Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Earns High Famitsu Score Ahead of Nintendo Switch Release

Level-5’s highly anticipated return to its beloved slow-life RPG series is just days away, and early critical response is already generating buzz.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, the latest entry in the Fantasy Life franchise, is set to launch worldwide on May 21, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, PC, and other consoles.

Fans who purchase the Deluxe Edition on PC will enjoy early access starting May 18, 2024.

A dedicated version for the upcoming Switch 2, featuring enhanced visuals and frame rates, is expected later this year. The momentum for Fantasy Life i has been amplified by an impressive review from Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, known for its rigorous scoring system.

The publication awarded the game a standout 36 out of 40, with each of its four reviewers granting a score of 9.

This rating surpasses many genre peers and closely aligns with the 35 out of 40 awarded to the original Fantasy Life when it was released on the Nintendo 3DS, highlighting the series’ enduring appeal.

Reviewers noted that completing the main storyline will take between 30 to 40 hours, with dedicated players able to spend up to 100 hours achieving total completion.

This positions the game as a robust offering for both longtime fans and newcomers seeking lengthy content. Famitsu reviewers praised Level-5 for maintaining the engaging blend of life simulation and RPG mechanics that distinguished the original game, while expanding on world-building and activities within the new title.

As reported by industry tracker Ryokutya2089 and relayed by Gematsu, critics recognized the improvements in gameplay depth, narrative, and replayability.

One reviewer remarked that, "Fantasy Life i continues the tradition of delivering a relaxing yet intricately detailed RPG adventure, with enough variety and charm to keep players invested for dozens of hours." Significantly, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time marks the franchise’s first move into multiplatform territory, departing from its original status as a Nintendo 3DS exclusive.

This broadened reach, with simultaneous launches across Nintendo Switch, PC, and other consoles, demonstrates Level-5’s commitment to expanding the fantasy life simulation genre’s audience.

The eventual arrival on Switch 2 further underscores the developer’s intent to leverage next-generation hardware for improved performance and visuals. With the fantasy RPG slated for a prominent launch via the Nintendo eShop, longstanding fans of the original Fantasy Life, as well as new players discovering the series for the first time, have much to anticipate.

Level-5’s track record of whimsical yet richly layered games, combined with a strong early critical reception, positions Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time as a major highlight for 2024 in the Nintendo Switch and multiplatform RPG landscape.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo PC Famitsu Level-5 Switch Fantasy Life i Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Fantasy Life