Which Switch should you buy for Tomodachi Life?
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In this guide
- Buying just for Tomodachi Life? Get the Switch Lite. It plays the whole game. Nintendo says the content is the same on every model.
- Want to play on your TV too? The Lite can't. Nintendo states it does not support TV mode.
- Eyeing Pokémon Pokopia or the new Zelda? Get the Switch 2. Both are Switch 2 exclusives.
- Check the seller before you click buy. Search results mix in used and imported consoles.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream has sold over 8 million copies. A lot of those buyers did not own a Switch before.
If that is you, the store page does not help much. It lists four consoles, and they do not cost the same.
Here is the short version. The game is the same on all of them. What changes is where you can play and what else you can play later.
Does Tomodachi Life work on the Switch Lite?
Yes. Nintendo's own FAQ lists the Switch, the Switch Lite, the OLED Model, and the Switch 2.
Nintendo also says there are no differences in the software content. You get the same islands, the same Miis, and the same updates on every model.
Some scenes use the touch screen, like making a Mii and the Palette House workshop. Every model has a touch screen, so nothing is lost there.
What does the Switch 2 add?
Two things, according to Nintendo's FAQ:
- Faster loading times.
- A sharper picture in handheld mode. It runs at 1080p handheld on Switch 2, higher than on the original Switch.
That is the full list. Nintendo also notes the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls are not supported in this game.
So for Tomodachi Life alone, the Switch 2 is a nicer screen, not a different game.
Can two people share one console?
Yes, with separate islands. Nintendo's FAQ says save data and islands are created for each user on the system.
A couple or two siblings can each keep their own island on one console. They just can't play at the same time.
The picks
Nintendo Switch Lite
Budget pickGet this if Tomodachi Life is the reason you are buying a console, and you play on the couch or in bed.
Skip it if you want to play on a TV, or you might want Switch 2 games later.
- Plays Tomodachi Life
- Full game
- TV mode
- No
- Switch 2 exclusives
- No
- Sold by (Sep 26)
- Amazon.com
This is a handheld-only Switch. For a game you check on for a few minutes a day, that fits well. It is the lowest-cost way in.
Check price on AmazonNintendo Switch 2
PricierGet this if you want Pokémon Pokopia or The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Both are Switch 2 exclusives.
Skip it if Tomodachi Life is the only game you plan to play.
- Plays Tomodachi Life
- Full game, faster loading
- TV mode
- Yes
- Handheld picture
- 1080p in this game
- Sold by (Sep 26)
- Amazon.com
Pokopia is another cozy life game. If it is on your list, buy the Switch 2 now instead of buying twice.
Check price on AmazonNintendo Switch – OLED Model
Middle optionGet this if you want TV play, and you only plan to play original Switch games.
Skip it if you might want Switch 2 exclusives. They will not run on it.
- Plays Tomodachi Life
- Full game
- TV mode
- Yes
- Switch 2 exclusives
- No
- Sold by (Sep 26)
- A third-party seller
On the day I checked, this listing was not sold by Amazon itself. Look at the "Sold by" line before you buy.
Check price on AmazonWhat to check before you buy
Search Amazon for "Switch Lite" and a few other listings show up next to the new ones.
- "Renewed" means a used console that was checked and resold.
- "Japanese Version" means an import made for Japan.
- "Sold by" tells you who you are buying from. It is not always Amazon.
None of these are scams. They are just easy to click by mistake when every photo looks the same.
Who can skip all of this
If you already own any Switch, you are done. Tomodachi Life runs on it with the same content.
Nintendo says you get faster loading on Switch 2. It does not add anything you would miss on the model you have.
Sources
- Nintendo Support: Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream – Frequently Asked Questions
- Nintendo Support: How to Connect Nintendo Switch to a TV
- Nintendo: Pokémon Pokopia – Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive
- Nintendo: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Nintendo Switch 2
- Nintendo Life: Nintendo details the benefits of playing Tomodachi Life on Switch 2
- Wikipedia: Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (sales figure)