The Nintendo 3DS is off the shelves, but Tomodachi Life isn’t fading away.
What started as a silly, budget-friendly social sim with customizable Miis is now one of the priciest used games on the 3DS.
Despite being around for over ten years, the price has only gone up.
Why Is Tomodachi Life So Expensive Now?
Nintendo’s shutdown of the 3DS eShop in 2023 cut off digital downloads, pushing Tomodachi Life and plenty of other 3DS games into rare status.
Since Nintendo stopped making new physical cartridges years ago, the only options now are buying used copies, modifying your handheld, or running the game on emulators like Citra. If you don’t want to jailbreak or emulate, you’ll have to pay a hefty price.
How Bad Has the Resale Market Gotten?
Players are making that happen, with resale listings on sites like eBay often hitting $100 or more, and some boxed copies selling for $250 to $300, depending on their condition.
Prices have shot through the roof, with one person seeing a copy sell for almost $500 and another saying empty boxes were going for the old retail price. Meanwhile, people lucky enough to grab it for under $100 feel as though they've struck gold.
Isn’t It a Common Game?
Interestingly, Tomodachi Life isn’t exactly rare. In fact, it sold over 6.7 million units, making it one of the best-selling games on the 3DS.
It was even part of the Nintendo Selects line, meaning it was once available now for just $20. So why is it so expensive now? It’s all about a combination of nostalgia, increased exposure, and the resale market.
During the pandemic, the game’s popularity shot up when streamers and creators dove back into its chaotic and absurd fun. That spotlight fired up interest among new fans and welcomed back older players chasing that strange feeling.
Meanwhile, scalpers, online resellers, and store owners recognized the demand surge and changed prices to match.
Where Can You Find It for Cheap (If at All)?
Some regions do slightly better, as European buyers sometimes spot games priced €10–15 at small stores, but those offers don’t show up often.
Most sellers have noticed, and the global market has mirrored the same price jump. Finding a cheap copy now takes either good fortune or plenty of searching through classifieds and pawn stores. All of this creates a frustrating paradox.
The game isn’t hard to enjoy if you already own it—but for new players, gaining access is either expensive or ethically tricky. This issue has driven fans to either jailbreak their 3DS or emulate the game on their computers.
It’s common for communities to share guides on hShop installs and safe modding, usually alongside complaints about Nintendo’s failure to deliver legal solutions.
Is the Sequel Going to Fix the Price Problem?
The upcoming sequel could change everything, with Nintendo confirming Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is coming to Switch 2 in 2026.
It won’t exactly take the place of the 3DS version, but it sticks close to the original’s style with weird humor, surreal dreams, and Mii drama that fans love.
Reports suggest new features are coming, including deeper relationship mechanics, exciting new locations, and an improved real-time system inspired by Animal Crossing’s ongoing success.
The sequel isn’t just a modern rehash but looks set to be the Switch 2’s first major life sim, potentially filling the gap left by Animal Crossing New Horizons.
The visuals are getting a boost, and there are already rumors of even more chaotic dream content (yes, including a giant Mii lady who shows up in your nightmares).
That might sound ridiculous—but then again, so did feeding your lookalike fried chicken while it sings heavy metal in the original.
For players who’ve always wanted to try Tomodachi Life but couldn’t justify the insane prices, the sequel might finally offer a clean entry point.
For longtime fans, it’s an opportunity to enjoy the strange stuff again without shelling out $250 for a ten-year-old game.
Could It Get Even More Expensive From Here?
Still, there is no guarantee that prices will drop. If anything, the sequel’s release could revive interest in the original even more.
That’s why collectors and players alike are still snatching up copies, worried that this game might become the next EarthBound—a weird, beloved title whose value keeps going up with every passing year.
In short, even though the 3DS is no longer current, Tomodachi Life stays alive through high resale value and devoted fans. And unless Nintendo re-releases it or restocks physical copies, don’t expect those prices to go down anytime soon.
Stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com: the best site for Tomodachi coverage.