If there is one thing I wasn’t expecting from the Dead by Daylight developers and publishers was for them to green-light what was clearly a tongue-in-cheek side project as an officially endorsed product. Especially when you realize said side project is a comedic dating simulator where you can befriend and romance some of the game’s most famous Killers, such as the Trapper and the Huntress. Yet this is the world we live in, with Hooked on You: A Dead by Daylight Dating Sim being a thing that actually exists, that is being sold for money, and that can be played with Behaviour Interactive’s blessing. You know what’s even weirder about this whole situation? The fact that Hooked on You is NOT outright bad at all…

It’s quite mind-boggling to realise this actually exists. Seeing the Behaviour Interactive logo once the game boots up makes you think it’s going to be a AAA endeavor, but you’ll be quickly greeted to the same kind of audiovisual treatment you’d get from your average amateurish dating sim flooding the Steam marketplace. Simple music, no voice acting, static imagery, manga-ish character portraits with flamboyant poses, those really cheap-looking text boxes that resemble default presets from RPG Maker, and so on. With that said, I have to admit: Hooked on You features some incredibly well-drawn characters, even if they are completely ridiculous if you’re aware of their original counterparts.

You’re not here for the visuals, however. You are not here for what little (good) music is featured in this odd duck of a game. You’re here because you want to witness the insanity that is the plot in a dating sim where you can get naughty with a bunch of demonic serial killers enjoying a summer vacation on an island. Despite the limited amount of interactivity offered in this title, I have to admit that I had way more fun with this intentionally dumb dating sim than I could have ever expected.

It’s all about the level of humor and the quality of the writing. Hooked on You: A Dead by Daylight Dating Sim knows it’s dumb and makes the best out of this situation. The killers are horny for you, the narrator talks directly to you at all times, even the damn ocean is somehow sentient and really passive aggressive with your decisions. Even though the game is basically a bunch of text with the occasional dialogue options to choose, I was impressed with the sheer amount of outcomes available. Not only due to the amount of eligible murderers bachelors at your disposal, but also by the varied endings you could get, depending on your actions. We are talking about Dead by Daylight, after all.

Know what to expect from Hooked on You: A Dead by Daylight Dating Sim before jumping into it. This is an intentionally dumb visual novel, with very limited interactivity and a simplistic (but appealing) presentation. You’re here because you want to witness first-hand the fact that a Behaviour Interactive-endorsed dating simulator where you can date serial killers and monsters actually exists. Thankfully, the novelty aspect isn’t the only appealing factor in this game’s favor. It’s funny, snarky, and really well-written. There’s not a lot else that needs to be said. Hooked on You is exactly what it looks like. One of the weirdest games I’ve played this year, but one I certainly do not regret tackling.

 

Graphics: 7.5 Even though Hooked on You is mostly comprised of static imagery, I have to admit everything is really well-drawn.	Gameplay: 5.0 There’s not a lot of gameplay. Despite being a dating sim, Hooked on You features just the bare minimum of interactivity, enough to result in a handful of different outcomes, and as a result, limited playthroughs.
Sound: 6.5 No voice acting and very little sound effects. It’s just a bunch of catchy music. Not a lot of catchy music, but catchy nonetheless.	Fun Factor: 7.5 Even though it looks and feels excessively amateurish, I feel like this was one of the things that made Hooked on You so charming. It’s a nice distraction for a few playthoughs, even if it’s beyond basic. The sole fact it exists is already a joke on its own.
Final Verdict: 7.0

Hooked on You: A Dead by Daylight Dating Sim is available now on PC.

Reviewed on PC.

A copy of Hooked on You: A Dead by Daylight Dating Sim was provided by the publisher.