Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Falls Short Despite Ambitious Concept

LOS ANGELES, CA — The much-anticipated sequel, “Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time,” was released on May 21, 2025, by Level 5 on multiple platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series. The game aims to build upon its predecessor’s unique premise, allowing players to choose professions and create their own path in a vibrant fantasy world.

However, the game has faced criticism for failing to deliver on its promises. The core mechanic revolves around players selecting ‘Lives’, or character classes, that fall into three categories: fighters, gatherers, and crafters. Unfortunately, critics argue that much of this is just dressed-up versions of basic RPG skills, limiting true roleplay and creativity.

“What you actually have are basic RPG skills dressed up to look important,” said a reviewer who expressed disappointment with the game’s structure. Switching between Lives is possible from the beginning of the game, but players must engage in repetitive tasks without any real incentives, leading to a sense of monotony.

A major point of contention is the game’s crafting and gathering systems, which use similar mechanics for different tasks. Critics have pointed out that even enjoyable aspects, such as crafting minigames, can become tedious over time, detracting from overall gameplay enjoyment.

Combat classes do offer some variety, featuring options such as the Paladin, Mercenary, Magician, and Hunter, each with unique mechanics. Critics noted that although the combat can feel engaging initially, it becomes repetitive quickly, with enemy behaviors and objectives lacking complexity.

The game’s environmental areas are designed with distinct themes, including a ‘past’ map concerning Mysteria Island and a more barren ‘present day’ map. The addition of building and management sim elements akin to games like “Animal Crossing” is praised, but it still fails to fully realize its potential.

NPC interactions in the game have also been heavily criticized for their repetitive lines and lack of depth, which some players found frustrating. “How is it in any way good to hear ‘show me what you’ve got’ repeated at least five times?” questioned one reviewer, highlighting how this could detract from the immersion.

Despite criticisms, the game has received some praise for its colorful visuals and casual style, allowing players to explore at their own pace. However, many players share a sense of disappointment that Level 5 did not take full advantage of the advancements in gaming since the original game’s release in 2012.

Overall, “Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time” has received mixed reviews, with its expansive world and some fun mechanics overshadowed by issues related to ambition and innovation. Critics suggest that while the game can be entertaining, it ultimately does little to evolve from its predecessor.