Gen Z's dream life exists only in video games Tomodachi Life, Animal Crossing, The Sims, and other methods of escapism

In case you somehow missed it, Nintendo released the highly anticipated Switch version of Tomodachi Life (now titled Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream) on April 16. The game first appeared in Nintendo’s catalogue back in 2009, but at the time it was a Japan-exclusive release and never made it to the global market. It wasn’t until 2013, with the launch of the Nintendo 3DS version, that the game became a viral phenomenon worldwide thanks to its meta absurdity, Japanese humour, and the carefully orchestrated chaos that defines it.

Only in Tomodachi Life can Michael Jackson and PinkPantheress become best friends, the social media editor of nss G-Club fall in love with Jennie from BLACKPINK, and Sergio Mattarella end up living under the same roof as Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen (or at least that’s what happens on this writer’s island). It’s a surreal world where, paradoxically, the player has almost no control, despite being able to decorate the island however they like. A corner of digital escapism that, for this exact reason, is so beloved by Gen Z.

Owning a house is finally possible for Gen Z (in video games)

Tomodachi Life belongs to the category of games known as “cozy games”: no guns, no jumpscares, and no brain activity above average levels. The experience of relaxing games is somewhat comparable to the idea of a place “where the heart rests and anxiety disappears,” so to speak. Think of Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, Pokopia, and The Sims, all games where nothing truly bad ever happens, humans coexist with animals and mystical creatures, and even Gen Z can afford to own a house, as also pointed out by Dazed.

Because that’s also the real selling point of “cozy games”: offering a fully customisable experience, from your avatar to the entire world surrounding it. Kayla Sims, better known online as lilsimsie, is an American content creator whose 2.22 million YouTube subscribers prove just how much people love watching others build houses in The Sims, perhaps even more than they enjoy playing themselves. In one of her most viewed videos, with over 2.1 million views, Sims explains how to get rich by renting out properties inside the game: almost a fetish for a generation that often cannot even come close to the idea of buying a first home.

Is the third place we crave hidden inside the Switch?

Gaming has long been synonymous with community, even if it can sometimes feel like an intimidating environment to approach. Discussions around misogyny and homophobia are especially common in FPS circles (first-person shooters like Fortnite, Valorant, and Overwatch), and for people who didn’t grow up gaming, it can be difficult to immediately feel part of that world. The success of “cozy games,” however, lies in the exact opposite: building communities even for those who feel out of place, even for first-time players. Since the release of the new Tomodachi Life, the subreddit r/TomodachiLife has experienced a major spike in traffic, reaching 1.6 million weekly visits. Users ask for opinions on their islands, share the avatars they create, and continuously turn the game into a meme machine.

What emerges is a genuine third place, one of those spaces so desperately sought after by Gen Z, where people can connect, talk, and build relationships both in-game and beyond it. In a study conducted by Erasmus University Rotterdam, based on qualitative interviews with eleven gamers aged between 18 and 34, researchers found that “cozy games” function as coping mechanisms, helping players achieve a more positive psychological state and better manage everyday life. The study also highlights how this kind of escapism is not merely a distraction, but a transformative experience capable of encouraging relaxation, personal growth, and even self-discovery. It’s just a shame that the perfect life Gen Z longs for seems to exist inside a €60 video game.