| But Why Tho? |
Kate Sanchez |
10 / 10 |
08-12-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon is the perfect combo of thirsty and thoughtful. Whether it’s the deliberate decision to embrace an inclusive gameplay experience or the choice to use the characters you meet to explore insecurities and then fight those fears in the dunj, this game succeeds in hitting the feels. |
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| CGMagazine |
Brock McLaughlin |
8 / 10 |
08-20-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon is an enjoyable dating game with some great dialogue, but unfortunately there’s more action off-screen than there is on screen. |
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| Checkpoint Gaming |
Charlie Kelly |
7 / 10 |
08-17-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon is a good dating sim held back to being something truly great by its curious choices and lite dungeon-crawler elements. While you may not get the deepest rogue-like experience in-game, you will be satisfied by some of the intense, hot (and maybe even cute) relationships on offer. Just tread careful ground if you’re sensitive to some of the themes that the game is exploring. Regardless, some good and disposable fun can be had smashing some monsters and pashing some cuties. Delve on. |
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| COGconnected |
James Paley |
70 / 100 |
08-20-2021 |
Any game that mixes genres like this has to make cuts somewhere. In this case, a little depth is traded for accessibility. While this isn’t the most complex dungeon crawler or dating sim, the final result is still quite satisfying. You’re given ample space to explore your violent and romantic impulses. The dating pool is both expansive and inclusive, with excellent writing to match. Though the combat gameplay loop is simple, it offers an engaging challenge with narrative relevance. On the other hand, each half of the gameplay can feel like a distraction from the other half. Maybe this is the price required when smashing two disparate systems together. Even if you end up missing the absent depth, the laid-back pace is a rewarding compensation. If only one-half of this mashup premise appeals to you, what you’re looking for may lie elsewhere. But if you’re looking to blend hacking, slashing, and smooching, Boyfriend Dungeon will be a perfect match. |
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| Digitally Downloaded |
Lindsay M. |
4.5 / 5 stars |
08-16-2021 |
Someone I know summed up the game perfectly: this seems like the kind of game Tina Belcher (a character in Bob’s Burgers) would write. And I am fully here for it. I am head-over-heels for six weapons, something I never thought I would say. The narrative, the gameplay, the music, the animation – it’s all wonderful. Any complaint I have lies in the fact I am greedy and want more. Thankfully, more is on the way! |
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| Game Informer |
Liana Ruppert |
7 / 10 |
08-18-2021 |
The story pairs real human experience with comedic levity, offering depth to the game that should appeal to story lovers and roguelike fans |
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| GameGrin |
Adam Kerr |
7.5 / 10 |
08-21-2021 |
Despite the game sending a conflicting message about its main theme, it mostly handles a difficult topic well. The combat is fun, albeit limited, but you’re likely to enjoy your stay in the dunj. |
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| GamingTrend |
David Flynn |
80 / 100 |
08-16-2021 |
While it’s a bit too short to realize its full potential, Boyfriend Dungeon is still a well written and fun visual novel/dungeon crawler. The characters are lovely, and combat is simple but functional. It’s certainly worth playing, but could use more content. |
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| Guardian |
Lewis Packwood |
4 / 5 stars |
08-19-2021 |
It’s a jokey concept, but this dating game/dungeon crawler deals with everything from stalking to polyamory |
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| Hey Poor Player |
Daymon Trapold |
4 / 5 stars |
09-07-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon is a good example of a great, unique game that’s an awesome experience in spite of its flaws. It’s by no means a perfect game. Boyfriend Dungeon has incredible character development, tackles difficult subject matter, has absolutely gorgeous artwork and a killer soundtrack, and is more than addicting enough to get you going back for more and more. And that’s in spite of the lackluster, repetitive, and limited dungeon crawling options available to you. It’s quite unlike any game I’ve ever played, in the best of ways. |
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| IGN |
Miranda Sanchez |
6 / 10 |
08-13-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon offers a fun spin on the dating sim formula, but its roguelite parts don’t always mix well with developing romance. Being uncomfortably close to the antagonist dulls Boyfriend Dungeon too. |
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| Luis Alamilla |
Luis Alamilla |
7.5 / 10 |
08-17-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon has a lot going for it and while I loved playing it, it ended feeling like a teaser for a larger game I wish it was. The story, though it may be a bit jarring for some, I found to be thought-provoking and well-written, tackling uncomfortable subjects in insightful ways. The dating sim and dungeon crawling was an odd but well-balanced combination that worked well together but both left me wanting more and before I realized it, the game was over. That’s perhaps what Boyfriend Dungeon suffers most from, its length and content. While new character additions are sure to add replay value to the game, in the end, I just wanted more time to spend with these lovable characters and more dungeons to explore in a sense that it felt like it was missing from the game rather than being that good. |
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| Metro GameCentral |
GameCentral |
6 / 10 |
08-17-2021 |
An enjoyable, likeable mash-up of dungeon crawler and dating sim undercut by simplistic combat and a short running time. |
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| MonsterVine |
Wes Iliff |
4.5 / 5 stars |
09-02-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon is a unique game, but it hits every mark it aims for. |
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| Nintendo Life |
Mitch Vogel |
6 / 10 |
08-18-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon is an excellent example of a flawed gem, with an original premise and an engaging gameplay loop marred by a lack of development of ideas and mechanics. Combat is really fun, until you realize it’s kind of shallow. The characters are interesting, until they become unbelievable or downright unlikeable. It’s the kind of game that seems pretty great until you really get to know it, after which it can start to feel like work. We’d give Boyfriend Dungeon a very light recommendation, as there’s enough here to justify a purchase and you’ll likely be glad that you gave it a shot. That said, there are some legitimate issues in its execution, so maybe wait for a deep sale before picking it up. |
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| NintendoWorldReport |
Neal Ronaghan |
8 / 10 |
08-23-2021 |
Bouncing between comical yet often heartfelt dating segments and double-entendre-laden dungeon crawling combat makes for a good genre fusion that stays enjoyable for the 5-10 hours it takes to complete. The action might not hold up to scrutiny and some aspects of the dating sim might not land well for you, but the sum of Boyfriend Dungeon’s parts is greater than its pieces. The elevator pitch of dating your weapons is still as silly and goofy now as it was when the game was first revealed. |
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| Noisy Pixel |
Colin Buchanan |
7 / 10 |
08-17-2021 |
Conclusively, while I certainly enjoyed my time with Boyfriend Dungeon, the sudden end to its narrative and the half-empty world map left me feeling like I had just finished an Early Access game rather than a full experience. I don’t generally have an issue with brevity in games, but the end to this one just left me craving more because I loved the cast, the representation, and the addictive leveling system. I definitely recommend this title to those who want to dip their toes in the water of dating sims, but a lack of challenge and a rather shallow conclusion end up holding it back from being a must-play experience. |
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| Polygon |
Nicole Carpenter |
Recommended |
08-19-2021 |
It worked for me because of the earnestness and care with which Kitfox tells this empowered queer story. It’s not always pleasant to experience, but it’s a story that left me feeling satisfied with the outcome. |
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| Rapid Reviews UK |
Joseph Barrood |
4 / 5 stars |
01-18-2022 |
Boyfriend Dungeon is a dating simulation game with a unique twist. Each romantic partner is also a weapon that I could use in the dungeons. I was initially interested in the dungeon crawling elements and variety of weapons but went into the story with an open mind. Did the dating aspects captivate me too? Find out in this Rapid Review. |
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| Rock, Paper, Shotgun |
Alice Bell |
Recommended |
09-13-2021 |
This dating sim meets dungeon crawler has wonderful characters and great writing that delivers some really thrilling romances, but it’s let down by the dungeoning side feeling a bit undercooked. |
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| RPGamer |
Sam Wachter |
3.5 / 5 stars |
12-08-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon is the right kind of weird that keeps you wanting just one more dungeon run, even when it stalls out on you way too early. |
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| Shacknews |
Donovan Erskine |
8 / 10 |
08-24-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon is an impressive matchup of two genres that I’d never think would make a decent pair. It juggles interesting personal entanglements with challenging action gameplay via its dungeons. Though it could really benefit from some depth to its romantic structure, it’s not enough to sour what is overall a fascinating experience. |
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| TechRaptor |
Tyler Chancey |
8 / 10 |
08-17-2021 |
Despite an underwhelming boss fight and some undercooked action elements, Boyfriend Dungeon is a great dating sim experience with a lot of heart |
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| The Outerhaven Productions |
Cam Olmedo |
3.5 / 5 stars |
08-16-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon is a brief but incredibly well-crafted hybrid of dungeon crawling combat and a visual novel dating sim. It may drop the ball in its main story arc, but the characters and the relationships that can be made with each of them more than makes up for it. |
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| Twinfinite |
Andrew McMahon |
3.5 / 5 stars |
08-24-2021 |
When all is said and done, I was pretty satisfied with my overall experience with Boyfriend Dungeon when the end of the summer rolled. The writing was solid, and I ended up caring about a lot of the relationships that were formed. It is just a shame that the somewhat lacking combat and issues with a couple of the characters and situations arise that end up bogging the game down a bit. |
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| Washington Post |
Shannon Liao |
Recommended |
08-31-2021 |
Perhaps it’s a good sign that Boyfriend Dungeon leaves players wanting more — it means that it’s compelling, even if only for a short time. |
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| WayTooManyGames |
Aaron Price |
8 / 10 |
08-15-2021 |
Boyfriend Dungeon was far more enjoyable than expected. Sure, every character you meet may want to hop into bed with you in an absurdely thirsty way. There could have been a bit more variety in terms of enemies and areas, with me being hopeful that a potential sequel might fix these issues. |
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