Thomas Marnella | Social Media Editor
March 27, 2026
Yesterday, Nintendo dropped the pre-release, demo version of their newest simulation game; Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. Set to release in three weeks, this game is a long-awaited sequel to the widely popular 3DS title, Tomodachi Life, which was released 13 years ago. Speculation in recent years has pointed Miis as a contributor as to why it had taken so long to develop a sequel. Miis, which are ultra-customizable digital avatars, have been a core piece of Nintendo’s branding and image for over a decade, but with the release of the Nintendo Switch console, they were absent. The drop of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, officially marks the end of the Mii-less era, and the fans are excited.
Now, the Miis did not disappear for no reason. Although they were quite prevalent on the Nintendo 3DS handheld, they were a key aspect of the Wii U console. According to Jon Irwin of AV Club, “Miis infected everything about the console.” However, this console was a commercial failure and a flop. With only 13.56 units sold worldwide, Nintendo blamed the Miis. Notably, during the release of the Switch, other games and platforms were pushing hyper-realist graphics which countered the cartoon-like, simplicity of the Mii.
Finally, in 2021, Nintendo decided to test the waters with Miitopia, a Mii-based RPG. This port proved that the fans adored the cute characters, selling approximately 1.79 million copies as of November 2023, more than the 3DS release. This game gave many, including myself, hope for the future of Miis. With the release of the new Tomodachi Life sequel, it is sure that Miis are here to stay.
Excited Nintendo fans are everywhere, even at SCHS. London Watkins, a sophomore and 3Ds owner, can barely contain her excitement. “I love Miis and I love Tomodachi Life, and if I didn’t already have a reason to finally purchase a [Nintendo] Switch, I do now.” Other students feel similarly. Sophomore Gaby Aguilar, and life-long fan, claimed she “[has] been waiting for so long for this game! This is a more than clear sign that Miis are back, for sure.”
With the failure of Miis, the upcoming release of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, is shocking, yet exciting for most Nintendo fans, and it confirms a hope for more Mii-based content in the future.
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