Dialtown: Phone Dating Sim
- February 14, 2022
- DirectDoggo
- 26h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Dialtown: Phone Dating Sim," players navigate a series of phone dates by choosing conversation topics and responding to their date's texts. With a diverse cast of characters and multiple endings, the game offers a unique blend of visual novel and simulation elements. Players can customize their character and try to achieve successful dates while managing their time and emotions.
Reviews
- The humor is absurd and consistently funny, making players laugh out loud.
- The characters are well-developed and relatable, with unique personalities that players can connect with.
- The game combines chaotic elements with heartfelt moments, creating a surprisingly emotional experience.
- Some jokes may not land well for all players, and the writing can feel overly verbose at times.
- The humor can be crass and may not appeal to everyone, potentially alienating some players.
- The game lacks a fast-forward option for dialogue, which can slow down the pacing for some players.
- humor265 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Dialtown" is widely praised for its absurdity, clever writing, and unique character interactions, often blending dark and whimsical elements that resonate with players who appreciate unconventional comedy. While some find the humor to be over-the-top or "try-hard," many others celebrate its ability to evoke genuine laughter alongside emotional depth, making it a standout experience in the dating sim genre. Overall, the game is recommended for those with a taste for bizarre, offbeat humor and memorable characters.
“The humor is impeccable, and there are so many small easter eggs and details, some of which I probably haven't even found yet, and I loved all the references to DSAF (Dayshift at Freddy's), which is a FNAF fan-game that DirectDogman also made and that I also love to death.”
“This game is so genuinely funny and the characters are so interesting; this is just so good!”
“Not just watery eyes; I mean tears streaming, sides aching, completely breathless laughter at the sheer absurdity and fantastic humor this game has.”
- story112 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a unique blend of absurdity and heartfelt moments, featuring a rich world and well-developed characters that keep players engaged. While the humor can be outdated and the plot occasionally meanders, many players find the narrative surprisingly emotional and relatable, with themes of self-discovery and connection. Overall, the game is praised for its captivating storytelling, memorable characters, and a mix of comedy and depth that resonates with players.
“Awesome world setting and story building up behind the mask of a funny dating game.”
“The story is fantastic.”
“Dialtown is a wonderful game with great story, characters, and humor and I'm so glad it's my comfort game <3”
“The humor is really outdated, with words like 'doggo' and 'friendo', and needlessly aggressive replies that you're forced to choose to advance the story.”
“However, Zoey notes that the plot can meander, with seemingly pointless detours that may challenge some players' engagement.”
“Does that story make any real sense?”
- emotional69 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is surprisingly profound, with players expressing deep attachments to its quirky characters and heartfelt storylines. While it features absurd humor, many reviews highlight its ability to evoke genuine emotions, often leading to laughter and tears, particularly in pivotal moments. Overall, the game is praised for blending comedy with meaningful themes, making it a unique and touching experience.
“I love this game, the lore is amazing, Callum's backstory literally made me cry. My favorite phonehead is all of them.”
“And yet, despite the overwhelming absurdity, Dialtown happens to be a genuinely good story. The characters have depth and at points, especially in the third act, it is genuinely emotional.”
“I was unexpectedly kicked in the emotional gut by this game at 12:30 AM and I will likely be in shambles because of this for the next week or so.”
- music62 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its originality, catchiness, and ability to enhance the overall experience. Composed by Nathan Hanover, the soundtrack features unique themes for each character that cleverly reflect their personalities and emotional states, contributing to the game's charm and humor. Overall, players find the music to be a standout aspect, elevating the narrative and gameplay significantly.
“The music in this game is unexpectedly great.”
“The music is top tier and fits every scene, the style is unique, the characters are lovable, and the experience is surprisingly immersive despite the goofiness of the premise.”
“The music is so wonderful too, and quite catchy!”
“This game is like a friend who has a horrible taste in music who insists on driving everyone everywhere while blasting 'Firework' by Katy Perry on loop, who also has a heart of gold and who you know will be there when you need them.”
“They fit the situation they are in, however the sad song does sound a bit generic but that's like one song out of 70.”
“I did not expect any music, let alone an original soundtrack.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique art style that primarily utilizes stock photos and cutouts, which many players find charming and fitting for its humor. The visuals are described as high quality and creatively executed, contributing to the game's overall quirky aesthetic and engaging experience. Players appreciate the combination of odd visuals, witty dialogue, and a distinctive soundtrack, all of which enhance the game's appeal and set it apart from traditional dating simulators.
“The art style, while largely made up of stock images and cutouts, feels consistent and actually looks pretty good for what it is.”
“The visuals, the music, the characters, the dialogue, and all the little bits and pieces are fantastic; you can really feel the passion that went into it, big kudos to Direct Doggo!”
“Overall: a fantastically weird and hilarious game that separates itself from traditional dating sims with its visuals and its ridiculous/witty writing!”
“The graphics are such high quality, really makes me feel like I'm green with several nipples.”
“The visuals are mostly just the dog's photoshops of environments and the actors for the game.”
“Rarely, you will see artwork.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its engaging narrative and character-driven mechanics, with players enjoying a mix of dialogue and decision-making that shapes the experience. Despite its simplicity, the game offers a rich emotional journey and numerous references for fans of the franchise, making it a standout visual novel. Overall, players appreciate the depth of choices and the immersive storytelling, rating the gameplay highly.
“Love it! I used to watch DSAF2 gameplay from FuzionZGamer. I fell in love with the franchise, and this game is no different. I love that this game has countless references to DSAF since they take place in the same universe. Please, any DSAF fans, buy this game; you won't regret it!”
“The character design, backstory, soundtrack, and even the change of game mechanics based on character and route are absolutely stunning!”
“After about 12 hours of heart-wrenching, gut-pounding, action-filled gameplay, I finally realized that this is what I needed in my life.”
“There is no gameplay in this visual novel, and yet I had more fun playing this game over many games of recent years.”
“The gameplay consists of... 'people' talking, and sometimes doing stuff.”
“Gameplay is very simple, yet well done.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a quirky blend of visual novel-style music and playful sound effects, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Players appreciate the authenticity of the character interactions and the emotional depth that shifts the tone from humor to poignancy, enhancing the narrative's impact. As players progress, the atmosphere becomes increasingly intense, drawing them deeper into the story and the characters' journeys.
“The conversations feel real, the character arcs feel real too, and the whole atmosphere of the game just feels like it could get you sucked into its story no matter who you are and what kind of people you like.”
“The game's music incorporates visual novel-style elevator tunes with meow sound effects, creating a distinct and quirky atmosphere.”
“For a game so funny, it hits hard during emotional scenes, with the music changing and the atmosphere getting heavy; you can really feel these characters pour their hearts out.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting the depth of writing and compelling backstories that enhance the overall narrative. While character design is noted as impressive, the primary focus remains on the characters' growth and the emotional impact of their journeys. Overall, the game is celebrated for its masterful storytelling and character-driven experience.
“The main focus of this game is not to make an appealing outlook or character design (which are actually still pretty good by the way), instead this game focuses on the characters and its writing which are really good.”
“The character design, back story, soundtrack, even the change of game mechanics based on character and route are absolutely stunning!”
“The story is a masterpiece, the character design is astounding; it is truly the best game of all time.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its extensive story, numerous side quests, multiple endings, and hidden secrets, encouraging players to explore different outcomes and experiences. The engaging soundtrack further enhances the overall experience, making it a title worth revisiting.
“It's got a load of story, side content, replayability, and secrets to find.”
“The soundtrack fits the game super well and is honestly really good; it's something that has tons of replay value and features many endings, easter eggs, and various other things to find.”
