Nintendo's social simulation game, 'Tomodachi Life: Heart-Pounding Life,' officially launched on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on the 16th.

'Tomodachi Life: Heart-Pounding Life' is the third title in the series, following 2009's 'Tomodachi Collection' and 2013's 'Tomodachi Life.' While the original 'Tomodachi Life' was initially exclusive to Japan, its popularity led to a 2014 release in North America and Korea; this new installment also supports Korean. Save data from the pre-release 'Heart-Pounding Demo' can be carried over to the full official Korean version.

The game is set on a small island in the middle of the ocean. Players create Mii characters modeled after themselves, family, friends, or favorite celebrities to live on the island. Time on the island passes at the same speed as in reality, and the Miis live freely, forming various relationships—becoming friends, falling in love, or sometimes breaking up.

As the island's administrator, players intervene in the Miis' lives by feeding them, gifting them clothes, and helping them resolve their worries. Whether to be actively involved or to watch quietly is entirely up to the player.

Players can also directly influence relationships between Miis. By picking up a resident and bringing them to another, players can create opportunities for them to grow closer. Since relationships begin at the 'acquaintance' stage, the process of building bonds is depicted in greater detail. The series' signature humorous presentation remains, featuring a variety of events ranging from love, marriage, and confessions to the birth of children.

The biggest feature of this installment is the ability to freely customize the island. Players can manage the island's layout, from placing paths and benches to moving houses and shops or expanding land. Furthermore, players can create original items—including food, clothing, structures, pets, and buildings—by drawing them and adding them to the island. Seeing how the Miis react when gifted these custom items is expected to be a unique source of fun.

Mii customization has also been significantly expanded compared to previous titles. A skin tone selection feature has been added, and categories have been further refined. The game supports both automatic face generation based on simple questions and manual part-by-part selection. Additionally, a new feature allows players to create doppelgängers or twins based on existing Miis. Using local communication, players can also share their custom Miis and items with others.

The game is available on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.