Building on the strong foundation laid by the Style Savvy series (known as Fashion Boutique in Europe) on the Nintendo 3DS, Syn Sophia’s new game, Fashion Dreamer, launches on the Switch at a time when many gamers are anticipating the next console. Although the current system has been sorely lacking in titles dedicated to fashion, games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons incorporate customization features into their gameplay. Will Fashion Dreamer be a standout in the genre, or will it miss the mark?
Unlike its predecessors, Fashion Dreamer eschews a structured storyline or specific set tasks for players to accomplish as they advance. Instead, it offers a more laid-back, open-ended experience. Set in the imaginative realm of Eve, the game invites players to inhabit avatars known as Muses, as they strive to establish their fashion brands and ascend to the ranks of top influencers. Following an engaging hour-long tutorial that introduces various gameplay elements, you have the freedom to roam through the four distinct Cocoons of Eve, cultivating your reputation as you interact with fellow Muses and craft outfits that align with ever-changing trends.
In Fashion Dreamer, acquiring new clothing is refreshingly straightforward. Simply approach an NPC and give a thumbs-up to their outfit, instantly adding any of their items that aren’t already in your wardrobe to your inventory. If you don’t like everything they’re wearing, you can express your admiration for individual pieces as well. Occasionally, Muses will ask you to create a Lookit, an outfit that meets specific criteria such as color or theme. These requests can range from straightforward to complex, requiring thoughtful creativity to fulfill. The process can feel repetitive after a while, as the same items resurface frequently, but it also leads to a rapid accumulation of diverse clothing options, especially when your choices are quite limited at the game’s outset.
The breadth of clothing options in Fashion Dreamer is impressive, accommodating a wide spectrum of tastes and enabling endless outfit combinations. Players can find items to match their style or create looks from available pieces. There are nine categories filled with thousands of choices, although I noted a lack of accessories, notably the absence of bags, and jewelry options are limited to earrings. Still, the variety allows for unique character creation and customization, with the additional capability of altering colors using palettes or a detailed hue wheel. Once satisfied with a look, players can snap a screenshot of their ensemble, post it on the game’s social feed, and earn points that can be used for further customization.
However, Fashion Dreamer isn’t devoid of shortcomings. Many clothing items are restricted to certain body types, which feels counterintuitive to a game that emphasizes player creativity. While the ability to create multiple Muses allows experimentation with different items, the restrictions still feel disappointing. As the inventory expands, managing it can become cumbersome. Players can sort their items by categories and rarity, but the growing number of pieces makes tracking them somewhat tedious. A more efficient searching method, like filtering by color or style, would enhance the gameplay experience.
Fashion Dreamer features a showroom where players can showcase their favorite looks, with the option to personalize the space using furniture and wallpapers. However, unlocking impressive design options requires significant playtime and currency, creating a grind that feels artificial compared to the ease of acquiring clothing. Additionally, players cannot create distinct designs or swap patterns between clothing, instead limited to altering colors, which feels restrictive despite the variety available. Customization costs can also be high, particularly when playing offline.
The game appears primarily intended for online play. After finishing the tutorial, players can enter the online realm, where they’ll encounter other players’ Muses moving about the various Cocoon spaces, similar to interactions with NPCs. Doing Lookit tasks for fellow players yields substantially greater rewards than those from NPCs. This design choice makes the clothing acquisition process engaging, with players benefiting from Likes they receive as well as potential currency boosts when their outfits are appreciated by others. The sense of community fostered through this system enriches the experience and offers glimpses of the global creativity present among players.
While online participation significantly accelerates the overall experience in Fashion Dreamer, solo play can feel sluggish. Progress without the involvement of others feels artificially slow, as current trends offer meager boosts for earning currency necessary to create new outfits. The randomness of item acquisition can also contribute to a sense of monotony during extended gaming sessions without online features.
Visually, Fashion Dreamer boasts a charming design, with a predominantly white ethos complemented by soft pastel hues that create a pleasant aesthetic. Character models display a unique allure, with sufficient customizable options that contribute to individual personality, although greater detail could enhance the experience. The game delivers a smooth performance on the Switch, with minimal lag or load times and no major technical issues, even during online play. However, some character animations may come across as exaggerated or rigid, especially as players first acclimate to the control mechanics, though overall, the gameplay remains a delightful experience.
In summary, Fashion Dreamer provides a vast array of customization options and a creative outlet for players, alongside ongoing content updates that can enhance the experience further. For those who seek a sense of belonging in a global community while indulging their creative side, this title is a suitable choice. However, longtime fans of the Style Savvy/Fashion Boutique series may be disappointed by the absence of a structured narrative and the slow advancement in single-player mode, which could lead to frustration with its high customization costs. My engagement with the game was enjoyable, but potential players might have differing opinions based on their preferences.
6/10
A copy of Fashion Dreamer for review purposes was provided by Nintendo UK.