![]() ![]() Materials are used to craft clothing and zines: the former are mainly cosmetic though and the latter offer a disappointing mix of magical powers. Combat feels stiff and floaty and lacks strategy. It’s clear, though, that dating was the main emphasis of the game. Dating each weapon further encourages you to experiment with them all to enhance both combat and your relationships. Each has a slightly different playstyle and abilities, though don’t expect Hades levels of depth. Published AugComments ( 20) Alerts Image: Kitfox games The recent discourse around Boyfriend Dungeon has distracted from something important: That it is a very good video game, which. You see, you use each partner as a weapon in “the dunj”, whether they transform into a sword, a dagger, a glaive or more. Going on dates and offering them gifts deepens the bond between you, which in turn levels up their abilities in combat. And we actually do end up talking about a game and the controversy around. But it’s also about friendship, sexuality and polyamory. like Horizon Forbidden West, Need for Speed Heat, and Boyfriend Dungeon. If you want it to be, Boyfriend Dungeon is simply a game about getting laid in one hot summer of love. That’s what makes dating them so fun as you genuinely want to get to know them better, awaiting the next message and invite on your mobile phone. They’re seductive, or mysterious, or suave, or downbeat, but there’s always more behind these initial emotions. One minute you’ve got a character offering you “sword pics”, the next you’re having a deep emotional conversation about a character’s past.Īnd those characters don’t rely on stereotypes either, but have well-written and interesting back stories. It’s certainly a bizarre premise, but thanks to honest and open writing that’s full of tongue-in-cheek innuendo, it all works. It’s a game of two halves where you crawl through dungeons to find weapons who then transform into people you can date. Boyfriend Dungeon can best be surmised as Dream Daddy meets Hades. It’s very clear the message of the game is that dating is for all, no matter who you are, as long as it’s loving and consensual. The character creator allows for multiple pronoun options (in fact, it defaults to they/them) and you’ll date characters of all genders throughout the game (despite its title). By the end, you’ve been on multiple dates – maybe even dabbled in polyamory – and grown in confidence in both yourself and in your queer identity. You begin the game as someone who’s never been on a date before. Dating is about opening yourself up and being vulnerable, learning to deal with the good and the bad that comes with that. There’s catharsis that comes with this in the game’s final moments, if you persevere. It quickly becomes clear that Eric is the villain of the game and – spoiler alert – he gets his comeuppance in the end. But it’s also an integral part of the plot. This could be triggering for some, hence that content warning. He’s called Eric and he’s an arsehole.Įven with the content warning at the start of the game, this story beat still comes across as shocking when it happens. He also misgenders a non-binary character at one point. ![]() Yes, there is a character in the game who stalks the player and offers unwanted advances. It’s not long after the game’s release and already there is much discourse around the theme of stalking in the game. There are good times of fun and flirting and emotional connection. It appears those who feel strongly about the game's content are now focusing their attentions on Eric's voice actor.Beyond the stalking controversy, Boyfriend Dungeon is all about the rush of young queer love.ĭating in Boyfriend Dungeon is much like real life. Magic Carpet and Dungeon Keeper, acquired by EA in 1995 and stopped producing games in 2001 before officially closing in 2004 and Westwood Studiosnote. Some felt the game didn't do enough to warn players that heavy content like this would appear in what was viewed as little more than an action-packed dating sim. He sends the player weird and creepy texts, gives unwanted gifts, and then outright stalks the player character while committing acts of emotional manipulation and sending threats. As the game progresses, Eric gets more and more unsettling to talk to and engages in questionable behavior. Content Warning: This article mentions stalking, abuse, and harassment/death threats.īoyfriend Dungeon voice actor Alexander Gross is experiencing harassment due to the actions of his character in the new indie title. Overall, Boyfriend Dungeon garnered positive reviews from critics and players, but one of the game's characters has been at the center of controversy since its release on August 11.Įric, a Boyfriend Dungeon character, is the cause of concern. ![]()
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