You know those nights where you mix two drinks and wonder what you’ll get? Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time kinda feels like that weird concoction of Animal Crossing and The Legend of Zelda. It’s cozy, charming, but somehow packed with so much stuff that you lose track of time. I swear, it snuck up on me and suddenly a chunk of my life just vanished. You’ve got goofy characters who weirdly feel deep for this kinda game. And leveling up in different jobs? You could just get lost in it, honestly. I mean, chopping trees and battling bosses without a moment of boredom is my new life story. I can’t believe I clocked in over 50 hours — what was I even doing? Oh yeah, chopping trees and slaying some epic bosses. It’s wild how this jumped to my top games list for the year. Crazy, right?
So you kick things off in Fantasy Life i thinking it’s your run-of-the-mill life sim: you mine, fish, do a few errands. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, bam! — you’re in a bright, monster-filled world with puzzles. “Okay,” you think, “I’ve got this,” but then you’re on an island making a village. I’d settle in, thinking I’ve figured it out, and then… whoops, roguelike dungeon mechanics. It’s like the game lives to mess with your expectations. You’re chopping down trees, la-di-da, and suddenly… big ol’ tree boss just shows up. Even post-credits, new things pop up, which is bonkers.
And get this, mixing all these activities? Fantasy Life i nails it. Usually, a game trying to do too much means nothing’s done well. But I found myself in these wild dungeon combos and thinking, “Is this for real?” Even the typical life sim stuff, like upgrading jobs and decorating your space, is on point. On one side, you’re chilling, on the other, you’re tackling action. It’s simple but engaging.
Story-wise, it throws time travel, dragons, and magic at you with as much enthusiasm as a toddler with crayons. It leans silly, dives into culture, with jobs known as Lives (14 of them, mind you). But dang, it’s written better than expected and kept me hooked. Archeologist Edward is a hoot, and Trip the bird’s sass — never gets old. But yeah, the ending kinda drags, predictably so, but still, for a genre where story’s an afterthought, it’s a pleasant surprise.
In between saving the world, it’s all about leveling up skills and helping Reveria folk. You start hopping from one job to another, unlocking this and that. It’s addictively hypnotic. Crafting a bow? Suddenly, 20 more tasks crop up. It’s that endless checklist feel, like Sim’s daily grind. But the grind? Sometimes, a bit much. Chopping trees, farming veggies, it pushes patience. Crafting has you pony up the same minigame, kinda repetitive. But with skips or buying materials, mundane becomes less tiresome.
You get a patch of land, build homes for buddies, decorate — think Animal Crossing déjà vu. It checks boxes: craft furniture, gift villagers, boost friendships, improve town. More shallow than New Horizons, for sure — villagers lack dialogue, weather’s on repeat, and the space? Kinda limited. Still, it’s a fun unwind between adventures and smithing. Plus, storing loot and fancy furniture feels worthwhile.
Oh, but Fantasy Life i brings some action too. Open-world battling and leveling up RPG style is more than just cozy stuff. Four combat Lives — Paladin, Mercenary, Hunter, Magician — bring their own spice. It’s all about slapping dragons — literal breather from plant watering. Combat’s simple, but I never minded a good smackdown break.
Exploring open areas? Treasure-filled and full of puzzles. More bold than sitting back in town. You’ve got mountains to climb, mimics with loot to chase, and mini-games with potential companions. Finding over thirty pals is neat, but they repeat lines ad nauseum. Could I ask them to zip it? Sure wouldn’t mind.
Roguelike mode pleases with dungeons where Lives matter — gather veggies or fish through seas before time’s up. It’s an addictive grind for XP and resources. Multiplayer? There but mostly forgettable. Show off towns, but it’s temporary. Bigger fun? Tackling roguelikes as a team. Yet, in a game hitting big strides, this part’s kinda lacking.
So, yeah, wild ride, bit chaotic, but feels wonderfully imperfect in all the right ways. Enough to keep you coming back and remembering why life doesn’t need a guidebook.
