Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

 Switch
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. IGN Benelux
    May 30, 2025
    95
    Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time feels like it was made by fans of the original with the mindset: let’s fix everything that could be improved and make what was already good even more fun. And in my opinion, Level-5 has absolutely succeeded. The game is accessible yet impressively deep. Each of the fourteen different Lives has something unique to offer, and the game is packed with fun activities, quests, and secrets to discover. Longtime fans already know that Level-5 has delivered plenty of great RPGs in the past, but I didn’t expect the leap in quality over the original to be this significant. Then again, these are the kinds of surprises we gamers live for.
  2. Gamezebo
    Jul 8, 2025
    90
    Fantasy Life has something for everyone and feels like an expansive, multi-layered adventure.
  3. Universo Nintendo
    Jun 18, 2025
    90
    Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a must-buy for cozy game fans. With complete freedom to explore professions, nearly endless content, and a (smooth but limited) 4-player online mode, it’s a cozy sandbox I adore—now if only someone would expand this vision into a true MMO.
  5. Atomix
    Jun 7, 2025
    90
    If you've tried the 3DS version, I'd say don't wait any longer and pick it up on any of the platforms where it's available, as you're likely to get hooked on its fantastic simplicity. Meanwhile, if you didn't get to play the first one, but this kind of RPG is more your thing, I also recommend it. I swear you'll become a fan.
  6. Nintendo Life
    Jun 4, 2025
    90
    Vastly expanding breadth at the cost of depth, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a worthy sequel to the 3DS original, even if it does lose some of that signature Level-5 weirdness in the process. Taking its cues from Breath of the Wild and Animal Crossing might seem pretty unoriginal, but synthesising those ideas into a Fantasy-Life-flavoured version actually works, and we can't really fault Level-5 for giving the people what they want.
  7. Retcon
    May 27, 2025
    90
    It’s clear that Level-5 has learned a lot from the original release and knows its audience well. As a result, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a straight upgrade and improvement over everything its predecessor did the first time around.
  8. RPG Fan
    Jul 7, 2025
    80
    What Fantasy Life i does best is bringing together different game styles and having them work together in such a way that it becomes very easy to get caught in its cycle. Although some minor hiccups are afoot, the game is ultimately greater than the sum of its parts, just like what happens when you bring together all sorts of experiences to contribute to a rich, intricate life tapestry. The implementation of gameplay from some of the Switch’s “greatest hits” also makes Fantasy Life i feel like a spiritual send-off, synthesizing blasts from the system’s past in a way that keeps them fresh for the game’s future. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a time-stealer, ensuring its most important features are fun and relevant to the rest of its offerings.
  9. Oyungezer
    Jun 22, 2025
    80
    Amidst the swirling questions about the difficulties encountered before its release—whether it would be canceled or if it would ever come—13 years later, a new Fantasy Life game has finally arrived, and it was well worth the wait. If you're tired of similar games in the genre, Fantasy Life is a fantastic alternative.
  10. This Is Game
    Jun 10, 2025
    80
    It wasn’t as childish or simplistic as I expected. If anything, I just hoped LEVEL5 would take things a step further in doing what they do best—making the familiar feel fresh. Fantasy Life i offers 14 delightful stages of growth. Give them a try.
  11. Final Weapon
    Jul 28, 2025
    70
    Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a good revival of a series that delivers as much content as possible to its fans. However, this can be a detriment as parts feel unfocused or too disparate to work together. Regardless, the charming nature of the title shines above all else, and with so much here, there is something for everyone to fall in love with.