Parents' Guide to Boyfriend Dungeon

Despite a valiant attempt to combine genres, this one feels better suited for fans of dating sims than dungeon crawlers. Boyfriend Dungeon's combat is merely serviceable, lacking much in the way of creativity or variation beyond the fact that weapons are also dates. While each of the game's nine weapons has its own speed, range, and flare, combat basically comes down to mashing the light and heavy attack buttons and then occasionally dodge-rolling when things get too hairy. Dungeon levels are blissfully short and combat is pretty straightforward, but that doesn't stop the hacking and slashing from feeling pretty same-y. After an hour or so, battles become less about the thrill of the fight and more about whatever rewards you may reap, such as experience, item recipes, and crafting supplies.

Combat is, of course, also a way to level up relationships with the people-weapons you're dating. That said, it's generally more fun to grow these romances the old fashioned way, by going on dates with the weapons in their human form. You'll get to know them and they'll get to know you based on the choices you make in dialogue, and there are some compelling and potentially conversation-starting metaphors made along the way, such as the difference between being a weapon or being a wielder of a weapon. The progressive themes regarding gender, sexuality, and consent, and the game's focus on cultivating relationships rather than simply donning sexy clothes and hooking up help elevate the dating simulation part of the experience above what we tend to see in most such games, though there's a bit of a disconnect in that your dates don't seem to mind you seeing as many other romantic interests as you like. Boyfriend Dungeon may not completely deliver on the second half of its name, but the romance is fun, creative, and doesn't venture into anything explicit.