Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

“Level-5’s low-stakes casual RPG blends action-adventure with the laid-back chill aspects of a Life-sim. Explore the island and unravel its mysteries, or relax and tend to the garden. Regardless of the path chosen, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is sure to steal time away from anyone who plays!”

“Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a delightful slow-life RPG that is best when you embrace its structure and varied Lives system.”

“Cute and cohesive, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is recommended for anyone who enjoys the time-honored cycle of gathering, crafting, decorating, and repeating.”

“Given how cheap the upgrade is for Switch 1 owners — you’re looking at £2.04 / $2.59 / €2.27 or your regional equivalent — the performance improvements for Fantasy Life i on Switch 2 are more than worth the price of admission.”

“It’s not a game for everyone but for those willing to settle into its rhythms and forgive a few rough edges, there’s something special here. It’s the kind of game you come back to on quiet evenings not because it demands your attention, but because it earns your time.”

“Despite its shortcomings in multiplayer, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a jam-packed experience that I still don't want to put down. It so easily lulls you into a loop of adventure and exploration and gathering, and just when you start to tire out from your adventure, you're reminded of three other things you could also be doing for a change of pace. I don't know if I'll stop playing it any time soon!”

“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.”

“Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a free form RPG that delivers in spades with its plethora of quality content, addictive gameplay, and all the enhancements over the first game.”

“Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is amazing and well worth the wait, and Level-5 bringing it to multiple platforms to experience it in all its whimsy and wonder was an incredibly smart and measured decision. I'd struggle to find anyone who wouldn't gel with how effortlessly endearing it is, with its vibrant world and charm, dopamine-providing levelling system, a bounty of activities and things to see and do. The side-games that feel like their own games, whether that's exploring a Breath of the Wild-like open world or creating a cute and cozy village of locals à la Animal Crossing, are substantial and meaty, adding to the fun and delight that awaits around every corner. Even the most monotonous task of chopping down a tree is suddenly super exciting. The Fantasy Life series, and The Girl Who Steals Time, are just that magical and effective in doing so. This is a level up for Level-5. Job complete.”

“Level-5 has come back swinging with Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, improving on the original in every way and offering a smorgasbord of gameplay ideas without ever feeling like it’s trying too much at once. It balances this level of depth with a laid-back, cosy approach that makes it all too easy to enjoy for hours on end.”

“The combination of the enjoyable lighthearted combat, the nearly endless options of productive activities, or even the less important ones like designing your home and island, the co-op features, and the vast world makes Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time the be-all and end-all for all cozy games.”

“Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is an excellent blend of cozy life sim and action-adventure RPG that rarely stops surprising throughout its 50+ hour runtime.”

“If you're into games like the new Zelda games and/or Animal Crossing, I highly recommend you take a look at The Time Thief.”

“A mishmash of my favorite dopamine receptors are getting smashed to bits when I play this game, and I’m fine with that. If you’re looking for a cozy, compelling Skinner box of a game, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is perfect for you.”

“The visuals, score and overall presentation have been elevated beyond recognition, and yet, the things that made the original great remain intact. The abundance of gameplay mechanics and variety via the different islands and time periods is a standout feature that makes the endless grind paletable, and while every action in the game borders on basic, it never crosses the threshold to be considered boring.”

“Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a surprisingly monstrous outing. It can be a seriously addictive RPG adventure, utterly stuffed with things to see, do, and eventually master. The grind can be a bit overwhelming at times, but Level-5's trademark charm and well-designed gameplay loops should keep you coming back. This is vibrant all-ages fun, pretty much from start to finish.”

“Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time improves on the series in every conceivable way, delivering one of the most feature-rich games of the year.”