The best games like Fantasy Life i are Dragon Quest Builders 2 (build up an island in a bright JRPG world), Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (farm life with real-time fights) and My Time at Sandrock (a town full of jobs to take on). For a gentler life with less fighting, try Littlewood or Moonstone Island. Below are 10 picks, grouped by the part of Fantasy Life you loved most.
At a glance
| Game | Best for | Length | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Quest Builders 2 | Players who loved building up the island town | About 55 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
| My Time at Sandrock | Players who liked the crafting Lives best | About 92.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Littlewood | Players who want the town building with no big quest | About 30 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch |
| Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma | Players who want farming plus a real action RPG | Open-ended | PC, Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Rune Factory 4 Special | Players who want a classic farm life RPG with dungeons | About 38 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch |
| Sun Haven | Players who want magic, dragons and a big story with their farm | About 44 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Switch |
| Fae Farm | Players who want a magical island life with friends | Varies | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Moonstone Island | Players who want lots of islands to hop between | About 31 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch |
| Dinkum | Players who want to build an island town from nothing | About 31 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch |
| A Short Sail | Players who want a gentler island life after a big JRPG | Not shared yet | PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck |
What makes Fantasy Life i special
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a bright JRPG from Level-5 about living many lives. You pick from a long list of Lives (jobs), from fighting jobs to angler, cook and carpenter, and switch between them as you like. You gather, craft, fight and build up an island town, and the story sends you between the present and the past. On Steam its top tags are RPG, Action, Casual, JRPG, City Builder and Exploration.
No other game has quite so many jobs in one place. So we grouped the picks by the part you loved most: the building, the fantasy fights, or the island life.
Our picks
- Closest overall: Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Most jobs to take on: My Time at Sandrock
- Farming plus real fights: Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
- Gentlest: Littlewood
- Best with friends: Fae Farm
- Our own game: A Short Sail (a gentler island life, no fighting on foot)
How we picked
Each pick shares a big part of Fantasy Life i: many jobs, crafting and building, a fantasy world with fights, or an island to make your own. We took platforms, Steam Deck ratings and Steam links from each game’s Steam page, and lengths from HowLongToBeat, checked in October 2026. We make one game on this list, A Short Sail.
If you loved building and crafting
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Who it is for: players who loved building up the island town.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a block-building game with a story. You are an apprentice builder who washes up on an empty island. Block by block, you build homes, farms and towns, and help their people. The story takes you to other islands, and the sandbox island is yours to shape. Up to four players can build together online.
It has fights against monsters, and the blocky look is very different from Fantasy Life. Valve rates it Unsupported on Steam Deck.
Developer: Square Enix, Koei Tecmo | Year: 2019 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 55 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Unsupported | Steam page
My Time at Sandrock
Who it is for: players who liked the crafting Lives best.
You are the new builder in a desert town. You gather, craft and build machines and town projects, and you take commissions from your neighbors, much like taking on requests in Fantasy Life. You also get to know a big cast.
It is very long, and there are some fights in its ruins and caves.
Developer: Pathea Games | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 92.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Littlewood
Who it is for: players who want the town building with no big quest.
The hero has already saved the world. Now you rebuild a town, gather wood and stone, and invite townsfolk to live there. It is relaxed and full of small hobbies, like fishing, bug catching and a card game.
The pixel art is plain, and the long middle can feel like a grind.
Developer: Sean Young | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch | Length: about 30 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
If you loved the fantasy fights
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Who it is for: players who want farming plus a real action RPG.
You lose your memory, find you can call on the gods’ power, and set out to heal a land inspired by old Japan. You farm, build up villages, make friends and fight monsters in real time. Like Fantasy Life, it mixes a calm home life with an adventure.
It is the most action-heavy game here, and its farming is less deep than in a pure farm sim.
Developer: Marvelous Inc. | Year: 2025 | Platforms: PC, Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Length: open-ended | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Rune Factory 4 Special
Who it is for: players who want a classic farm life RPG with dungeons.
You arrive in a castle town, farm, craft weapons and tools, cook, and head into dungeons to fight monsters. Many fans call it the best of the series. It came to PC in 2021.
It is an older game, and it shows in its looks. The early hours are slow.
Developer: Marvelous Inc. | Year: 2021 on Steam (first on Switch) | Platforms: PC, Switch | Length: about 38 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Sun Haven
Who it is for: players who want magic, dragons and a big story with their farm.
You farm, fish and craft across several fantasy towns. The store page promises “a calendar full of events to celebrate,” with seasonal festivals and holidays. You can also play with friends online.
It has many systems, and the fights are simple.
Developer: Pixel Sprout Studios | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch | Length: about 44 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Fae Farm
Who it is for: players who want a magical island life with friends.
You wash up on the island of Azoria and build a magical farm. You farm, fish, mine, craft and decorate, and you can play with up to three friends. The dungeons have creatures to fight, but potions can make you invisible.
Some players find the late game thin.
Developer: Phoenix Labs | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Steam page
If you loved the island life
Moonstone Island
Who it is for: players who want lots of islands to hop between.
You live on one of 100 small islands, make friends, brew potions and collect spirits. You fly between islands on your broom to find new ones. It mixes farming and decorating with a creature collection.
The spirit battles are card fights, which not everyone enjoys.
Developer: Studio Supersoft | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch | Length: about 31 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Dinkum
Who it is for: players who want to build an island town from nothing.
You move to an empty island in the Australian outback and build it into a town. You gather, craft, fish and farm, and new residents move in as it grows. Friends can join your island online.
There are some wild animals to fight, and the start is slow.
Developer: James Bendon | Year: 2025 | Platforms: PC, Switch | Length: about 31 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
A Short Sail
Who it is for: players who want a gentler island life after a big JRPG.
It is much smaller than Fantasy Life i, and it is not an RPG. You are a little tabby cat with a sailboat, and your job is the island post. You pick up letters and parcels, pack them into your hold, and sail them out to the little islands. You fish by day and by night, help the islanders with their requests, and they become your friends. Back home, you build up your island.
There is no farming, no crafting and no fighting on foot, only gentle sea battles against storms and living waves. There is no romance or dating for the player. You can play alone or online with friends. The full game comes to Steam and itch.io in Q1 2027, and a free demo plays in your browser now.
Developer: Yos Riady | Platforms: PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | Length: not shared yet | Free demo at play.ashortsail.com | Play the demo
Related guides
- Games like Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma: farm life with fights and romance.
- Games like Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar: farms, towns and market days.
- Games like Dinkum: build an island town.
- Cozy island games: small islands to call home.
- Cozy job games: shops, cafes and bakeries.
Questions
What is the closest game to Fantasy Life i?
Dragon Quest Builders 2 is the closest overall. It is a bright JRPG from Japan where you gather, craft and build up an island, with light fights along the way. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is closer if you want farming and real-time combat in one game.
Is there a game like Fantasy Life with many jobs?
My Time at Sandrock has the most job-like loop: you run a builder's workshop and take commissions from the town. Sun Haven and Fae Farm mix farming, fishing, mining and crafting. No other game has as many separate Lives as Fantasy Life, though.
What game is like Fantasy Life but without combat?
Littlewood is the gentlest: the hero has already saved the world, and you rebuild a town. A Short Sail, our own game, has no fighting on foot and only gentle sea battles. Most other picks here have some combat.
Is Fantasy Life i on PC?
Yes. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time came out in 2025 on PC through Steam, and on Switch, PS4, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-play and cross-save. Steam players rate it Very Positive.
How long is Fantasy Life i?
Player estimates for the main story run from about 20 to 30 hours. Doing every Life and side task takes far longer, and many players say 100 hours or more.
Are there games like Fantasy Life to play with friends?
Yes. Dragon Quest Builders 2 lets up to four players build together online. Fae Farm and Sun Haven have online co-op, and Dinkum lets friends join your island. A Short Sail, which we make, has online lobbies to sail with friends.
