Dating is terrible in Boyfriend Dungeon, and maybe that’s the point

Dating is not something we often talk fond of. Sure, there is excitement about meeting new people and the hope that we will all find that special someone. Still, the process is exhausting and anxiety provoking, full of awkward exchanges and embarrassing moments. Finding out if you are compatible with someone takes time, and that time rarely turns into a real love connection. That’s part of what I find really fascinating about Boyfriend Dungeon. Doesn’t romanticize dating. Every potential love interest is imperfect, flawed and their own baggage. You just have to decide what you can bear.

The dating sim genre often features a perfect love affair. The process takes an idealized form, as we see in romance novels and romantic comedies. A wonderful person shows up and says all the right things, and even if he makes a mistake, he makes up for it with a great gesture that makes us swoon so much that everything is forgotten. In video games, we have more choice and agency in our narratives, making them a bit more personal when deciding which romance to pursue. People have their reasons for choosing one person over another. Some like to yearn for those who strive for them, while others want a caring soul. And sometimes, it’s really just about the muscles.

However, most dating sims are associated with lighthearted and giddy feelings. Perhaps this is because we know how silly this idealized concept is and that it has nothing to do with our actual lives. But do they all have to be like this? Boyfriend Dungeon goes against the standard of the genre. It’s bold and risky, and that’s part of what appealed to me. Kitfox Games doesn’t always portray its characters in a positive light, but it clearly shows how difficult it is to meet someone during the dating stage. And sometimes that means being honest about the baggage or flaws you can handle in a relationship. For example, does it bother you if someone you’re dating is still close to their ex? What if they have religious values ​​that greatly conflict with yours? How important is monogamy to you? The narrative examines different facets of relationships and what people want without judgment.

I liked how Boyfriend Dungeon doesn’t lock you up in a romance; You can date everyone if that’s your style. I enjoyed meeting a lot of different people, but I settled on K-pop idol Seven. Seven didn’t convince me at first. In fact, he’s kind of an idiot and aloof, but it took getting to know him to see that something much bigger was happening. And our relationship centered on an important conversation about mental health as we watched terrible movies and laughed at their absurdities. On the other side of the coin, I thought I’d fall in love with Valeria because she’s such a cool, laid-back girl. But, I realized that I was not a fan of how she couldn’t put her past relationships or adrenaline rush over problems, and I recognized that we were best friends. We all bring our own experiences that color our story into these games, but I like how I saw versions of people who felt like they were taken from real life, from my own dating escapades, or from my friends. There is also something to be said about Boyfriend Dungeon not having a “correct” or “perfect” option. Whatever works for you is fine.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say that Boyfriend Dungeon’s attempt to go against the grain of the usual dating sim sometimes fails. The ending is abrupt, and when it comes to a stalker, your hand feels forced. I was disappointed not to have more dungeons and bonding moments. That summer passes too quickly, and I don’t think the ending is that satisfying for the way your character is supposed to grow through experience. But I like that Boyfriend Dungeon wasn’t afraid to try something different and try to represent how complicated dating really is. Dating is not easy, but people often want it to be in video games. Does that mean it should? I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer there. Our expectations with the dating sim genre have been set in such a way for so long that it’s hard to appreciate anything different. However, I can’t blame Boyfriend Dungeon for accurately making dating the unglamorous process that it really is. And that’s probably what I enjoy the most about it.

---

To learn more about Boyfriend Dungeon, be sure to check out our review and see it in action in our New Game today.