How Replay Boys Adds a Dark Twist to a Boy Band Dating Sim

Emergency lights flash outside your window as sirens wail—something is definitely wrong. Your friend’s messages start to sound off, almost eerie. A strange, creeping darkness edges into your vision just as your workday kicks off once again.

In “Replay Boys,” you find yourself stepping into the shoes of Hannah, a video editor working for a modest record label. Sick calls leave you handling the chaos of managing the four members of the Replay Boys on the day of their big concert. Your tasks are seemingly straightforward: get them to the venue, prep them for soundcheck, and navigate their inevitable meltdowns. Although it might seem like a typical visual novel romp through a dramatic boy band world, there’s a darker twist lying beneath the surface.

As the game title suggests, uncovering these shadows requires reliving the same day over and over again, peeling back layers of mystery each time. You’ll encounter ghosts, confront brainwashed fans, and become entangled with a sinister cult, not to mention more traditional crimes like kidnapping and gun violence. The real twist comes when the day inexplicably resets, pushing you into a cycle of repetition.

I caught up with Bell, the creative mind behind the game’s narrative, to get the scoop. “The development came quite naturally,” she explained. “I’m fascinated by stories that make you question the reliability of your senses. Visual novels have a unique knack for this, as the visuals largely play out in your imagination. That kind of suspense thrives there.”

Combining visual novel storytelling with horror, “Replay Boys” cleverly uses repetition, a hallmark of both genres. In typical visual novels, you often relive parts of the story to traverse different paths. Here, this concept morphs into a literal time loop that’s integral to the plot. Similarly, horror games and movies turn familiar safe spaces into settings of terror, preying on our sense of comfort.

At first glance, the opening day in “Replay Boys” seems to stick to the expected visual novel script. But as the day restarts repeatedly, small changes begin to seep through, offering clues—unsettling sounds on a call, or perhaps a new room unlocked in dim lighting. The further you delve into the loops, the more the storyline warps, transforming into something beautifully eerie and otherworldly.

Though flipping expectations is its standout quality, Bell crafted “Replay Boys” to function as a solid otome dating sim at its core. “I wanted each boy band member to feel vibrant and real, providing space for unique connections with the protagonist. By game’s end, players should earn a sense of having genuinely won the characters’ trust.”

Kick back this Valentine’s with a quirky blend of romance and mystery, courtesy of “Replay Boys.” The game is launching today, February 14, across Xbox One, Series X|S, and the Xbox PC app. Whether you’re in it for the romance, the mystery, or the thrill of the unexpected, there’s something in “Replay Boys” for every player.

If you’re ready to navigate band squabbles, uncover anxieties, and face down frenzied fans and cult conspiracies, all while juggling trippy time loops—this is your game. At $9.99, it’s an adventure not to be missed, promising vivid characters, and paths rich with romance and chaos. Choose your actions wisely; they’re the key to shaping your story.