FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time

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FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by LEVEL5 Inc. and was released on May 21, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a slow-life RPG where you can switch between 14 unique jobs, from fishing and cooking to monster hunting. Guided by a dragon’s light, you explore a mysterious island filled with adventure and discovery. Shape the world around you and team up with friends to embrace your chosen Life.

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FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time screenshot

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,747 reviews

story406 positive mentions

grinding671 negative mentions

The game is a charming and addictive exploration/cozy life sim hybrid, combining elements from Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, and more.
It features a vast amount of content, with 14 different 'Lives' (jobs) to level up, allowing for a diverse gameplay experience.
The graphics are vibrant and cute, and the game runs smoothly on various platforms, including the Steam Deck.

The story is often criticized for being predictable and lacking depth, with some players feeling it doesn't live up to the original game's narrative.
The multiplayer experience is limited, with time restrictions and no progression in the main story while playing with friends.
Many players find the crafting and gathering mechanics repetitive, with some minigames becoming tedious over time.

story
2,146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
77%
4%
The story in "Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time" is generally described as charming and light-hearted, appealing to a younger audience with its whimsical and sometimes predictable plot. While some players appreciate the engaging characters and humor, others find the narrative simplistic and lacking depth compared to the original game. The main story serves primarily as a framework to introduce gameplay mechanics and unlock new content, with many players noting that the real enjoyment comes from the extensive side quests and life progression rather than the central storyline itself.
- “The story is surprisingly good, definitely for kids, but has a lot of adult innuendos thrown in.”
- “The story is cute and genuinely enjoyable, but the best part?”
- “The story is charming and low-stakes (so far, i've been busy collecting, crafting and wack-a-mole combating my way through quests upon quests lol), so be prepared for a chill time <3”
- “The story is decent but it's clear that the story is more of an afterthought - a backdrop to the grinding and leveling of all 14 lives.”
- “The main story is short, not really endearing or compelling and the characters and dialogue are boring and a challenge to get invested in.”
- “The story is very weak compared to the original, with very shallow characters and weightless plot twists.”
gameplay
857 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The gameplay in "Fantasy Life I" has been widely praised for its engaging and addictive loop, combining elements of crafting, gathering, and combat in a cozy RPG setting. Reviewers note significant improvements over the original game, including quality-of-life enhancements and a variety of mechanics that keep the experience fresh, though some feel that certain aspects can become repetitive. Overall, the game successfully blends familiar life-sim elements with deeper RPG mechanics, making it appealing to both fans of the original and newcomers alike.
- “It's a progression on the mechanics, story, and gameplay of the previous game, and I can already tell they've taken what was a long and extensive game and added hours and hours more to explore in a world that is new... but reminiscent of its predecessor.”
- “The gameplay loop is engaging and addictive.”
- “The core gameplay loop is really dialed in and there is a staggering amount to do.”
- “The entirety of the gameplay feels very shallow and is just made for that quick dopamine hit.”
- “It feels like it was designed by a committee checklist of disjointed ideas, and anything remotely substantive got cut in favor of making the pieces fit together by stripping out anything that might possibly differentiate gameplay in almost any way.”
- “The gameplay loop revolving around leveling your jobs gets repetitive fast.”
grinding
682 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The reviews highlight that the game is heavily focused on grinding, appealing primarily to players who enjoy this aspect in RPGs. While many find the grinding rewarding and engaging, especially with its various crafting and gathering systems, others note that it can become tedious, particularly in the late game where RNG elements and repetitive tasks can detract from the experience. Overall, if you appreciate a cozy, grind-heavy gameplay loop reminiscent of titles like Animal Crossing or RuneScape, this game is likely to be enjoyable, but it may not suit those who prefer a more streamlined or less repetitive experience.
- “Each profession also has a little mini game with it, which is nice because it changes up the pace a little bit, but it's not tedious.”
- “You’ve gotta work for progress, but it’s not grindy (unless you do what I did and start grinding before unlocking all the basic systems).”
- “If you want to play something with undeniable charm, funny dialogue, and a gameplay loop that isn't grindy as hell, check this out.”
- “Farming life is very RNG for getting crown vegetables to spawn and takes so long to grow; it's dull and very limited where it can be used.”
- “You will be grinding XP in all of your different activities, you will be grinding materials to support crafting activities, you will be grinding reputation in the town to level your guild, you will be grinding relationships with your villagers... and on and on it goes.”
- “The game itself is very mini-game focused (lots of fast reaction clicking, tapping, and holding), and very grindy, so keep this in mind before buying this game.”
graphics
361 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
55%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant and charming art style, which many players find endearing and reminiscent of classic titles like Animal Crossing and The Legend of Zelda. While some critiques mention that the graphics may appear simplistic or childish, the overall consensus highlights the game's polished visuals, smooth animations, and the successful upgrade from its 3DS predecessor. Players appreciate the cozy atmosphere created by the graphics, which complement the engaging gameplay and story.
- “The graphics are one of the strongest points in my opinion as the colors are incredibly vibrant and the lighting is amazing.”
- “The graphics are stunning, keeping the original 3DS charm but adding so much more detail and vibrancy.”
- “The graphics are so cute and they look amazing even on the lowest graphics setting!”
- “The only thing this game got perfect was the graphical style; everything else is mediocre at best.”
- “Visually, it’s cute and colorful, but for a full-priced game, some of the graphics and animations feel a little dated.”
- “It's not the quality of the graphics, per se -- I think the game looks pretty good and runs well -- but the generic anime style doesn't feel compelling or cohesive.”
music
303 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
3%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic value as it heavily reuses tracks from the original game, composed by Nobuo Uematsu. While some players find the soundtrack charming and fitting for the game's whimsical atmosphere, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking originality. Overall, the music is described as enjoyable and relaxing, contributing positively to the game's cozy vibe, despite some concerns about its context and occasional blandness.
- “High polish and charm: developed by Level-5, the game is praised for its 'warm hug' fairytale art style and a soundtrack by legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu.”
- “The music is beautiful, the art style is cozy and vibrant, and the game has that 'one more thing before I stop' pull that keeps you hooked far longer than you expect.”
- “The music is pure nostalgia, and the new tracks fit the situations and environments perfectly.”
- “Life songs feel AI-generated; they're shockingly bad.”
- “The soundtrack is unfortunately mostly reused from the original, often in really weird ways that do not match this game's theme.”
- “Some of the soundtrack is downright annoying, like the song that plays every time you go into any sort of workshop.”
humor
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is characterized by its charming and goofy vibe, featuring silly dialogue, quirky characters, and lighthearted interactions that often elicit genuine laughter. While some players feel the humor doesn't quite match the original game's charm, many appreciate the whimsical and sometimes absurd comedic elements that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay, making it a delightful choice for fans of lighthearted adventures.
- “The funny choices for instruments (dogs barking, a squeak toy being squeezed) and the overall goofy vibe is so charming and catchy.”
- “The quirky characters and their hilarious interactions give the world so much personality.”
- “The humor in this game was written unexpectedly well, and some lines had me laughing out loud.”
- “The game presents itself with an infantile campiness, much like an unfunny person bragging about how hilarious they are.”
- “Toxic but funny.”
optimization
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
39%
6%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback. While many players report smooth performance on PC and Steam Deck, with consistent frame rates and minimal bugs, some users have experienced issues on the Nintendo Switch, particularly during multiplayer sessions. Additionally, certain gameplay mechanics, like crafting, have been criticized for feeling unoptimized despite the game's overall polished appearance.
- “It's absolutely beautiful and very optimized.”
- “The game is massive, the story has so much quirkiness and personality, it is a breath of fresh air, the performance is amazing on PC and Steam Deck.”
- “Level-5 has delivered a well optimized, good looking, polished game replete with plenty of content to chew on.”
- “Unfortunately, I had to refund due to the poor performance.”
- “Generally, it just feels like the game isn't optimized for PC and more for button mashing, or at least that's how the slow response time of confirmations feels.”
- “Given that so many other people are having issues with the game crashing on launch, I can only assume that it is poorly optimized for PC.”
emotional
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
1%
4%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartfelt storytelling and wholesome experiences, often evoking nostalgia and joy among players. While some reviews highlight the simplicity and lack of depth in the narrative, many express that the charming characters and lighthearted moments create a warm, engaging atmosphere that resonates emotionally. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to deliver a comforting and enjoyable experience, despite criticisms of repetitive quests and a less impactful story compared to its predecessor.
- “The story is wholesome, albeit simplistic, but that doesn't take away from what they're trying to show.”
- “I wasn't expecting to feel a little emotional about it, and there are some characters here that I will remember till the day I die.”
- “Man, that story was so awesome it legit had me tearing up a bit with how touching and heartfelt it was.”
- “It's only 7 chapters long and has a very short and boring story, to be honest.”
- “A mediocre game filled with boring quests, poor dialogue, a dull story, and way too many fetch quests.”
- “- Repetitive and boring story.”
stability
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
4%
30%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report excellent performance on the Steam Deck and other platforms, with smooth gameplay and minimal glitches, there are notable issues such as crashes, bugs affecting combat and story progression, and some players experiencing significant launch problems. Despite these concerns, a significant portion of the community appreciates the game's polish and stability compared to other recent releases.
- “The game runs great on the steam deck, no issues at all.”
- “Performance-wise, the game runs great.”
- “This game has some of the best art direction I have ever seen in a video game and the artists who made this are fantastic. The game is completely polished, no bugs, no glitches.”
- “DLC is buggy and keeps crashing.”
- “The game is broken for me; I cannot start a dungeon offline anymore, or it glitches and makes me fall forever in some empty room under the map. If I try to reset the dungeon, it just crashes.”
- “Unfortunately still buggy, and some bugs prevent story progression and 100% completion.”
character development
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
12%
Overall, the character development in the game is highly praised for its stunning and varied designs, which are described as cute, charming, and visually appealing. Players appreciate the depth of customization and the cohesive art style that enhances the storytelling experience. While the dialogue and narrative could benefit from further exploration, the characters feel significant and engaging, contributing to a nostalgic yet modern gaming experience.
- “The character customization has a lot of versatility and it's cohesive too; all the character designs in this game are really stunning.”
- “Each character in the world felt important in their own way and the character design was next-level while also keeping the initial charm from the first game alive and well.”
- “I'd love to see some kind of DLC dip into original fantasy life levels of dialogue and character development.”
- “However, literally days after I recommended it to another person, Level-5 comes out and says they use AI heavily in development, and not just code, but assets, music, character designs, narratives, etc. They claim most of it is changed or replaced by a human, but you can never be too sure.”
- “This game somehow feels like a modern nostalgic release, with nice-to-have quality of life elements and UI/UX, but with solid old school storytelling and character development.”
atmosphere
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
32%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its cozy, inviting, and whimsical qualities, reminiscent of beloved life-sim titles like Animal Crossing. Players appreciate the charming art style, relaxing music, and the balance between a laid-back environment and engaging gameplay, making it easy to immerse themselves for long sessions. Overall, the game creates a warm and comforting atmosphere that enhances the enjoyment of its mechanics and character interactions.
- “The charming art style, relaxing atmosphere, and smooth performance, including on the Steam Deck, make it easy to sink into long play sessions without stress.”
- “The game’s warm, inviting atmosphere makes it perfect for relaxing gameplay, much like the comforting feeling you get from Animal Crossing.”
- “The music, the atmosphere, the characters... it's charming, it's enjoyable, it's simple but not so simple your brain just shuts off; however, comfortable to play and relax with.”
- “Fantasy Life does have a gradual day/night cycle, but all it really impacts is certain enemy spawns (some are day only, some are night only) and the visual atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is light and kind of goofy; the gameplay mechanics aren't very complex, and nothing about it is particularly challenging, but it is still a fun time.”
- “Everything from the atmosphere to the music and sounds brings back memories of the 3DS game.”
replayability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
52%
16%
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse classes, engaging mechanics, and procedural elements that keep players invested. While some grinding may feel repetitive, the combination of RPG elements, exploration, and co-op features ensures that players have plenty to do, making it enjoyable even after completing the main story. Additionally, free DLC and random dungeon generation further enhance the game's longevity and replay value.
- “The game series is unique and fun, and the replayability is all there.”
- “It combines really solid RPG fighting, gathering, and crafting mechanics with an Animal Crossing: New Horizons-esque town management sim, Breath of the Wild-esque large area exploration, and an infinitely replayable mystery dungeon that absolutely shines in multiplayer co-op.”
- “QOL improvements alone would have made it better, but now there is a whole open world continent with personalized level scaling per zone, base building, procedurally generated endgame dungeons for nearly endless replayability, and two more lives to grind out.”
- “Some grinding can get repetitive, but the charm and replayability make up for it.”
- “I feel like it has a lot of replay value because there are so many places to explore and buddies to find.”
- “QOL improvements alone would have made it better, but now there is a whole open world continent with personalized level scaling per zone, base building, procedurally generated endgame dungeons for nearly endless replayability, and 2 more lives to grind out.”
monetization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
33%
47%
The game has been praised for its lack of microtransactions, providing a complete experience without the typical monetization pitfalls like ads, battle passes, or time gating. Players appreciate the absence of in-game purchases, which enhances the enjoyment and immersion, contrasting sharply with many modern titles that often feel like cash grabs. Overall, the monetization model is seen as a significant positive aspect, allowing players to fully engage with the game without financial distractions.
- “And a huge positive point for many: no microtransactions in the game, even though this type of game could easily be monetized.”
- “It's been amazing to play a game that feels complete from launch and has no microtransactions.”
- “There's also a lot of very smart mechanics in the game.. it reminds me a lot of Genshin Impact, but there's no monetization, nothing is time-gated and the co-op is way better.”
- “Level5, you don't even have microtransactions that let players skip the timers, so there is no reason to do something like this... unless you'd want to annoy your players and waste their time.”
- “In summary, the game is solid if you liked the original but incorporates many of the new age gaming features that make games miserable for corporate interests and has a generally lazy story that makes this game a clear cash grab without true heart.”
- “This feels like a cash grab for people who loved the original game and feels like they are trying to just feed off of that nostalgia with the strangelings.”

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33h Median play time

46h Average play time

11-71h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 60 analyzed playthroughs

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FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a role playing game.

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 46 hours playing FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time.

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time was released on May 21, 2025.

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time was developed by LEVEL5 Inc..

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include My Time at Sandrock, My Time At Portia, Sun Haven, Littlewood, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma and others.

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