's more of character progression for mainly non important characters.

    Constantly getting locked into long dialog scenes drastically hinders character/job progression as you play through the story. After just a few hours in the beginning you end up looking around for silver to forge new weapons, only to find that you have to progress the story in order to get to it. 2 hours later you finally can go make your weapons. It's the constant stop and start of progression that really makes trying to level up aspects of your character almost pointless. The story has no bosses in it. And the only bosses you encounter are ones on the fields or caves that are avoidable.(unless you need them for a life quest)

    However, if you enjoy grinding and maxing out all the jobs then end game is what you want. Once you finish the story you are free to go back and have complete freedom. I personally think it's too little too late and would have liked to have had much more freedom and much less unnecessary dialog.

    The visuals of the game are nice. Music is underwhelming considering it was done by Uematsu. Gameplay was simple, enjoyable and decent. The story was rather generic but the added flair of childish humor made it tolerable.

    All in all, good grinding game if you spam the A button all the way through the dialog.    … Expand
  59. Magus80
    Dec 31, 2014
    5
    I'll be up front here, I generally don't like open-world games as they often rely on repetition and quantity over quality of content so bear this in mind.

    Didn't find it charming as others claimed. There is an excessive amount of mediocre dialogues to wade through.and I found myself skipping the majority of them as they don't offer anything substantial. I didn't like the overall game    I'll be up front here, I generally don't like open-world games as they often rely on repetition and quantity over quality of content so bear this in mind.

    Didn't find it charming as others claimed. There is an excessive amount of mediocre dialogues to wade through.and I found myself skipping the majority of them as they don't offer anything substantial. I didn't like the overall game structure of managing your Lives because you basically had to run and forth back to your guild to switch between your Life. Combat is basic and clunky, controls border on frustration sometimes. I found myself slashing at empty air wasting few seconds when I wanted to harvest or mine or chop a tree which is annoying. The world is beautiful and interesting to explore but it's somewhat ruined by excessive fetch quests asking for mundane things.    … Expand
  60. alleycat_lady
    Dec 30, 2014
    7
    I honestly expected more. Fantasy Life kind of remind me games like Rune Factory or even the exploring and crafting aspects of WoW (not the multi-palyer aspect so much). It was cute and had gorgeous graphics, and the game engine was well-made. However, I was put off by the practically infantile dialogue. I understand that this game was supposed to be geared towards kids, but there's plentyI honestly expected more. Fantasy Life kind of remind me games like Rune Factory or even the exploring and crafting aspects of WoW (not the multi-palyer aspect so much). It was cute and had gorgeous graphics, and the game engine was well-made. However, I was put off by the practically infantile dialogue. I understand that this game was supposed to be geared towards kids, but there's plenty of well written games/shows for kids that are also entertaining to adults. I also think, like other posters, I was expecting a little more life sim and a little less JRPG. All that being said, it isn't a bad game (though slightly grindy). I just have to skip through most of the dialogue.… Expand
  61. BvS_NarutoU
    Feb 7, 2015
    1
    I like games like Fantasy Life; however, it didn't live up to my standards. I chose Paladin as "life" when I got to Chapter 5, I had started doing other life's so as not to get bored... well, I was wrong, I got bored. I beat the final chapter tried starting a new save file to play it again, and I I couldn't stand it... Bought the Origin Island DLC, got bored of that two, now, the DLC isI like games like Fantasy Life; however, it didn't live up to my standards. I chose Paladin as "life" when I got to Chapter 5, I had started doing other life's so as not to get bored... well, I was wrong, I got bored. I beat the final chapter tried starting a new save file to play it again, and I I couldn't stand it... Bought the Origin Island DLC, got bored of that two, now, the DLC is stuck on my old 3DS, since you can't transfer downloads from 1 Nintendo ID to another.

    Honestly, to me, it's one of those games that I won't even play again. I was hoping that Fantasy Life would be like a cheap version of Sword Art Online, but it's not. There are no duel-wielding life's, no cross life's (where 2 life's bring about a new life), and the game is just to repetitive..    … Expand
  62. taptothebeat
    Apr 18, 2015
    3
    I have not regretted buying a game so much in a long time, if ever. This game is very boring. I really wanted to like this game, and could not.

    For me, the uniqueness of the class system was a big reason why I wanted to get the game. Yet sadly, it ended up being the reason why I do not like the game. I am at fault for getting the game without looking at gameplay for *all* classes. (I    I have not regretted buying a game so much in a long time, if ever. This game is very boring. I really wanted to like this game, and could not.

    For me, the uniqueness of the class system was a big reason why I wanted to get the game. Yet sadly, it ended up being the reason why I do not like the game. I am at fault for getting the game without looking at gameplay for *all* classes. (I did buy it just when it came out though so resources were a bit more limited ^.^') But even so, it really should not be this bad.

    1. The biggest downfall by far is the crafting element. There are many classes to choose from, so you would expect different gameplay for each class. Wrong. All of the crafting games (For the jobs: Tailor, Cook, Blacksmith, Alchemist, Carpenter) are the same exact game. The game is very simple. You watch a bar go by and click A when it lines up. As you get better at the game, you can skip through it so you don't have to play it anymore. But you have to do this individually for each and every item. There are a lot of items.

    Speaking truthfully, the crafting game reminds me, almost shockingly so, of the college research experiments that people get paid to participate in. If you enjoy this type of game, you can probably go make some money participating in experiments that are roughly equivalent gameplay wise. (Source: Experience)

    2. My second qualm is with the battling style amongst fighting classes and those in conjunction with quests as well. Now the fighting gameplay is definitely leaps ahead of the crafting one. But all fighting styles are similar, which is fine and all, not bad, but again makes the class system useless. And actually tedious when it comes to class quests. You can only complete the class quests associated with your current class, so you may have actually fulfilled the requirements already, but it hasn't been counted because you did it as a different class! While this at first seems to make sense, in that you have to be able to complete the task while only being allowed to wear certain armor, actually it becomes very redundant due to the similar fighting gameplay and frustrating when you have already done the task a multitude of times before. I note that you can charge ahead through things a bit if you level up the dagger, since it is used in all classes, but again, then what is the point of the class system?

    Of course you don't have to play as every class! But if you really stick to only one class, it feels like a waste of money. Now, the rest of the game is actually nice. I like the cute graphics, and I am a fan of the cute storyline as well. The pets and small other nuances are good too. I would give this game a 4, but for its price tag, it is a 3.

    Originally, I got the 3ds for Rune Factory 4 which I still love. I thought Fantasy Life would be a similar type of game except perhaps better? I think I will be sticking with the Rune Factory series which has more flexibility with exploration, choice on what you want to do (I don't even farm -- despite its origins of harvest moon), a vast amount of monsters as possible pets/battle partners, no silly boring time-wasting games for crafting, and more. The only place where I would say fantasy life is better is in its graphics (since I personally like the style).    … Expand
  63. Faphy
    May 29, 2015
    5
    Fantasy life is a story about you, a silent character with a butterfly companion that just won't shut up. I stop reading the game's story because each 4th phrase refers to the silly fact that a butterfly can speak. Almost every word is a pun to remind ous that we aren't the one talking to the NPCs but the butterfly is. You know when you want to talk about something in real life but thatFantasy life is a story about you, a silent character with a butterfly companion that just won't shut up. I stop reading the game's story because each 4th phrase refers to the silly fact that a butterfly can speak. Almost every word is a pun to remind ous that we aren't the one talking to the NPCs but the butterfly is. You know when you want to talk about something in real life but that annoying friend of yours just won't stop talking instead of you? Yeah that's what this whole game feels like. Fantasy life became a "Pressing the "A" button simulator" because I skip all the text and believe me there's allot of it. I feel like this game had potential but it didn't grasp it all. Also what's the point of choosing a life if you can do them all one after an other? It's like an MMORPG with less liberty.

    Nice things: Cute graphics/art style, nice locations but really typical ones (forest, desert, ocean places), I like the bounty idea, I like the special butterfly unlockables, nice overall idea and game concept.

    Bad stuff: The butterfly needs to shut up, when you chose a life it would be cooler to chose like 3 or 4 maximum and then make cool class combinations with them, the game feels repeatable, too much useless dialog (also I don't need to know when someone leaves or enters my party, really I don't care.)

    I bet everyone took a fighting class.    … Expand
  64. Solari
    Jan 12, 2016
    1
    I bought this game because everyone was telling me that it had one of the most high replay values of the 3ds games, hell, after an hour it felt like an endless grind, 5 hours? more grind, it is just a **** grind with no story, i paid 40 bucks for this?
  65. cyruszuo
    Dec 20, 2021
    10
    Fantasy Life was under-appreciated, particularly by reviewers, the user score is more accurate to how people felt about it. Though it starts a bit slow, it provides a ton of variety, solid combat, and is just incredibly well put together as a game (typical of Level-5 games). I've put dozens of hours into single player and enjoyed multiplayer as well. This is a strong buy if you have a 3DSFantasy Life was under-appreciated, particularly by reviewers, the user score is more accurate to how people felt about it. Though it starts a bit slow, it provides a ton of variety, solid combat, and is just incredibly well put together as a game (typical of Level-5 games). I've put dozens of hours into single player and enjoyed multiplayer as well. This is a strong buy if you have a 3DS and it looks even remotely appealing to you.… Expand
  66. valsaven
    May 17, 2019
    8
    Funny easy game. I like Butterfly companion.
    It's a good choice to play every evening.
  67. kandc1234
    Jan 29, 2015
    9
    This game overall was just a fun experience. There are so many different classes to play, and it always feels like you are getting something done. It is very rewarding. The story is a bit slow, but you can take it in small parts at a time if you aren't a fan of it. The world is very pretty and the characters are unique and funny. This is a 3DS gem that you shouldn't miss out on.
  68. Whiteredx89
    Jul 8, 2016
    8
    This game overall was just a fun experience. There are so many different classes to play, and it always feels like you are getting something done. It is very rewarding. The story is a bit slow, but you can take it in small parts at a time if you aren't a fan of it. The world is very pretty and the characters are unique and funny. This is a 3DS gem that you shouldn't miss out on.
  69. Zucchini127
    Oct 18, 2016
    10
    This game gives me life. How anyone manages not to even own this game is a mystery to me considering how it is the greatest RPG I've ever had the honer of playing, not only is the story fun and interesting but the amount of content this game provides leaves me impressed so much. With so many classes to choose from (and the ability to do them all in one run) is great. the post game isThis game gives me life. How anyone manages not to even own this game is a mystery to me considering how it is the greatest RPG I've ever had the honer of playing, not only is the story fun and interesting but the amount of content this game provides leaves me impressed so much. With so many classes to choose from (and the ability to do them all in one run) is great. the post game is especially worth checking out as well, with the Origin Island DLC the game receives such a massive boost in content. And I haven't even started talking about the multiplayer, in the multiplayer you can share items, take on bosses (which this game has tons of them) and just explore if you really want to. The game's over world is huge and is ultimately interesting and colorful. The games characters are very well made and speak to me on a spiritual level. Fantasy life is my all time favorite 3DS game.… Expand
  70. td05
    Mar 27, 2017
    9
    This is, by far, one of my favorite games on the 3DS. The story is unique, with a different story for every life path. The music is one of the most amazing soundtracks on the 3DS besides Shovel Knight. The possibilities for this game are endless. And the art style is incredible. I chose the hunter path, and the monsters and beasts had so much detail to them. The butterfly is animated soThis is, by far, one of my favorite games on the 3DS. The story is unique, with a different story for every life path. The music is one of the most amazing soundtracks on the 3DS besides Shovel Knight. The possibilities for this game are endless. And the art style is incredible. I chose the hunter path, and the monsters and beasts had so much detail to them. The butterfly is animated so well, I thought it looked better than the real thing. Pick this game up now!… Expand
  71. MidnaMoon
    May 26, 2017
    5
    The Cons
    90% of this game is cheesy and boring dialogue that isn't even a good story. For example there's nothing deep about it. All the characters are childish and nonsensical and just plain annoying. You can have a rated E game that isn't all butterflies and rainbows. Look at Paper Mario 2 for example, a very dark plot and some sass, but it still doesn't take away from the fun of the    The Cons
    90% of this game is cheesy and boring dialogue that isn't even a good story. For example there's nothing deep about it. All the characters are childish and nonsensical and just plain annoying. You can have a rated E game that isn't all butterflies and rainbows. Look at Paper Mario 2 for example, a very dark plot and some sass, but it still doesn't take away from the fun of the game. If your game is going to be so heavily reliant on the story at least make the story good or it seriously reduces replay value. Every chapter for example is just forced dialogue. You have to trigger the next scene by pressing A where the exclamation point is sure, but that's not really 'gameplay'.

    The Pros
    When you actually DO get time away from the constant monologue, the combat, crafting and exploring mechanics are enjoyable. I find many of the crafting things and things like fishing to be relaxing. You can master a generous amount of jobs. Creating your character is one of my favorite parts of the game however you sadly only get to create one character per file.

    All in All
    If you don't mind repeatedly smashing the B or A button thru countless walls of boring dialogue, and I mean there's a lot of it, Fantasy Life might just be for you. If you're impatient and hate when story writers sugar coat the darkness in the world you're less likely to enjoy it.
    5/10    … Expand
  72. Ranger_Soup
    Jun 21, 2017
    8
    After playing this game for nearly 30 hours without the DLC, (including both restarting the game after losing my save data and my previous hours), I can safely say it has sated my appetite for the usual grinding and basic open world RPG elements that I actually like in a game. If you're expecting a huge experience that you can sink your teeth in and play for hours, then this game is notAfter playing this game for nearly 30 hours without the DLC, (including both restarting the game after losing my save data and my previous hours), I can safely say it has sated my appetite for the usual grinding and basic open world RPG elements that I actually like in a game. If you're expecting a huge experience that you can sink your teeth in and play for hours, then this game is not for you. The cute art style and wonderful visuals mesh well together, and the combat with allies against tough enemies is effective and easily understandable. The only problem that anyone would have with this game is the story. The dialogue is very tongue in cheek and can drag on for hours, feeling so slow, but you can easily skip it. Crafting feels very repetitive as well, as every artisan life such as the Tailor, Blacksmith, and the Carpenter have the same mechanics but only in slightly different variations of each other. Overall I like the game because of the grind, because of the feeling of improvement and advancement, but binging it can leave someone burned out or disappointed because they did not reach the goal they intended to pursue. Sure it can get boring now and then, and I play a different game afterwards. This game is better in small bursts, not long hours as it gets tiresome after a while.… Expand
  73. tsdenizen
    Oct 31, 2017
    7
    Fantasy Life is adorable and packed with things to do, but taken individually, each "thing to do" is ultimately quite shallow. All crafting classes boil down to the same dull mini-game, mining and woodcutting are also the same, and the 4 combat classes managed to be both shallow and unbalanced in their usability. Still, despite all the issues with with depth it faces, Fantasy Life managesFantasy Life is adorable and packed with things to do, but taken individually, each "thing to do" is ultimately quite shallow. All crafting classes boil down to the same dull mini-game, mining and woodcutting are also the same, and the 4 combat classes managed to be both shallow and unbalanced in their usability. Still, despite all the issues with with depth it faces, Fantasy Life manages to be an overall pleasant experience due to its charm and polish, if an unessential one.… Expand
  74. BASHparallel
    Feb 13, 2018
    10
    This is awesome! No, it's not supposed to be a hardcore or revolutionary game, but I still love it. The world is huge and feels so immersive and I've sunk upwards of 80 hours into it so far and haven't even STARTED with the endgame stuff. I bought the DLC after I finished it and I'm not sure the DLC was worth the price, but the combined price of the DLC and the base game is worth it. TheThis is awesome! No, it's not supposed to be a hardcore or revolutionary game, but I still love it. The world is huge and feels so immersive and I've sunk upwards of 80 hours into it so far and haven't even STARTED with the endgame stuff. I bought the DLC after I finished it and I'm not sure the DLC was worth the price, but the combined price of the DLC and the base game is worth it. The underpricing (IMO... £35 for so much content? hells yes!) of the base game probably makes up for the pricing of the DLC. It's immersive and it really does feel like a little world, and **** all the edgy elitists who didn't like it just because it was whimsical and cute.

    If you like Dark Souls-esque stuff, then maybe this isn't for you. But if you'd like a blend of a traditional RPG with Animal Crossing, go buy this and don't look back.    … Expand
  75. XV_
    May 19, 2019
    8
    It took me around 30 hours to get the credits in Fantasy Life but I roughly felt them, there are certain things that are stellar in this game, like the character design or environmental design, but for me the one that stood up the most was the writing, it has this comedic and beautiful tone that is not so common in a game aimed for "kids" but is brilliant, the gameplay is good but it feltIt took me around 30 hours to get the credits in Fantasy Life but I roughly felt them, there are certain things that are stellar in this game, like the character design or environmental design, but for me the one that stood up the most was the writing, it has this comedic and beautiful tone that is not so common in a game aimed for "kids" but is brilliant, the gameplay is good but it felt kind of repetitive towards the end, maybe if I spiced things a little more with its job system which here is called "Life" maybe it could felt a little different.

    My biggest complaint is mostly in its quest system, mainly in its main quests, which felt too systematic and stiff, if you want to advance on the story you cannot bring your party (you have 2 slots for different party members), instead there is a scripted party that sometimes is only 1 partner, the problem is that if you accepted the main quest, you can't add or change the party set up till you finish that chapter, it may seem like a nitpick but it grew by the middle of the story, and it also doesn't help that every chapter is structured in a very similar way, so it feels kinda repetitive. Another minor issue is the music, it's composed by Final Fantasy's original composer Nobuo Uematsu, and it has a certain charm but it sounds a little bit generic or simplistic at times, which maybe is kind of the point because this game is so simple and user friendly, it simplifies a lot of the quirks and complex mechanics of a "grow up" RPG and puts them in a game aimed for little kids, that is quite the feature I think.

    Fantasy Life didn't change my life but I had a very pleasant time on it, its world is colorful and charming like a grandma tale, and it offers a simple but rewarding job system that even gives you a musical number when you master it. I think that FL is a nice entry to the RPG genre for little kids (I'm genuinely considering giving this game to my kids in the future) but it also has a nice challenge if you're up to the grinding.    … Expand
  76. CrimsonFdUrMOm
    May 1, 2022
    2
    Pick your class to cleave, shoot, cook, and brew your way to the end of the story.

    An otherwise decent game marred by poor dialogue. This game has an okay start that immediately dips in to bad, as someone tries to cover up they're poor writing skills by adding more words. With dialogue that reads like some socially awkward middle schooler imagining what it would be like to actually talk    Pick your class to cleave, shoot, cook, and brew your way to the end of the story.

    An otherwise decent game marred by poor dialogue. This game has an okay start that immediately dips in to bad, as someone tries to cover up they're poor writing skills by adding more words.

    With dialogue that reads like some socially awkward middle schooler imagining what it would be like to actually talk to someone who's not they're mom, it's no wonder my thumb is sore from all this mashing.

    You'll be mashing on more endless dialogue boxes, with side characters that shouldn't have more than just a few words but won't SHUT UP, than actually mashing monsters.

    Enjoy up to one single mini game across more than half the classes, weather it's cooking, brewing, or smithing, every last crafting class consists of the same bland mini game with the prompts for the buttons switched around.

    At least the combat classes have some variety, swing your sword > step out of the way of attacks > repeat, or swing your sword > block > repeat, or even shoot > repeat.

    Lucky enough the controls are passable, not too many cheap shots from enemies, no dropped inputs on the mini games, and the difficulty is on a good curve all the way through.

    The visuals, music, and sound effects are cute and fun. But that's about all this over sized progression loop has to offer. It's an okay game to play if you only have a 3ds and want an open world game to play, this is it. Otherwise pick a different game.    … Expand
  77. SuperMaarten64
    Aug 23, 2018
    10
    this game is easily my favorite game on the Nintendo 3DS. to me it's like a pocket Skyrim!
  78. FMagnolfi
    May 12, 2019
    9
    Fantasy Life brings a lot of fun with every little detail.
    The main story can be made short but that contrasts with the depth delivered by the mechanics of professions
  79. aleqhz
    Apr 4, 2021
    10
    This game is a huge time sink because of how fun and addictive it is. I wish there would be a sequel!
  80. Draco901
    Nov 15, 2019
    9
    Near perfection. The only issues the game really has is that combat can feel a bit repetitive at times. The class and skill system is worked out beautifully to get players invested into the game's world, encouraging them to go out in the game and really take in the beauty behind it all. To top it all off, the story is deeply heartwarming and even humorous at times. Easily one of myNear perfection. The only issues the game really has is that combat can feel a bit repetitive at times. The class and skill system is worked out beautifully to get players invested into the game's world, encouraging them to go out in the game and really take in the beauty behind it all. To top it all off, the story is deeply heartwarming and even humorous at times. Easily one of my favorite games of all time and that probably won't change for an entire decade.… Expand
  81. Ziromatt
    Sep 27, 2020
    8
    Un juego muy infravalorado de la 3ds, tiene un excelente mundo y el contenido se siente muy bien en general, a mi me dio más de 100h de diversión y le podría aber sacado muchas más
  82. Silverassassin
    Sep 29, 2020
    10
    I played this game when I was 10 and played threw the entire game and even played it with a friend sometimes and loved it. But Resently I came back to the game and it's still super fun and intuitive in my eyes. Not only is it my favourite rpg on the 3ds but it's also my favourite rpg that I have ever played and I have played the Witcher 3 and all dark souls games to completion.

    Easy 10 out of 10
  83. SapphireSuicune
    Sep 18, 2020
    10
    I think it is fair to say this is my favorite game ever. I have had this game since like 2016, and there was one point where it was all I played, but now, I just go back every so often. But when you already have 150 hours and you're only a Creator in 2 Lifes, (don't judge me for being a fledgling wizard) and there's still hours upon hours of exploration and enjoyment, you know the game isI think it is fair to say this is my favorite game ever. I have had this game since like 2016, and there was one point where it was all I played, but now, I just go back every so often. But when you already have 150 hours and you're only a Creator in 2 Lifes, (don't judge me for being a fledgling wizard) and there's still hours upon hours of exploration and enjoyment, you know the game is doing something right. Although the story wasn't great (other than the origin island), the gameplay is just so good! And there's something about the goals that make you just want to keep playing. Get. This. Game.… Expand
  84. sware86
    Feb 26, 2022
    6
    Very easy game, don´t need to do a job, the history is only go to a town and speak with NPC.
  85. grimreapersims
    Oct 27, 2021
    7
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  86. Roscar
    Jul 11, 2022
    10
    This is by far one of the best 3ds games and it can't be discussed, it has everything, I even consider this game haves the best DLC of all time in price/quality terms.
    Just every single thing in this game is awesome except some minor details, from the Ost to the humor it should be a crime not playing this game and I recommend it to everyone every single time I can.

Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Best 3DS Game of 2014
6
#6 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2014
1
#1 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 51
  3. Negative: 1 out of 51
  1. CD-Action
    Jul 27, 2015
    85
    A great, addictive game that should please the fans of Animal Crossing, simple RPGs and Harvest Moon. [08/2015, p.79]
  2. DarkZero
    Apr 9, 2015
    100
    Despite this game more than likely being in a niche category to most people, it ends up being one of the best selections on the 3DS, and with all the great stuff you can do in it, it deserves all its praise.
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  3. GameCritics
    Feb 21, 2015
    75
    Ultimately, it may not have delivered as much variety as I was hoping for, but with the right expectations there's still a good amount of job-flavored questing to be had.
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