Date A Live: Ren Dystopia

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Date A Live: Ren Dystopia is a single player casual simulation game with fantasy and drama themes. It was developed by Idea Factory and was released on September 5, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

"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.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 75 reviews

story14 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and high-quality character designs, making it a treat for fans of the series.
The story offers engaging character interactions and multiple routes, allowing players to explore different endings and deepen their connection with the characters.
Voice acting is excellent, with a talented cast that brings the characters to life, enhancing the overall experience.

The routes are relatively short, which may leave players wanting more depth and development in the storylines.
Some audio issues have been reported, particularly with certain characters' voice lines sounding lower quality compared to others.
The game relies heavily on prior knowledge of the series, making it less accessible for newcomers who may struggle to understand the context.

story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
5%
The story of "Date a Live: Ren Dystopia" is a mixed bag, with some reviewers praising its engaging themes of love and redemption through branching storylines, while others criticize it for being convoluted and lacking necessary explanations. The introduction of new character Ren adds depth, but the reliance on prior knowledge from the series can leave newcomers feeling lost. Overall, while the narrative offers emotional moments and charming character interactions, it suffers from pacing issues and plot holes that detract from the overall experience.
- “The story branches across multiple routes, each focusing on a different spirit’s desires, and your choices determine whether their wishes lead to happiness or chaos.”
- “The plot follows Shido as he encounters Ren, a mysterious spirit trapped in a dream world with the power to grant three wishes.”
- “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.”
- “The music is completely reused, the writing wasn't very compelling, and the story is heavily contrived to an annoyingly rash degree. It not only has one of the cheapest endings I've ever seen, but ultimately lacks a lot of necessary explanation to feel any sense of meaning and closure, especially regarding how and why Rinne, Rio, the Arusus, and Mayuri all suddenly show up again, and what the purgatory they exist in is at the end of it all.”
- “Despite liking the story, it was an absolute nightmare to play through all the way to the end to reach the true ending.”
- “The game starts right in the middle of an ongoing story and pretty much cuts out the usual common route found in the previous titles.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
26%
16%
The graphics in this visual novel are a standout feature, showcasing over 50 beautifully drawn illustrations by Tsunako, whose stunning artwork and detailed character designs bring the story and characters to life. Players can expect outstanding anime-style visuals, smooth animations, and vibrant environments that enhance the emotional depth of the narrative. Overall, the high-quality graphics significantly elevate the gaming experience, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
- “This visual novel delivers exactly what longtime followers of the series crave—more time with beloved characters, sharp writing, and Tsunako’s stunning artwork.”
- “Tsunako’s character designs are stunning, with vibrant visuals and detailed animations that bring the story to life.”
- “Featuring gorgeous visuals, compelling character arcs, and intricate branching routes, this installment pushes the emotional stakes higher than ever.”
- “With over 50 beautifully drawn CGs by Tsunako (though some may look as if they were drawn by others), the artwork is a major highlight.”
- “The art style is another highlight of the game.”
- “It boasts very high-quality artwork and animation, with a huge amount of characters, settings, and choices given to the player.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
72%
17%
The gameplay is primarily focused on narrative choices typical of visual novels, allowing players to shape the story and relationships through dialogue selections, leading to multiple routes and endings. However, it has been criticized for its simplicity and lack of depth, with some reviewers feeling that the gameplay mechanics are minimal and not worth the price tag. Overall, it caters to fans of the genre but may disappoint those seeking more complex gameplay elements.
- “As a visual novel, the gameplay centers around choices that shape the story and relationships, leading to nine routes and over 15 endings.”
- “The gameplay loop is very similar to Rio Reincarnation: new girl (Ren), new story, new drama.”
- “If you’re here solely for the visual novel experience, be aware that the gameplay is traditional VN fare—choices matter, but don’t expect deep mechanics beyond reading and selecting dialogue options.”
- “Long story short, the gameplay, for whatever reason, was simplified.”
- “Visual novel games in general are pretty lame, and the 40 dollar price tag is kind of a crazy asking price. This feels like a 10 dollar thing; there's no gameplay whatsoever. You just get three questions to answer, and if you answer the three questions correctly, you get the good ending, then you pick a new girl and get three new questions.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The music in the game is largely criticized for being reused from previous titles in the series, which detracts from the overall experience, despite some new additions. While the soundtrack complements the game's tone, it lacks originality and variety, with notable omissions of licensed opening and ending songs. Voice acting is praised, but the quality of certain vocal performances, particularly Miku's, has been noted as subpar compared to the rest of the cast.
- “The soundtrack complements the tone well, though it doesn’t stray far from the series’ established style.”
- “The amazing soundtrack makes it all a blast.”
- “+ excellent graphics, music and sounds.”
- “The music is completely reused, the writing wasn't very compelling, and the story is heavily contrived, to an annoyingly rash degree, and not only has one of the cheapest endings I've ever seen, but ultimately lacks a lot of necessary explanation to feel any sense of meaning and closure, especially as to how and why Rinne, Rio, the Arusus, and Mayuri all suddenly show up again, and what the purgatory they exist in is at the end of it all.”
- “Has original opening like the original game removed due to licensing issues, Miku's voice constantly sounds poor due to lower vocal quality compared to the rest of the cast and reused assets: sound effects/music.”
- “Regarding the presentation, 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.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its expressive character sprites and fully voiced dialogue, which enhance the player's connection to the story. While some fans may feel a diminished emotional impact compared to previous installments, the game offers a mix of humor and heart-wrenching moments, with well-crafted character arcs and branching storylines that provide depth and meaningful themes. Overall, it is praised for its heartfelt storytelling and high-quality visuals, making it a worthwhile experience for both new and returning players.
- “All characters (aside from the protagonist Shido) are fully voiced, and their character sprites are highly expressive, allowing the player to intuitively see emotional shifts and reactions.”
- “Featuring gorgeous visuals, compelling character arcs, and intricate branching routes, this installment pushes the emotional stakes higher than ever.”
- “Combining heartfelt romance, humor, and mystery, this installment introduces Ren, a new spirit, and delivers a captivating experience for both new and returning fans.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, featuring hilarious routes and memorable character moments that blend comedy with heartfelt romance. While many gags are effective, some may feel repetitive for returning players, and certain endings rely on predictable tropes. Overall, the writing is praised for its pacing and ability to evoke laughter, even amidst more emotional scenes.
- “Some of the routes are pretty hilarious, like Origami's route and Kaguya's route.”
- “✔ Humorous, well-paced writing with fun character moments.”
- “Cute, funny, and a little bit spicy.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
28%
29%
The game excels in character development, effectively exploring the personalities and relationships of its cast, which enhances the storytelling experience. With stunning anime-style visuals and detailed character designs, it appeals to fans of visual novels and romantic themes, offering strong replayability. Overall, the combination of expressive animations and stellar voice acting further enriches the character-driven narrative.
- “I especially liked the character development, as the game does a great job of exploring the cast's personalities and relationships.”
- “This game is perfect for fans of the Date A Live series and those who enjoy visual novels with strong character development, romantic themes, and plenty of replayability.”
- “Character design is the same as Rio Reincarnation; the UI is completely redesigned, and the voice acting is stellar.”
- “The real highlight is its storytelling and character development.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game boasts very high replayability, featuring multiple branching routes, varied character arcs, and the necessity to complete other endings to unlock Ren's true route. With nine distinct routes and over 15 endings, players are provided with extensive content and choices, making it particularly appealing for fans of visual novels and character-driven narratives.
- “Very high replay value; the multiple branching routes, varied character arcs, and the need to complete other endings to unlock Ren's true route provide extensive replayability.”
- “Ren's route (requiring prior completion of other routes) adds a layer of challenge and reward, enhancing the game's replay value.”
- “Extensive replay value: nine routes and over 15 endings offer plenty of content to explore.”
- “Choosing a location sets the narrative into a semi-linear progression, focusing on a specific character and their route.”
- “Ren’s route (requiring prior completion of other routes) adds a layer of challenge and reward, enhancing the game's replay value.”
- “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
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The optimization of the game is highlighted by its fully voiced Japanese performances, particularly the standout portrayal of Ren by Rie Takahashi, which significantly enhances the overall experience. The high-quality audio and excellent voice acting contribute to an immersive atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “High-quality audio: fully voiced dialogue by a talented cast, including a standout performance by Rie Takahashi as Ren.”
- “The voice acting is equally impressive, with Rie Takahashi’s portrayal of Ren being a standout performance.”
- “Excellent voice acting: Rie Takahashi and the cast deliver standout performances.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game is considered stable, with only minor audio glitches reported by some players. These inconsistencies in voice recordings are infrequent and do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “While there are minor audio glitches at times, they are infrequent and don’t take away from the overall experience.”
- “Minor audio glitches: some inconsistencies in voice recordings slightly affect immersion.”
- “Stable overall, though minor audio glitches have been reported by some players.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users rating it a perfect 10/10, 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.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, primarily due to the large number of heroines and the lengthy nature of each route, which can make the experience feel repetitive.
- “It became so tedious because of how many heroines there are and how long each individual route is.”
- “Don't get me wrong, it still feels a little tedious.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Date A Live: Ren Dystopia is a casual simulation game with fantasy and drama themes.

Date A Live: Ren Dystopia is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

Date A Live: Ren Dystopia was released on September 5, 2024.

Date A Live: Ren Dystopia was developed by Idea Factory.

Date A Live: Ren Dystopia has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Date A Live: Ren Dystopia is a single player game.

Similar games include DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation, Riddle Joker, Senren＊Banka, Sabbat of the Witch, 9-nine-:Episode 1 and others.

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