Do you want to build your own little world？：　Nintendo Switch Guide

Do you want to build your own little world, filled with friends, daily surprises, and a wacky world of Mii characters living their best lives? This guide covers everything you need to know about the Nintendo Switch family of systems and one of the most charming life simulation games available: Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. Whether you are new to Nintendo or already own a console, read on for practical details about hardware, gameplay, and how to buy authentic Japanese Nintendo products from Discovery Japan Mall.

What is Nintendo Switch today?

The original Nintendo Switch was released on March 3, 2017, as a hybrid home console and handheld system. It launched with 10 games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as a launch title. Since then, Nintendo has expanded the family to include the Nintendo Switch Lite, the OLED Model, and the Nintendo Switch 2. The console has sold over 155 million units as of February 2026, and 2023 saw a record 2,360 games released for the platform. Nintendo used its first-party franchises to create system-sellers for the console, while also building strong support for indie games and third-party ports. The Switch emphasizes fun, convenience, and accessibility in gaming.

It supports three gameplay modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld. You can play on a big screen at home, prop the console on a table for a quick session, or carry it anywhere as a portable device. The Nintendo Switch Lite offers purely portable handheld play for those who prefer gaming on the go. Discovery Japan Mall ships genuine Japanese Nintendo products worldwide, including Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and additional games from the Nintendo library.

• Play at home: Dock your console and play on your TV in full 1080p.
• Play on the go: Pick up the console, attach controllers, and continue your game in handheld mode.
• Share with friends: Detach Joy-Con controllers for instant local multiplayer on one system, or connect multiple consoles via local wireless.

Nintendo Switch family of systems (Standard, OLED, Lite, and Switch 2)

Four main hardware options exist in the Nintendo Switch lineup. Each targets a different type of player, from couch gamers to commuters to families wanting the latest features.

• Nintendo Switch (Standard): The original hybrid console. It includes two detachable Joy-Con controllers and a dock for TV output. The Nintendo Switch features a 6.2-inch LCD touchscreen and outputs video up to 1080p when docked. The Nintendo Switch has 32 GB of internal storage, which can fill up quickly with digital downloads; it can be expanded up to 2 TB using a microSD card. The system supports both physical cartridges and digital downloads. It launched at $299.99 in the US. Nintendo raised Switch prices by $50 in August 2025, bringing the current retail price higher.
• OLED Model: Released on October 8, 2021, the Nintendo Switch OLED Model features a 7-inch OLED display with richer colors and deeper blacks, improved audio speakers, a wider adjustable kickstand, and a dock with a wired LAN port for stable online connections. Internal storage is 64 GB. The OLED Model retails for $349.99. It is ideal for vibrant games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and colorful life sims where the oled screen makes every detail pop.
• Nintendo Switch Lite: Launched on September 20, 2019, this is a dedicated handheld with a lighter body, built-in controls, and no TV output. It plays all software that support handheld mode, including Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. The Switch Lite has a battery life of 3 to 7 hours depending on the game. The Nintendo Switch Lite has a retail price of $199.99, leaving plenty of budget for extras like J-POP CDs and DVDs from Discovery Japan Mall.
• Nintendo Switch 2: Released on June 5, 2025, this newer system features a 7.9-inch LCD display with HDR support, redesigned Joy-Con 2 controllers that attach magnetically, 256 GB of internal storage, and backward compatibility with most Nintendo Switch games. TV mode supports up to 4K output in compatible titles. The MSRP at launch was $449.99 in America.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream for Nintendo Switch runs on both the original Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 with the same 6.2 to 6.3 GB file size.

How Nintendo Switch works: TV, tabletop, and handheld play

The core idea behind the Nintendo Switch is simple: start a game on your TV, pick the console up from the dock, and continue playing on the go without losing progress. The console features built-in local multiplayer capabilities, so you can hand a Joy-Con to a friend and play together anywhere.

• TV mode: Slide the console into the included dock and it outputs up to 1080p to your TV. This is the best way to enjoy big-screen sessions of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or multiplayer Animal Crossing evenings with family.
• Tabletop mode: Flip out the kickstand, set the console on a table, and detach the Joy-Con. The Switch includes two detachable Joy-Con controllers, so two players can each hold one for quick party games without needing a TV.
• Handheld mode: Snap the Joy-Con onto the sides and play anywhere. The 6.2-inch screen (or 7-inch on the OLED Model) displays at 720p. This mode is perfect for quiet solo play with life sims like Tomodachi Life or Zelda adventures.
• The Nintendo Switch Lite supports only handheld mode but remains fully compatible with Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream.
• Battery life varies by model and game: the revised base model and OLED Model last roughly 4.5 to 9 hours, the Lite about 3 to 7 hours, and the original 2017 model about 2.5 to 6.5 hours.

Nintendo Accounts, Nintendo Switch Online, and family sharing

A Nintendo Account is your key to the Nintendo eShop, cloud saves, and online features across both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Setting one up is free and takes a few minutes.

• Players can create multiple user profiles on a single console to keep individual game progress separate. Each profile links to its own Nintendo Account with its own Mii characters and save data.
• The Nintendo eShop serves as a marketplace for digital games. Browse, purchase, and download software directly to your console.
• Nintendo Switch Online membership is required for online multiplayer. The service launched in September 2018 and includes access to NES and SNES games, plus Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and other retro libraries through expanded tiers. Cloud storage for save data is available with Nintendo Switch Online where supported.
• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream supports Nintendo Switch Online for Save Data Cloud backups. An active Nintendo Switch Online membership is sold separately.
• A family group lets up to eight Nintendo Accounts share one family membership plan. Compatible digital titles can be shared between family members on the same console through this system, while parents might browse new arrival Japanese watches on Discovery Japan Mall between gaming sessions.
• Voice chat for online multiplayer requires a mobile app, not the console itself.
• Tomodachi Life is primarily an offline life simulation game. Some online features, discounts, and missions are tied to Nintendo Switch Online, but you do not need a membership to enjoy the core gameplay.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream on Nintendo Switch (Overview)

Do you want to build your own little world? Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream lets you do exactly that. Create Mii characters, drop them onto a small island, and watch their daily island life unfold with friendships, drama, romance, and other surprises you never planned.

• Release date: April 16, 2026.
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
• Languages: Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. International players can enjoy the game in their preferred language.
• Rating: Suitable for all ages. ESRB descriptors include Comic Mischief and Mild Fantasy Violence.
• Who is this for? Players who enjoy relaxing, funny games like Animal Crossing but want more focus on Mii characters and their relationships. Fans of the original DS and 3DS Tomodachi Life entries will find familiar gameplay with new features.
• Play modes: TV, tabletop mode, and handheld. Works on Nintendo Switch Lite in handheld mode.
• Price: Tomodachi Life for Nintendo Switch costs $59.99. Switch game prices average 10% higher than other formats.
• Discovery Japan Mall offers the Japanese Nintendo Switch version of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, shipping internationally so overseas fans can play soon after launch.

Create and care for Mii characters on your island

Mii characters are customizable avatars used across Nintendo systems, and they are the heart of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. Every resident on your island starts as a Mii you build from scratch using the in-game Mii Maker.

• Create characters based on yourself, family members, friends, favorite celebrities, or completely original designs. Adjust face parts, hairstyles, and personality traits using sliders that shape how each Mii behaves.
• This Nintendo Switch entry adds the ability to set dating preferences, adjust voice tone, height, body type, and apply special face paint. These customization options make each Mii distinct from the others.
• Every Mii has likes and dislikes for food, clothes, and gifts. Giving a Mii their favorite items fills their happiness gauge; giving them something they dislike drops it.
• Key actions include: feed them meals, change their outfits, give treasures, decorate their rooms, answer their questions, and watch them level up as happiness grows.
• Relationships develop naturally over time. Miis can become friends, best friends, rivals, or romantic partners. Two Miis might start hanging out at the park and later confess their feelings, creating a life living the dream feeling full of unexpected scenes.
• Each island save supports up to approximately 70 Mii characters. Plan your roster carefully if you want to include a large cast.

Island facilities, news, and daily surprises

Your island functions like a tiny city. There are apartments where Miis live, shops where they browse, restaurants where they eat, and special spots where they gather to socialize.

• As you progress, you unlock new facilities: food shops, clothing boutiques, amusement areas, and the Wishing Fountain. The fountain is a daily ritual where island residents toss money; you spend this in-game currency on new food, outfits, and room interiors.
• The “Breaking News!” style MiiNews segment is one of the game’s standout features. A Mii newscaster delivers reports on island events, from everyday gossip in different words to strange, earth-shattering breaking news about rivalries or surprise romances.
• Visit each facility to watch what your Miis are doing: relaxing at home, shopping, singing on stage, or arguing with friends over trivial matters.
• The studio workshop area lets creative players design original items like clothing, food, pets, and even building exteriors.
• These features make Tomodachi Life feel alive even when you only play a few minutes per day. Check in during your lunch break, feed a hungry Mii, read the news, and close the console. The island keeps running in the background, ready for your next visit. This rhythm suits busy players and families.

Customization, creativity, and connecting with others

Tomodachi Life on Nintendo Switch is not just about watching characters live their best lives. It also lets you create and customize your wacky world from the ground up.

• In the Studio Workshop, players can design completely original clothing, cook new foods, create simple pets, and draw house exteriors and ground tiles. Each creation becomes part of your island’s identity.
• Rearrange island layouts by moving homes, shops, and hangout spots. Decorate outdoor areas with trees, shrubs, and props. The operating system handles load times quickly so changes appear almost instantly.
• Some creations can be shared with nearby players using local wireless communication between two Nintendo Switch systems. Friends and family members can trade designs, making each person’s island feel unique.

Buying Tomodachi Life for Nintendo Switch from Discovery Japan Mall

Discovery Japan Mall is a trusted shop for authentic Japanese Nintendo products, shipping worldwide to customers in America, Europe, Asia, and beyond.

• The Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Nintendo Switch version available at Discovery Japan Mall is the genuine Japanese release. It includes multilingual support with English and nine other languages, so international buyers can play without a language barrier. Nintendo of America and other regional branches sell local editions, but the Japanese cartridge works on any Nintendo Switch console because the system is region-free.
• Before purchasing, check your Nintendo Account region in system settings and confirm your Nintendo eShop region is compatible with the version you buy. This ensures software updates and any downloadable content install correctly.

Your island is waiting. Pick up Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream from Discovery Japan Mall, create your dream cast of Mii characters, and watch them live, argue, fall in love, and surprise you every single day.