References

Tomodachi Collection and Tomodachi Life contain many references to other Nintendo games, non-Nintendo games, real world locations, or, in Tomodachi Life, references to Tomodachi Collection.

References to Other Nintendo Games

The Legend of Zelda

• A dialogue between a Mii states that "It's not healthy to keep things bottled up. Except for potions and fairies."
• The tunic & leggings description is "It's great for going on an adventure."
• While sleeping, Miis might say "It's dangerous to go alone, take this."
• In a dream, a Mii says "Hey, Hey, Listen!"
• A dialogue between a Mii who owns a 3DS XL might say "I want a new 3DS game. Maybe something with Rupees...."
• The description for the expensive-looking vase is "No matter how tempting, try not to break it, think of all the games you can get instead."

Star Fox

• While sleeping, Miis might say "Do a Barrel Roll!"
• The description to the Frog hat in Hats states that the hat looks "familiar". It resembles Slippy.

Super Mario Bros.

• When a Mii receives a letter to go up to the roof, the awaiting Mii may say "Our princess is in another castle."
• In the Mushroom's description, it states "Maybe it will make you grow bigger!"
• During a Pity Party, one of the jokes a Mii might say is "Why is Luigi taller than Mario?"
• Sometimes, in the UK version of Tomodachi Life, a Mii during a nap, will say "Please, take me with you." This is a reference to Toadette from Mario Super Sluggers.

Other

• A NES, ROB, Virtual Boy, Super Scope, Game Boy, and Game & Watch can all be acquired as treasures.
• In the Banana peel description, it states that is "makes karts peel out." This is a reference to the Mario Kart series.
• During the summer, at the island menu cicada and other assorted bug sounds can be heard. These sound effects are recycled from Animal Crossing: New Leaf.
• The description for the ROB treasure states that he is a brawler, referencing his inclusion in the playable character roster of Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
• The description for the clay figure is "This clay figure looks sort of familiar. Did you find it in the ground?" which is a reference to how a player gets gyroids in Animal Crossing, by digging them up from underground.
• When a Mii is given a Wii U either playing with others or playing by his/herself, similar noises and controls can be noticed. These are meant to be some attractions (mini-games) from the game Nintendo Land, and the PIRATES minigame from Game & Wario.
• If the player investigates what went wrong after a depressed Mii fails to resolve an argument, they might see a cutscene where the two Miis were still throwing items at each other. One particular quote, "FALCON THROW!", is a reference to Capt. Falcon's iconic attacks.

References to Non-Nintendo Games

• When playing with a fan, a Mii will sometimes say "All your fans are belong to me." This is an alteration of the original text "All your base are belong to us," from Zero Wing.
• When Miis are sleeping they might say "<name>, please don't leave me.

References to the Real World

• The destinations for travelling using the travel ticket and honeymoons are all real world locations. Miis will also comment on landmarks while visiting these locations.
• Photos taken by Miis using the disposable camera can be real world photos.
• All treasures and food items use photo realistic graphics.
• There is a photo realistic interior available at the interior shop.
• Some Mii Dreams take place in the real world.

References to Movies and TV Shows

• In the UK version, a Mii playing with a fan will sometimes say "Exterminate!", imitating the Daleks from the TV show Doctor Who.
• Sometimes, the morning market merchant may say "There are restaurants that are known to steal my recipe", a reference to SpongeBob SquarePants, where Plankton is known to steal the Krabby Patty formula. 
• The description for the tuxedo says, "Just remember that you DO NOT have a licence to spill." This is a reference to Licence to Kill.
• In the Superhero dream, the dreamer holds up a food item, says "By the power of (food name)" and then transforms, similar to how transformation happens in magical girl genre of anime. For example, Sailor Moon holds her hand up in the air and says "Moon Prism power, Make Up!" to transform. it could also be a reference to He-Man, where the title character holds up his sword and says "By the power of Greyskull!" to transform.
• One version of the Unbelieveable dream has a Mii saying "If you swallow watermelon seeds, a watermelon will sprout from your belly button." which is a reference to the Rugrats episode "The Inside Story".
• The description for the trucker hat (which looks similar to Ash Ketchum's hat) says "This hat is the best. in fact, it's the very best.", which is a reference to the Pokémon TV show theme song which has the lyrics "I wanna be the very best." 
• The tweed dress' description says "You feel the need. the need for tweed." which is a reference to the several Need for Speed movies. This was also similar to a quote from Tom Cruise in the movie Top Gun, which was "I feel the need, the need for speed!"
• The sailor outfit's description says "Pair this outfit with a healthy serving of spinach--you'll be unbeatable." , which is a reference to Popeye the sailor man.
• When Miis are sleeping they might say "Oh it's my dad. Oh I thought you were someone else. This is a reference to It's My Circus
• When the player chooses for a Mii to ask another Mii out by singing a song, one of the possible songs is "♪ Let's gather round the campfire and sing our campfire song. Our C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G song" This is a reference to SpongeBob SquarePants
• The description for the sailor dress says, "Go boating, or maybe fight some crime." This could reference the Sailor Moon series.
• In the European version of the game, after viewing the Workout/Muscles dream, you are given some spinach. This could reference Popeye
• The description for the Rain interior says it's "Great for singin' and dancin'." A refrence to the 1952 film "Singin' in the Rain"

References to Books

• The red and white striped shirt's description says it will "make you stand out in a crowd" which is a reference to Where's Waldo, where Waldo wears a red and white striped outfit.
• The pinafore's description says "Throw this on for a hop down the rabbit hole. Beware the Jabberwock.", which is a reference to Alice in Wonderland, where Alice wears a pinafore.
• The Trench Coat description is "Solve the mystery of fashion with this sleuthing-ready trench coat." which references Sherlock Holmes.

References to Social Media

• The Flannel Shirt may be a reference to the famous Youtuber, Markiplier. The description says it "goes great with black-rimmed glasses" which refers to Markipliers usual outfit of flannel and black-rimmed glasses.
• The Gamer interior costs $1,337.00. This refers to 1337, a number that spells LEET when turned upside down

References to Music

• The description for the reggae hat says "Get up, stand up, and get groovy in this easygoing reggae hat." which is a reference to 'Get Up, Stand Up' by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
• The description or the Rockabilly Dress says "He may be nothing but a hound dog, but you're a total cutie in this dress." which reference Elvis Presley's hit song Hound Dog.

References to Tomodachi Collection (Tomodachi Life only)

There are multiple similarities between Collection and Life.

• When a Mii uses a travel ticket to possibly visit Switzerland, one of the tourist spots they might visit is the Matterhorn. When the player takes a picture of the Mii, the Mii turns twords the mountain as if they were going to shout at it. This is a reference to the Mii Dream Mountain from Collection.
• In the Café, some of the music used in Collection can be heard on the Cafe's radio.
• Several sounds and music from Collection are reused in Life, with some being remixed.
  • Question Hall's voting music from Collection is remixed for Life's Judgement Bay.
  • Music for when a husband and wife broke-up from Collection return in Life.
  • Town Hall's music from Collection is remixed for Life.
• Several Islander Games, events, and items from Collection return in Life.
• "All-Time favorite" foods and "Worst" foods return in Life.