LGBTQ+ representation has changed a lot sinceTomodachi Lifefirst released back in 2013 for theNintendo 3DS. My fruity ass is out of the closet now for one, and so I’ve been spreading the agenda wherever I can. Elsewhere, we have seen mainstream cinema, television, and video games become more and more accepting and eager to include queer characters, plots, and themes. Despite the global picture still appearing bleak at times, things are getting better.
Tomodachi Life sadly didn’t include same-sex romance options in its original form, with many believing aglitch in the Japanese version meant they were once present, only for Nintendo to prematurely patch them out. That never happened. But when it became a headline attracting controversy, thecompany apologisedand said in any future entries it would “strive to design a gameplay experience from the ground up that is more inclusive, and better represents all players.” Well, with the reveal of Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream, that time may have come.
One workaround players had at the time was to change the appearances of Miis so itfeltlike you were creating same-sex relationships, even if the game itself didn’t acknowledge them.
Will Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream Include Gay Romance Options?
Nothing official has been confirmed yet regarding gay romance. In fact, we don’t know much about Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream at all apart from what was shown in the brief reveal trailer.It will be weird, wacky, and unpredictable, much like its predecessor, as you fill an island with Miis and watch them develop relationships, partake in chaotic escapades, and just enjoy the vibes.
At the end of the reveal trailer, we see a character sitting on a bench dreaming of another Mii, who approaches them as a towering giant only to ask her, “did you want to talk?” She then wakes up as the very same character walks by with a piercing glare written all over her face. Fans have already begun reading this as aconfirmation of potential queer romance optionsand begun shipping both of them to high heaven.
Did you know that when the Wii U was first released, it featured211 official Nintendo Miisall of which have their own distinct names and looks? The two girls featured in this scene are called Anne and Alice.
It is a very brief and very silly interaction, but considering it takes up almost half of the reveal trailer, it has been included with deliberate intentions. In the original Tomodachi Life, Miis can often daydream about other characters on the island they are infatuated with, whether it be a close friend or romantic interest. The fact that Alice appears in Anne’s dream as a weird creature wanting to talk about something could allude to a potential confession, or an anxiety she is perhaps feeling about bottled-up emotions. It’s not an unreasonable conclusion to jump to.
Considering the high-profile absence of same-sex relationships in the first Tomodachi Life, Nintendo’s promise to address that in a potential sequel, and this clever tease, it feels pretty inevitable that Living The Dream will include the option to make our Miis gay as hell.
Over the years, I’ve always found this community to be exceptionally fruity anyway, driven to make themselves known within Tomodachi Life all the more because the original game had never given us that option in the first place. It feeds into the unpredictable weirdness and a desire to be yourself no matter what that this game has always expressed, and what better way to do that than giving Miis the queer labels that match the real people they represent?
Anne and Alice Are Already Cemented In Tomodachi Life Canon
I don’t know what is in the water that Nintendo fans are drinking, but just minutes after Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream was announced, and gay romances were teased, the fanart floodgates opened. I couldn’t scroll through my social media feed for more than a few seconds before being bombarded by an avalanche of adorable memes or art. There is an untapped love for this franchise that hasn’t been capitalised on for almost a decade, and now its audience finally has an excuse to celebrate.
Rhythm Heaven Groovemaking an appearance at last week’s Direct was a real cherry on top for dormant properties finally getting the respect they deserve. We eatin’ good!
One of my favourite things about queer video game communities is how creative they are in celebratory moments like this, even before anything is officially confirmed. There are myriad pieces of art doing the rounds right now that turn Anne and Alice into characters that have seemingly been in love for years, and this dream sequence was the catalyst to one of them finally snapping out of it andletting the other know how they truly feel.
tomodachi life💭💕pic.twitter.com/2QF8w2r0XI
— こより (@koyoring_07)Jul 14, 2025
More exciting, though, is what this reveal could mean for future trailers, gameplay showcases, and the full game itself. How far will players take the possibility of same-sex relationships, or what tools will the game provide when it comes to gender, marriage, and cosmetic options for our Miis? Imagine giving one of them top surgery scars. That would be both utterly wild and pretty unlikely. But I’ve learned with Nintendo that it’s good not to rule anything out.
I don’t think any of us expected Tomodachi Life to receive a remaster in 2025, let alone the announcement of a fully-fledged sequel that aims to build on everything it did so well. If you can truly be queer in this one, it will be yet another reason to celebrate.
