How Replay Boys Turns a Boy Band Dating Sim into a Dark Experience

Emergency sirens blare outside the arena, and your friend’s texts are turning bizarrely cryptic. A creeping darkness clouds your view, and just like that, your workday resets.

Step into the shoes of Hannah, a video editor at a modest record label, in the intriguing world of Replay Boys, which hits the shelves today. The premise? Everyone else is sick, so you’re tasked with managing the chaotic lives of the four members of Replay Boys. It’s your job to escort them to the concert, prepare them for soundcheck, and manage their meltdowns. Although it starts like a typical visual novel filled with the ups and downs of managing a boy band, something far darker and more mysterious lingers beneath the surface.

This game is not just about the day-to-day chaos of boy band life. As you navigate Hannah’s world, mysterious elements come to light. Throughout the game, as hinted by its title, the true depth of the disturbing reality is only revealed when you replay the same day numerous times. You’re met with spectral encounters, fanatical followers, and a menacing cult, along with more conventional crimes like kidnappings and gun violence. Mystifyingly, the day starts to loop for reasons unknown.

When speaking with the game’s writer, Bell, she explained, “The narrative evolved naturally. I wanted a game that leaves you questioning your senses. Visual novels have this unique ability to be unsettling because so much of the visualization happens in your mind. It taps into a kind of creepiness fueled by imagination.”

The game is a fascinating blend of visual novel and horror, capitalizing on both genres’ use of repetition. In traditional visual novels, many scenes remain unchanged until you reach a divergence point. Replay Boys takes this mechanic and weaves it into the storyline as time loops. Meanwhile, horror games frequently rely on building comfort, only to shatter it later.

Initially, Replay Boys familiarizes you with the typical visual novel flow until it comes to an abrupt halt. As the day starts over, the pace quickens, and eerie elements slip through. You might catch strange sounds during phone calls, or suddenly be able to explore previously inaccessible dark rooms. Each loop further distorts the narrative, transforming the initially comforting story into something surreal and fantastical.

Despite subverting genre expectations, Bell made sure Replay Boys remains true to its otome roots. “I wanted every band member to feel alive, to create a unique bond with the protagonist. The ultimate satisfaction should come from genuinely earning that character’s trust,” Bell shared.

Why not spend this Valentine’s Day diving into the chaotic yet endearing world of Replay Boys? Launching today on February 14th, it’s available on Xbox One, Series X|S, and the Xbox app on PC. Whether you’re in it for the romance or the spine-tingling mysteries, Replay Boys promises an experience you won’t soon forget.