Boyfriend Dungeon

Last updated
Boyfriend Dungeon
Boyfriend Dungeon.jpg
Developer(s) Kitfox Games
Publisher(s) Kitfox Games
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
  • WW: August 11, 2021
PlayStation 5
  • WW: February 14, 2023
Genre(s) Dungeon crawl, dating sim
Mode(s) Single-player

Boyfriend Dungeon is a dungeon crawler-dating sim developed and published by Kitfox Games. Taking place in an urban fantasy setting, the player character must fight through dungeons with the help of a human partner who can transform into a sentient weapon. [1] Outside of dungeons, the player can date their partner in visual novel-style sequences that increase their power in combat. [1] It was released for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows on August 11, 2021, [2] followed by a PlayStation 5 version on February 14, 2023. [3]

Contents

Plot

The player character, whose pronouns are selectable and can be he/him, she/her, or they/them, [4] lives in Verona Beach, a city in a contemporary fantasy world where monsters pose a danger to people. [1] Through dating, the player character meets various people who can turn into weapons. Together, they fight monsters in dungeons created from the player character's anxieties, known as "dunj" in the world's slang.

Gameplay

The player can make choices in visual novel-inspired segments that affect relationships with weapons. Boyfriend Dungeon Screenshot.png
The player can make choices in visual novel-inspired segments that affect relationships with weapons.

The game's combat takes place in real time from an isometric perspective. The player can perform different combos depending on their weapon. Outside of combat, there are visual novel-style dating sequences that allow the player to choose their responses. [1]

Going on dates and succeeding in combat increases a weapon's Love Rank, allowing the player to choose different abilities to use with that weapon in battle. [5] [6] The player can remain in a platonic relationship with the weapon people and still receive the same benefits in combat. [7] A cat is available for a platonic relationship only. [8]

The game has a crafting system, allowing the player to create gifts to give to the weapon people, clothes that give various bonuses, and zines that give new abilities in combat. [5]

Development and release

The game was funded via Kickstarter, where it raised $272,000 and surpassed its goal. [9] One of its characters, Rowan, was designed by the artist of Hatoful Boyfriend . [8] The developers stated that they wanted to make the romance elements "as inclusive as possible" and therefore allow players to date women and non-binary characters, despite the game's title. [10]

During development, the player character was at first a complete self-insert character. The writers then added a story arc of the player character overcoming anxiety about dating, which was purposely left as a minor subplot so that the player character could be used "a little bit as a fantasy vehicle". [11]

On September 10, 2020, it was announced that the game would be delayed to 2021 to protect the developers' mental health. Additionally, some content was cut from the game so that it would be released "at a time that isn't like... 2025." [12]

On August 17, 2022, the Secret Weapons update was released for free, adding a new dungeon and three new romanceable characters. [13]

Reception

Boyfriend Dungeon received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. [14] [15] [16] [17]

GamesRadar+ stated that "the game feels perfectly weighted to suit those who love either genre, yet doesn't alienate new players." [1] PCGamesN called it "an intriguing curio." [22] IGN gave the game a mixed review, saying that "Boyfriend Dungeon offers a fun spin on the dating sim formula, but its roguelite parts don't always mix well with developing romance." [5] Nintendo World Report liked the dialogue between characters, saying, "The writing across all the dates is strong, alternating between tongue-in-cheek and sincere at a pleasant cadence." [23]

While criticizing the handling of some of the game's topics, Nintendo Life enjoyed the dungeon crawling aspects of the game, "Combat is satisfying and snappy, and the reward loop keeps you wanting to come back for more." Polygon felt the game could be poorly paced at points, with Boyfriend Dungeon's two dungeons being easy to complete, "This all felt compounded by how quickly I was able to breeze through the two dungeons, as well. It felt satisfying in the moment to hack and slash my way through the levels, but each of the big fights came and went without much difficulty." [24] Game Informer liked the dateable partners of the game, writing that most had interesting backgrounds: "Not every storyline hit a home run, but each character is unique and easily relatable." [25]

Boyfriend Dungeon was nominated for the Games for Impact category for The Game Awards 2021. [26]

Related Research Articles

<i>Torchlight</i> 2009 video game

Torchlight is an action role-playing hack and slash dungeon crawler video game developed by Runic Games and published by Perfect World, released for Windows in October 2009. The fantasy-themed game is set in the fictional town of Torchlight and the expansive caverns and dungeons nearby, which adventurers explore to collect valuable loot and battle hordes of monsters. Following the October 2009 digital distribution release, a Windows retail box version was released in the U.S. in January 2010 by Encore, Inc, and JoWooD Entertainment published a retail box in Europe in April 2010. A port for OS X was developed by World Domination Industries and released through Steam on May 12, 2010. Runic Games and World Domination Industries developed a port for Xbox Live Arcade which was released on March 9, 2011. A Linux port was released as part of the game's inclusion in the Humble Indie Bundle 6.

<i>Darksiders II</i> 2012 video game

Darksiders II is an action role-playing hack and slash video game developed by Vigil Games and published by THQ. It is the sequel to Darksiders and was released in August 2012 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and as a launch title for Wii U upon the console's North American and PAL regions release in November 2012. The story follows the efforts of player character Death to clear the name of his brother, War, who stands accused of wiping out humanity. On a total budget of $50 million, it was one of the most expensive video games to develop of all time.

<i>Rune Factory 4</i> 2012 video game

Rune Factory 4 is a role-playing video game developed by Neverland and published by Marvelous AQL for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the sixth game in the Rune Factory series, and the first to be released on the 3DS. It was released in Japan in July 2012, in North America in October 2013, and in PAL regions in December 2014. An enhanced version, titled Rune Factory 4 Special, was released for the Nintendo Switch in Japan in July 2019 and worldwide in February 2020. It was also released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows in 2021.

<i>Disney Infinity 3.0</i> 2015 action-adventure toys-to-life video game

Disney Infinity 3.0 is a 2015 toys-to-life action-adventure game published by Disney Interactive Studios for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Apple TV. It is the sequel to Disney Infinity 2.0 (2014). and is the third and final installment in the toys-to-life Disney Infinity series In contrast to its predecessor, which focused on Marvel Comics characters and playsets, 3.0 has a focus on the Star Wars franchise. The game was announced on May 5, 2015, and was released on August 28, 2015 in Europe and on August 30, 2015 in North America.

<i>Everspace</i> 2017 video game

Everspace is a 3D space shooter with roguelike elements developed and published by German studio Rockfish Games. It was released in 2017. A sequel, Everspace 2 was released in 2023.

<i>Dead Cells</i> 2018 video game

Dead Cells is a 2018 roguelike-Metroidvania game developed and published by Motion Twin.The player takes the role of an amorphous creature called the Prisoner. As the Prisoner, the player must fight their way out of a diseased island in order to slay the island's King. The player gains weapons, treasure and other tools through exploration of the procedurally-generated levels. Dead Cells features a permadeath system, causing the player to lose all items and other abilities upon dying. A currency called Cells can be collected from defeated enemies, allowing the player to purchase permanent upgrades.

<i>Battle Chasers: Nightwar</i> 2017 role-playing game

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a turn-based role-playing video game developed by Airship Syndicate and published by THQ Nordic. It was released in October 2017 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and in May 2018 for Nintendo Switch and Linux. Based on the Battle Chasers fantasy comic book series by Joe Madureira, the game involves the cast of that series being marooned on an island and being forced to stop the plans of an evil sorceress in order to escape.

<i>Minecraft Dungeons</i> 2020 video game

Minecraft Dungeons is a 2020 dungeon crawler video game developed by Mojang Studios and Double Eleven and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is a spin-off of the sandbox video game Minecraft and was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in May 2020, and for Xbox Series X/S in February 2021. It was also adapted into an arcade video game by Raw Thrills. The arcade version released in May 2021.

<i>Hades</i> (video game) 2020 video game

Hades is a 2020 roguelike video game developed and published by Supergiant Games. It was released for macOS, Nintendo Switch, and Windows following an early access release in December 2018. It was later released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in August 2021.

<i>Stranger Things 3: The Game</i> 2019 video game

Stranger Things 3 The Game is a beat 'em up video game developed by BonusXP. It is based on the 3rd season of Stranger Things. It was initially released on a multitude of platforms, but it is now only available for Netflix subscribers on Android and iOS. It is a retro-style pixel art game that mimics the 16-bit era.

<i>John Wick Hex</i> 2019 fast-paced action-oriented strategy game video game

John Wick Hex is a 2019 tactical role-playing game developed by Bithell Games and published by Good Shepherd Entertainment based on the John Wick franchise. It was released on 8 October 2019 for macOS and Windows. The PlayStation 4 port of the game released on 5 May 2020. The Nintendo Switch and Xbox One ports of the game were released on 4 December 2020. The game serves as a narrative prequel to the film series.

<i>Darksiders Genesis</i> 2019 action role-playing video game

Darksiders Genesis is a top-down hack and slash action role-playing video game developed by American studio Airship Syndicate and published by THQ Nordic. The game was released for Stadia and Windows on 5 December 2019, and was released on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on 14 February 2020. It is considered a spin-off prequel game in the Darksiders series and introduces the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, Strife, as the protagonist. Strife can also team up with his brother, War. Upon release, the game received positive reviews, with many reviewers praising the combat.

A roguelike deck-building game is a hybrid genre of video games that combines the nature of deck-building card games with procedural-generated randomness from roguelike games.

<i>Kings Bounty II</i> 2021 video game

King's Bounty II is a turn-based tactical role-playing game developed by 1C Entertainment and published by Prime Matter that was released for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on August 24, 2021. It is a direct sequel to the first King's Bounty game released in 1990 and follows the 2008 spin-off title King's Bounty: The Legend, also developed by 1C.

<i>Void Bastards</i> 2019 video game

Void Bastards is a science-fiction first-person shooter and roguelike video game developed by Australian studio Blue Manchu and published by Humble Bundle. It was released on May 28, 2019, for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One. Ports of the game for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 were released on May 7, 2020. The game revolves around surviving in the dangerous Sargasso Nebula by boarding and salvaging materials from spaceships. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its comic-book art style, dark humor, and gameplay, but criticized its lackluster story and replay value.

<i>Curse of the Dead Gods</i> 2021 video game

Curse of the Dead Gods is a 2021 roguelike video game developed by Passtech Games and published by Focus Home Interactive. The game was released via early access in March 2020, and in full in February 2021 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

<i>Going Under</i> (video game) 2020 video game

Going Under is a 2020 roguelike video game developed by Aggro Crab and published by Team17. The game follows an unpaid intern as she travels beneath her workplace to explore the ruins of failed startups. Going Under was released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows on September 24, 2020.

<i>UnderMine</i> 2019 video game

UnderMine is a roguelike action dungeon crawler video game developed and published by Thorium. It was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One on August 6, 2020, which followed an early access release in August 2019. It was released for Nintendo Switch on February 11, 2021, and for PlayStation 4 on March 30, 2021.

<i>Mistover</i> 2019 video game

Mistover is a 2019 roguelike dungeon crawler role-playing video game developed and published by Krafton for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. Mistover is set in a ravaged world recovering from a mass invasion of monstrous creatures from another realm, and its storyline follows the journey of a party of adventuring heroes who are on a quest to discover the source of the invasion. Players navigate environments from an isometric perspective with a party of procedurally generated player characters drawn from a roster of eight character classes to fight monsters and acquire loot recovered from the exploration of levels. A phenomenon known as "mist" is prevalent throughout the game world and negatively influences its characters, monsters, and items.

<i>Rogue Legacy 2</i> 2022 video game

Rogue Legacy 2 is a platform video game developed and published by Cellar Door Games. It is the sequel to 2013's Rogue Legacy, and the game was released for Windows via early access in August 2020. The full version was released in April 2022, for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, followed by a Nintendo Switch port in November. The game was released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in June 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Delahunty-Light, Zoe (2019-06-27). "Boyfriend Dungeon is a dating sim/dungeon crawler hybrid where your lover turns into a weapon, then you fight with them… literally". gamesradar. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  2. ↑ Webster, Andrew (2021-08-11). "Axiom Verge 2, Boyfriend Dungeon, and more are out on the Switch today". The Verge. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  3. ↑ Tailby, Stephen (2023-02-14). "Boyfriend Dungeon, a Dating Sim Dungeon Crawler, Comes to PS5 Today". Push Square. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  4. ↑ Henley, Stacey (2021-08-19). "Boyfriend Dungeon Needs Better Non-Binary Characters". TheGamer. Archived from the original on 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  5. 1 2 3 Sanchez, Miranda (2021-08-13). "Boyfriend Dungeon Review". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  6. ↑ Bell, Alice (2021-08-12). "Boyfriend Dungeon review: be still my metal heart". Rock Paper Shotgun . Gamer Network . Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  7. ↑ Earland, Vicki (2022-06-13). "The Best Asexual-Friendly Games to Play This Pride Month". CBR . Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  8. 1 2 Wood, Austin (2018-08-16). "Boyfriend Dungeon's cast of lovable weapons adds a cat that turns into brass knuckles". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  9. ↑ "Video: The grind behind Boyfriend Dungeon's $272K funding success". Game Developer . 28 May 2019. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  10. ↑ Chan, Stephanie (2017-10-19). "Boyfriend Dungeon is like Tinder for swords". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  11. ↑ "Boyfriend Dungeon Director: Despite The Bad Faith, It's Good That We're Talking". Kotaku. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  12. ↑ "Boyfriend Dungeon delayed to 2021". 10 September 2020.
  13. ↑ Liu, Stephanie (2022-08-22). "Boyfriend Dungeon Secret Weapons DLC Available for Free". Siliconera. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  14. 1 2 "Boyfriend Dungeon for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  15. 1 2 "Boyfriend Dungeon for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  16. 1 2 "Boyfriend Dungeon for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  17. 1 2 "Boyfriend Dungeon for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  18. ↑ Ruppert, Liana (19 August 2021). "Boyfriend Dungeon Review – To Woo Or Not To Woo, That Is The Question". Game Informer . Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  19. ↑ Sanchez, Miranda (19 August 2021). "Boyfriend Dungeon Review". IGN . Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  20. ↑ Mitch, Vogel (August 18, 2021). "Boyfriend Dungeon Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life . Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  21. ↑ Erskine, Donovan (25 August 2021). "Boyfriend Dungeon review: Man Crush Monday". ShackNews. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  22. ↑ "I met my Boyfriend Dungeon sword in a club, and I don't trust him". PCGamesN. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  23. ↑ "Boyfriend Dungeon Review - Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  24. ↑ Carpenter, Nicole (2021-08-19). "Boyfriend Dungeon's sincerity helps it tackle dark themes with care". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  25. ↑ "Boyfriend Dungeon Review - Boyfriend Dungeon Review – To Woo Or Not To Woo, That Is The Question". Game Informer. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  26. ↑ "The Game Awards 2021 winners – here are the TGA results". PCGamesN. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.