Nintendo's Weirdest 3DS Game May Finally Be Back From The Dead (2024)

Trademark registrations filed at the end of September 2023 suggest the upcoming return of Tomodachi Life. An eccentric, Mii-centric social simulator originally released for the 3DS, Tomodachi Life is a truly unique game in its genre. However, despite its success, Tomodachi Life remained stagnant on the 3DS for its entire lifespan. There's never been word of a follow-up or port, but new information suggests that could be subject to change.

According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by @tmark365, as translated by @HEYimHeroic, Nintendo filed an application to renew its trademark for the Tomodachi Life title and branding on September 29, 2023. While this could be a case of Nintendo simply trying to keep tabs on its intellectual property, the particulars of the trademark point to something more significant.

Tomodachi Life released under a different name in Japan - Tomodachi Collection: New Life - which isn't included anywhere in the filing. Instead, the use of the American title suggests an entirely new Japanese release under a different name, although whether that's a port or a sequel remains to be seen.

Tomodachi Life Features Miis In The Weirdest 3DS Social Sim

Following in the footsteps of other 3DS social sims like Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Tomodachi Life features customizable apartment decoration, a complicated system of inter-Mii relationships, and a wide variety of mini-games for the whole cast to enjoy. It was released in 2013 in Japan and 2014 in the US, as a sequel to the 2009 Japan-exclusive DS title Tomodachi Collection. What sets it apart, though, is its delightfully bizarre tone. Miis are prone to falling in love or falling out with each other at the slightest provocation. They ask the player unusually personal questions. They have oddly stunted, non-sequitur-laden conversations at the in-game diner.

But besides that, what's interesting about Tomodachi Life is its commitment to total personalization. Since they're all homemade Miis, each character is custom-built by the player from the ground up. Players select not only their appearance, but also their voice and their personality. They can fill an entire island with their real-life friends, favorite celebrities, unusual Mii creations, or a combination of the three. Miis can also sing custom songs and say custom catchphrases, all of which are delivered in the deadpan drone of computerized text-to-speech voices. Whether by the player's own design or the unpredictability of the Miis' actions, it's rife with surreally hilarious potential.

Tomodachi Life Never Got An Official Sequel

Tomodachi Life was an overnight hit and one of the 3DS' greatest success stories, eventually becoming the console's 10th best-selling game. However, it never received a sequel or Switch port. Other Mii-focused titles, like Miitopia, have done a bit to carry on its legacy, but they never quite scratched the same itch. Miitopia may be somewhat customizable, but it's also a turn-based RPG at heart. Customization is mostly cosmetic; it's not exactly the interior design and social simulator provided by Tomodachi Life. All that is to say that Tomodachi Life has been due for a sequel for a very long time, and it may finally be getting one.

Since the closure of the 3DS eShop, Tomodachi Life has only been available on physical cartridges, or to those who already purchased it digitally prior to the eShop shutdown. However, the new trademark filing points toward some kind of series revival. Whether it'll be a Switch port of the original 3DS version, a ground-up remake, or a complete sequel, there's hope for more Tomodachi Life in the near future.

Sources: @HEYimHeroic/Twitter