Despite it having seen multiple delays before release, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time has seen a fantastic launch, erasing any doubts that many prospective players had about whether this game would live up to its word. The game is smooth, polished, and seems to be an expert blend of its d slow life RPG mechanics, offering objectives that hit the cozy market as well as more traditional RPG elements. Yet, even with all these successes, it feels as though one thing is still missing that could have just added one more layer of depth to the gameplay.

Fantasy Life i has done so well since its release on May 21, 2025, that Level 5 is even giving a free DLC to players this June that will "update the world." The game uses the mechanic of players taking on 14 different Life classes which can be effortlessly swapped between to accomplish goals. These include everything from combat, gathering, and even crafting, and can be leveled up individually. As if that wasn't enough, Fantasy Life i also includes terraforming and decorating the player's own city and home, and building up relationships with several buddies who move in.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Does Not Have Romance Options

No Dating In This Time Traveling Fantasy Life

Yet, even with all these amazing features that come together seamlessly to give players a wonderful gameplay experience, there's a noticeable lack of any kind of romance in the game. Given that we get to have our own house and decorate it to our heart's content, and live in our own little base camp with several buddies who can be leveled up and receive gifts, it seems only natural that a romance option could have been included.

Romance and marriage are fairly standard parts of many cozy life sim games, with players essentially needing to level up their friendship with an NPC and have that character move into the player's house. There would need to be some dialogue added and perhaps a date event or two, but this wouldn't need to be a major focus. Simply having the option of dating and getting into a relationship with one of the adorable NPCs would be a nice bonus.

You Can Build And Decorate Your Own Home, But Must Stay Single

Many Typical Cozy Game Components Other Than Romance

After players have reached the point in the game where they have started their own Base Camp in Fantasy Life i, and start leveling up some of the lives, particularly the Tailor Life, Artist Life, and Carpenter Life, players not only have their own house but can decorate it in all sorts of ways. Not only that, but we can terraform and decorate the entire camp, placing homes for our Buddies and building up the landscape around the area. This traditional cozy element is a fun personal touch that players can enjoy, but don't necessarily have to.

It could have been added to the game for those who enjoy it, but not made to be a necessity for those who don't.

If someone would rather focus on the RPG elements of Fantasy Life i, they can simply place enough decorations around to level up the Base Camp and keep running out to fight monsters. The same could have been in place for a romance dynamic. It could have been added to the game for those who enjoy it, but not made to be a necessity for those who don't.

I'm not a programmer and can only imagine how hard it is to create a game, particularly one this detailed, but with so much of the foundation already there, it seems as though romance would not have been that much more. Even after a marriage, which need only have a simple cutscene, the NPC could simply then live in the player's home. They don't need to have any additional space added to the house for the spouse to include with them, or even any additional skills or abilities granted.

Friendship Levels (Affinity) Can Still Be Raised With Buddies

But They Won't Want To Date You

Fantasy Life i has 50 Buddies that can move into the player's Base Camp and the party to go out on adventures. Each Buddy has an Affinity level which players can raise to make them stronger and unlock special skills. This Affinity score is raised in the typical friendship level mechanics of talking to them each day, giving them gifts they life, and completing their personal requests.

Granted, some of these Buddies mention that they are married, such as Duglas who occasionally mentions his wife. However, this Affinity system, which is displayed as hearts, could be integrated into a romance system. After players reach a certain Affinity level, perhaps there could have been a way to denote that there is romantic interest and then keep leveling them up with an end goal of marrying them. A specific, craftable gift could be required, for example. Yet, the developers chose to leave this entire possibility out of the game.

Perhaps this was left out due to the possibility of it interfering with other mechanics such as online co-op multiplayer, or maybe due to the little issue of how the characters are involved in quite a bit of massive time-traveling jumps. Whatever the reasoning, it seems as though it must have been a conscious choice by Level 5 when deg the game.

Even Without Romance, Fantasy Life i Is Still A Fantastic Experience

And There's Nothing That Says You Can't Pretend

When it comes down to it, romance is not a necessity in a game like Fantasy Life i. It could have been a nice addition that would add even more personality and depth, but Fantasy Life i is already a work of art on its own and likely to be in the running for my personal Game of the Year. Its narrative is incredible, the Life choices each offer unique challenges and opportunities, and there is always something to do. Everything from the character creator to the boss battles shows the ion that developers put into it, and makes the game one that deserves the attention it is getting.

Besides, players can still pretend and ship different NPCs together or consider one of their Buddies to be their boyfriend or girlfriend. There may not be actual dialogue in the game for it, but keeping a favorite NPC in your party and imagining a deeper connection is certainly still a possibility. Perhaps a future DLC will add marriage to the game, but until then Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is still pretty incredible even without romance.