Video Games

For my research, I will be taking inspiration from three different video games. I have extensive prior knowledge of each of these three video games, so I feel like they have been well-selected for research. These each have a unique art style, plotline, and theme, but they all share the genre of visual novel/dating simulator.

The only video game that doesn't follow this theme of genre is Stardew Valley, which Steam describes as a "farming simulator." I will mostly be looking into the art style of this game; however, there is also an aspect of dating to this game when it comes to the game's villagers.

Another game I will be researching is called Dream Daddy, which is a partially ironic dating simulator wherein you play a single father moving into a new neighbourhood and are able to get to know and eventually date the other men in the town. This game may at first appear goofy; however, it actually features surprisingly good writing and compelling characters. I also love the character design in this game and will be looking at it in more depth to get inspiration for my game concept. Something else that I like about this game is the interesting target demographic it attracts by being such a seemingly niche concept.

The final game I will be researching is Doki Doki Literature Club. This is a fascinating game, as at first it appears to be a harmless dating simulator; however, as you continue to play through the game, it turns into a psychological horror with themes of suicide, self-harm, and abuse. Each character has a dark secret, and the only undateable character, Monika, becomes self-aware and breaks the game. I would love to include some of the ideas that this game uses, as I really like the way it subverts the genre and peaks the player's interest.