Date A Live: Ren Dystopia

About

"Date A Live: Ren Dystopia" is a visual novel game based on the popular light novel series, featuring multiple romance options with characters from the DATE A LIVE universe. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes a digital art collection, audio dramas, original soundtrack, and a short novel. The game allows players to experience a next-generation boy-meets-girl story with unique sci-fi elements and immersive storytelling.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 55 reviews

story7 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Fans of the Date A Live series will appreciate the charming character designs and well-developed personalities of the heroines.
The game features impressive visuals, excellent voice acting, and a captivating narrative that keeps players engaged.
The branching storylines and multiple endings provide a high level of replayability, making it enjoyable for fans of visual novels.

The game relies heavily on knowledge from the anime and light novels, making it less accessible for newcomers to the franchise.
Some routes feel underdeveloped and contain plot holes, which can detract from the overall experience.
The gameplay has been simplified compared to previous titles, leading to a less engaging experience for some players.

story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
66%
10%
The story of "Date a Live" features a shared narrative with branching paths for each heroine, allowing for varied character experiences, though some storylines, like Kotori's, suffer from notable plot holes. While the game does not delve into complex character arcs, it excels in character development and charm, particularly through its engaging cast of spirit girls. Overall, the storytelling is highlighted as a strong point, complemented by a romantic and comedic tone that enhances the player's experience.
- “The real highlight is its storytelling and character development.”
- “It's a charming experience with a great story, lovable characters, and beautiful presentation, making it a must-play for anyone who enjoys a romantic and entertaining adventure.”
- “Each character's distinct personality and backstory contribute to the series' rich and engaging narrative, making Date a Live a standout anime with a compelling cast.”
- “There is a growing tendency in media to create movies, shows, and games that rely on external media to explain several aspects of the story.”
- “Date a Live isn't a story with complex, multi-layered characters undergoing powerful character arcs, and this game doesn't pretend otherwise.”
- “I think the strongest storylines, writing-wise, are Kurumi's and Yoshino's, and the weakest is definitely Kotori's, because of a glaring plothole that favors the big payoff of her storyline.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The gameplay has been criticized for being overly simplified and lacking depth compared to its predecessor, Rio Reincarnation, with a repetitive loop of answering three questions to progress. Many users feel that the game does not justify its $40 price tag, suggesting it resembles a more basic experience better suited for a lower price point. Overall, the gameplay is seen as minimal and primarily appealing only to those interested in leaderboards or completionist challenges.
- “The gameplay loop is very similar to Rio Reincarnation: new girl (Ren), new story, new drama.”
- “This game has seen some downgrades when compared with Rio Reincarnation, especially in the gameplay and fanservice department, but Ren Dystopia overtakes Rio Reincarnation in the character department.”
- “Long story short, the gameplay, for whatever reason, was simplified.”
- “This game has seen some downgrades when compared with Rio Reincarnation, especially in the gameplay and fanservice department.”
- “Visual novel games in general are pretty lame, and the $40 price tag is a crazy asking price; this feels like a $10 thing. There's no gameplay whatsoever, you just get three questions to answer, and if you answer them correctly, you get the good ending.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game features a mix of reused tracks from the first installment alongside some new compositions, creating a familiar yet fresh auditory experience. While the original opening and ending songs are not included, the overall soundtrack is praised for enhancing the gameplay, contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere. Players express a desire for more original music and improved audio elements in future releases.
- “The amazing soundtrack makes it all a blast.”
- “+ excellent graphics, music, and sounds.”
- “Good visual novel like always, though I wish they would create more with new original soundtracks and background music.”
- “The game reuses a lot of background CGs and most of the soundtrack carries directly from the first game, with some new background CGs and music.”
- “Although the original opening and ending songs weren't licensed again sadly, check those out on YouTube, but there are also guides to restore them.”
- “I wish they would create more content with a new original soundtrack and background music.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game is praised for its high-quality artwork and animation, featuring a diverse array of characters and settings that enhance player choice. Reviewers highlight the impressive visuals and engaging narrative, complemented by excellent music and sound design.
- “It boasts very high-quality artwork and animation, with a huge amount of characters, settings, and choices given to the player.”
- “The game features impressive visuals and a captivating narrative that kept me engaged from beginning to end.”
- “Excellent graphics, music, and sounds.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game excels in character development, effectively exploring the personalities and relationships of its cast, enhanced by impressive animations and stellar voice acting. The redesigned UI and character designs further contribute to a dynamic and engaging experience, setting it apart from typical visual novel games.
- “I especially liked the character development, as the game does a great job of exploring the cast's personalities and relationships.”
- “The real highlight is its storytelling and character development.”
- “The character designs are very nice, and unlike some visual novel games, the characters have animations, so they do not have fixed images like a PNG; this is my favorite feature.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of sitcom and romcom elements, often eliciting strong emotional reactions, including laughter to the point of tears. While some fans may feel disappointed with certain character routes, the overall comedic tone remains cute, funny, and slightly spicy.
- “As a longtime fan of Date A Live, this left a rather bitter taste in my mouth with how two of my favorite characters' routes were treated, but nonetheless, I still loved it and was even laughing to the point of tears at times.”
- “That said, the visual novel is basically just more sitcom/romcom humor centered around Ren and her drama.”
- “Cute, funny, and a little bit spicy.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability thanks to the numerous choices available to players, allowing them to explore different paths and achieve various endings.
- “This adds a high level of replayability due to the amount of choice given to the player to reach one of the game's several endings.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is highlighted by the captivating performance of Ren, voiced by Rie Takahashi, which effectively draws players' attention and enhances the overall experience.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere is highly praised, receiving a perfect score of 10/10 from users, indicating an exceptional immersive experience.
- “The atmosphere is a 10/10.”
- “The game immerses you in a hauntingly beautiful world that feels alive.”
- “Every sound and visual detail contributes to an incredibly immersive experience.”