Game: Fashion Dreamer
Genre: Simulation
System: Nintendo Switch
Developer|Publisher: Syn Sofia| Marvelous, Nintendo
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Everyone
Price: US $49.99 | UK £39.99 | EU € 49,99
Release Date: November 3rd, 2023
Review code used, with many thanks to Nintendo.
First things first, I’m not someone who loves being on social media. I’m not young (and that’s an understatement), and I’m not very involved in fashion. But I did enjoy the fashion games made by Syn Sofia on the 3DS a lot (Style Savvy in the US/ Style Boutique in the EU), which made me eager to give Fashion Dreamer a try. Although, since its announcement, it was made very clear this would be a different kind of game, though still revolving around Fashion with a capital F.
Want to know more about the game? Check out our guide!
Let’s Not Compare
Before I dive deeper, I know this game is getting mixed reviews. People are disappointed that it doesn’t have the same gameplay elements as Style Savvy/ Style Boutique. This makes sense, though, as those games were brought to us by Nintendo and Fashion Dreamer was released by Marvelous. Plus, I get that they wanted to make a different kind of game. The last Style Savvy/ Style Boutique was released in 2017, and we are six years down the line. Social media has changed, and I guess so has how younger people perceive fashion. They don’t go to a store for advice; they look to the influencers they follow.
As we always do at LadiesGamers, we judge a game by whether it makes us feel good or whether it makes an impression on us. And it’s no different for Fashion Dreamer. So even when I’m not a part of the target audience, I can say I’m still having a good time with the game, though I do see the game could use a bit more gameplay content. Want to know more? Read on!
Be an Influencer
The goal of Fashion Dreamer is to become an influencer. You build your brand by making outfits called lookits for in-game characters (called muses) and muses of other players. You gain popularity by making sure you have a good selection of clothing items to use. Some you gather from other players, from showrooms and the pop-up areas. Other things you create yourself, or rather, you change the colours of items you unlock. All this to get more followers and likes.
And as silly as it may seem, it feels good to get the likes in this virtual world. To create special items in colours, you know one of your online friends will like. To be surprised by what others have made for you. And build your follower count while you’re at it. Let’s see how it all works.
Creativity, Muses and Cocoons
You start out by making your own muse. The customisation feature is quite deep; Fashion Dreamer uses two types: type A for a feminine form and type B for masculine. Some clothing items can be used for both types, but others are only for type A or B, which is a pity. You can make a total of four muses and choose which one to play in every session.
The surroundings you start to play in are called Cocoons, and the first one is called Hope. It’s a bright pastel-coloured area, which made me think of how, traditionally, the internet highways are depicted. Further on, you’ll unlock different themed Cocoons.
The Tutorial in Solo Mode
You start Fashion Dreamer in solo mode for the tutorial and learn how you have several areas in the Cocoon. The Pop-up area where you can check out the latest influences in the world is called Eve when it comes to fashion, in other words, what’s hot. And a Main area where you can change your own appearance and which has a photo booth so you can take pictures of your muse dressed up to the nines and in all kinds of positions.
The Main area is also the place where your own Showroom is located, and it houses the Gatcha machine and the bingo machines. If you have tickets, you can use the Gatcha machine to get new patterns. And with the tickets for the bingo machines you can earn stars.
Patterns are clothing pieces with a certain print on them. Each has to be unlocked with creative keys and can be changed by using stars. It’s a pity, though, that you can’t let your own creativity flow by making a pattern. But with the sheer volume of different patterns and colour palettes, there are a lot of variances to make.
Walking around, you encounter muses made by the game. These are great resources at first to build on your clothing inventory, as all you need to do is like their outfit, and you can now also use those items. They are hoping for your help to give them a new outfit (called Lookit) and take their wishes into account, and you will earn stars and bingo tickets.
Time to Go Online
Once you’ve done all your tasks set out by the game, you can open your Showroom. It’s a room that you can decorate how you want it, and most importantly, you can feature your clothing there. The decorations can be unlocked by using stars, and you can make this into your mini storeroom by putting out mannequins and shelves.
With that done, it’s time to go online, and to me, this was the moment that Fashion Dreamer took off. You’ll also see another kind of muses in your Cocoon. Those are players worldwide, and you can recognise them by the follower count above their heads. They, too, display info on what kind of style and colour they are looking for. And if you make an outfit for them, you automatically share that idea with them in their game.
They receive the outfit you made for them in their Lookit Mail. Same as you receive them in your own Lookit Mail. You can check out their showroom, follow them and even request them to make you an outfit.
It’s fun to see likes come in for your items, to get requests to make a Lookit, and to see what is popular around Eve. By creating patterns, liking outfits on other muses and browsing what others have in their showrooms, your inventory of items will soon soar. And you don’t even need money to get items you like in your inventory. Just like them!
The Good and the Bad
As expected, Fashion Dreamer controls effortlessly. It’s perfect for handheld mode, and the connectivity works great. By the way, you don’t have to have a Nintendo Online subscription; access to the internet is enough.
The graphics are colourful and detailed. I’m not a big fan of the first cocoon, but the later ones look better. In the first one, I felt I was just running around on glass; everything was so transparent. The second one, Ace, is much better. I felt like I was in an actual building, and having the Main area situated in a subway was fun. The music is very repetitive. I guess it fits with the cocoon you’re in, but it was not my cup of tea.
In terms of gameplay, I think more should be added. Even though I’m having a good time, I can see why this won’t be enough in the long run. There should be events and competitions. And the economics in Fashion Dreamer seem to be off. With just the likes I get, I earn so many stars that I don’t even know what to do with them.
Conclusion for Fashion Dreamer
If you are looking to manage a store, if you want a storyline or deep gameplay, you shouldn’t go for Fashion Dreamer. Instead, this is a lighthearted game, bringing fun and distraction. It’s easy to pick up for short gameplay sessions, and it’s extra fun when you can share it with people you “know” across the globe. I use the term “know” loosely, though; let’s say people you’ve met on social media or in other games.
Even though I recognize that Fashion Dreamer could use more beef to the bone, I’m still having a good time playing it. Let’s hope the promised updates for December 2023 and January 2024 bring us more elements. When that happens, my verdict might just go up a notch.
Final Verdict: I Like It 