Hatoful Boyfriend

Hatoful Boyfriend tells an endearingly crazy story that will have you smiling, laughing, crying and feverishly turning the virtual page. It takes some buy-in, but pays off if you're looking for something way off the beaten path.

94%Game Brain Score

story, humor

grinding, stability

94% User Score Based on 5,706 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $8.83

Buy NowGet on Steam$9.99

About

Hatoful Boyfriend is a unique visual novel/dating sim where you, the only human student, attend a high school for talented birds at St. PigeoNation's Institute. Throughout the game, you will navigate social dynamics, pursue romance, and uncover secrets in this lighthearted, avian-themed story. The goal is to find happiness and love amidst the challenges of high school life, all while surrounded by your feathered friends.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,706 reviews

story542 positive mentions

grinding38 negative mentions

story
1,872 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
69%
2%
The story of *Hatoful Boyfriend* is a surprising blend of humor and depth, evolving from a seemingly light-hearted pigeon dating sim into a complex narrative filled with dark twists and emotional weight. Players are encouraged to explore multiple character routes, each revealing unique backstories that contribute to a larger, interconnected plot, culminating in a profound "true" ending that ties together the various storylines. While the initial gameplay may appear silly, the underlying themes of love, loss, and societal issues create a rich and engaging experience that resonates long after the game is completed.
- “The story line, characters, and content was an emotional roller-coaster to go through, and indeed a cinematic masterpiece.”
- “The story is very well thought out and deserves, in my opinion, more recognition in the world.”
- “What started as a mere cheap giggle found during a steam sale, turned into a whirlwind adventure I was thrust into thanks to the spectacular story writing resulting in being genuinely emotionally invested characters.”
- “The story is mind-numbing levels of boring.”
- “The central plot is similarly thin and disappointing.”
- “The story is boring, the writing is terrible and even if you pick the right choices for a character you like there is pretty much no romance at all.”
humor
857 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Hatoful Boyfriend" is a blend of absurdity and clever writing, often catching players off guard with its mix of lighthearted bird puns and unexpectedly dark themes. While many players initially approach the game for its quirky premise of dating pigeons, they often find themselves emotionally invested in the deeper narratives that unfold, leading to a rollercoaster of laughter and tears. Overall, the game is praised for its unique humor that balances silliness with poignant storytelling, making it more than just a simple parody of dating sims.
- “Fantastic music, writing that's both hilarious and soul-crushing, and it has the best birds in gaming with Okosan, Azami, and Anghel.”
- “The humor is fantastic and witty at times and just the right amount of nonsense to make you laugh.”
- “This game is hilarious but has some deep lore; I've been playing it all day and I don't even have half the endings. I literally got notes, lol. I recommend this game, also maybe don't try to date the doctor.”
- “It's marketed as being some kind of hilarious parody... in reality it's not funny at all.”
- “Overly clichéd and with somewhat stilted writing, this game is too absurd to be genuine, and not funny enough to be a good parody.”
- “It's a chore to replay this multiple times just to see the many different, unfunny outcomes.”
emotional
581 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Hatoful Boyfriend" is a surprising highlight, with many players expressing deep emotional investment in the characters and storylines. What begins as a humorous dating sim about pigeons evolves into a profound narrative filled with heart-wrenching moments, unexpected plot twists, and complex character arcs that often lead to tears. Reviewers frequently mention experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions, from laughter to sadness, ultimately finding the game to be a touching exploration of love, loss, and personal growth.
- “The story line, characters, and content was an emotional roller-coaster to go through, and indeed a cinematic masterpiece.”
- “What began as a parody of the genre became not a parody at all, and eventually something more, with a surprisingly deep, emotional and dark backstory for each of the characters and the world in the game.”
- “This game is an emotional rollercoaster as soon as you begin.”
- “Boring storylines with one-dimensional characters.”
music
239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
51%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its charm and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive and composed mainly of royalty-free tracks that feel cheap. Many appreciate the emotional depth of certain pieces, particularly in character-specific themes, but note that abrupt transitions and looping issues can detract from the experience. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it often lacks the originality and memorability that some players desire.
- “The music is fantastic, the characters are fun and quirky.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing, and it makes me wish I had gotten the collector's edition so I could have it.”
- “The music sets the mood of the characters and the sound effects can really set the atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is all free-to-use music that can't shake the feeling of being cheap.”
- “I wasn't really a fan of the soundtrack; it felt a little too repetitive and annoying, so I muted the game after a few endings I had achieved.”
- “The music is annoying, the visuals are flat and boring, the dialogue is mediocre at best, and overall, the game is simply just a regular dating sim, nothing new to the table.”
gameplay
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
79%
9%
The gameplay of this visual novel is characterized by a standard choose-your-own-adventure format, where players progress through a narrative by making choices that lead to different endings. While some find the gameplay repetitive and simplistic, with limited mechanics beyond reading and clicking, others appreciate the depth of the story and character development, which can make the experience engaging despite its linearity. Overall, the game is best suited for those who prioritize narrative over complex gameplay mechanics.
- “The gameplay is stripped down to a few choices in pivotal moments, and the worldbuilding and characters are so well-built that it's easy to forget you're actually dating pigeons.”
- “It elegantly combines the presence of charming male characters, a narrative of considerable depth and complexity, as well as an enigmatic aura that envelops the entire gameplay.”
- “The gameplay may be quite simple, but this is a story that will stick with you forever.”
- “The gameplay is boring!”
- “Not only did the gameplay not work properly, but I kind of felt like I had to go through hours of ridiculousness just to get to the actual storyline, which, as interesting as it was, was not worth the trouble in my opinion.”
- “The lack of actual gameplay choices leaves you either clicking tirelessly through the same text or using the now-acknowledged skip button in the top right-hand corner, causing the entirety of the plot to become more of a blur than an experience itself.”
graphics
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
7%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the cute art style and updated visuals in the HD re-release, while others criticize the static nature and low-quality images of the bird characters. Many players appreciate the charming aesthetic and the integration of real bird photos, but note that the visuals can feel repetitive and lack animation. Overall, the graphics are considered decent for a visual novel, but not groundbreaking, with a focus on storytelling over visual fidelity.
- “The graphics are cute, the concept is also cute, it is overall very comedic.”
- “The re-release has updated the graphics beautifully and any fan of otome games with a good sense of humor is bound to love this game.”
- “The graphics are good for a game of this kind, the human counterparts are beautifully designed, and the backgrounds are generally well drawn.”
- “Many dramatic moments fall flat because of a lack of visuals, and the prose does not step up to the plate to compensate.”
- “The graphics for the birds are somewhat low-quality because the original release was put out back in 2011 as a flash game for April Fool's.”
- “The visuals are static backgrounds with static character graphics, and due to the nature of the game needing to be replayed, a lot of the narrative can become redundant.”
replayability
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
58%
4%
The game offers high replayability due to its multiple endings, unlockable content, and varied story paths, making each playthrough feel unique. While some players found the initial dialogue repetitive and the game short, many appreciated the depth and humor that emerged with each subsequent run. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile investment for those who enjoy exploring different narrative outcomes.
- “With the amount of endings and choices to make, there is a bunch of replay value, and it can keep one entertained for several hours!”
- “The replay value in this game is colossal, and each ending is brilliantly planned, with just enough humor, sadness, and a plot twist you never saw coming that was dangled in front of you since square one.”
- “Definitely recommend this and it has quite a bit of replay value due to the multiple endings and unlockable side story information.”
- “Cons: not a lot of replay value.”
- “However, I don't see it having any replay value after finishing it.”
- “Although the game is well put together, it doesn't have near enough replay value.”
grinding
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious, with players noting the repetitive nature of unlocking multiple endings and routes, which can feel like a time sink. While some appreciate the depth and twists in the story that emerge from this process, many find the necessity to replay long dialogues and navigate through similar scenarios to be a frustrating experience. However, features like a fast-forward option and the eventual payoff of unlocking the "true" ending can make the effort feel worthwhile for dedicated players.
- “A good point in favor of this as a visual novel/dating sim is that all the routes you can take are logical and it is not tedious to achieve full completion, even without using a walkthrough.”
- “It can be pretty tedious as some endings fork based on what subject you study, so you need to repeat everything to unlock both versions of each route and unlock the final bbl ending.”
- “The story has a lot of twists and turns the first time you play it, but after running all the routes, it got a little tedious to repeat such long series of dialogues without any choices in between.”
- “Unlocking it may become tedious, but at least the game provides a skip button.”
character development
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
47%
8%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the depth and emotional engagement of certain characters, particularly in specific routes, while others criticize the overall lack of development and reliance on typical anime tropes. Many reviews highlight the strong writing and memorable storylines that enhance character attachment, though some feel that the pacing and brevity of scenes limit deeper exploration. Overall, while there are standout moments and well-rounded characters, the experience can vary significantly depending on the chosen paths and playthroughs.
- “This game was a roller coaster ride that lore dumps like no other at the end; but has a great plot, character development, side stories, funny moments, and tear-jerking moments that all together make you become emotionally attached and invested in the characters.”
- “In all seriousness, while the game comes off as a bad goof on dating sims, it has a surprising amount of good storytelling and character development along with one of the most memorable endings I've experienced in interactive storytelling.”
- “The character development is deep, the storylines that are behind each love interest are engaging, and more than once I have found myself sobbing because of the pigeons.”
- “It is full of irrelevant subplots, and very little character development.”
- “It's your typical high school dating sim, except extremely condensed with each scene taking 2 minutes at most and thus having barely any character development past the usual anime character tropes.”
- “While the characters are fun, there is neither much actual romance nor character development; storylines end almost immediately after the big reveal of the birds' backstory, and so the game does not give any closure, even when dealing with more serious topics.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
The atmosphere in the game is notably diverse, ranging from bright and charming in dating scenarios to dark and intense moments that create a striking contrast. Players appreciate the depth and meaning conveyed through the writing and music, which effectively enhance the overall experience. While some find the atmosphere can shift unexpectedly, it often maintains a unique blend of humor and unease that keeps players engaged.
- “This portion is dark both atmospherically and aesthetically.”
- “Fantastic writing, characters, atmosphere, and a stunning amount of depth and meaning really make Hatoful stand out among other visual novel games.”
- “The music sets the mood of the characters and the sound effects can really set the atmosphere.”
- “Still, I don't feel any dating sim atmosphere.”
- “In this newer, sparklier version... the player can save whenever they please, taking away that intense atmosphere.”
- “Then out of nowhere, the atmosphere gets uneasy.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The game's stability has been criticized for numerous glitches, particularly related to saving and loading, which can lead to freezes and empty text boxes. While some players noted that these issues did not significantly hinder their overall experience, the frequency of bugs, including translation errors and a buggy user interface, has been a common complaint. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, its stability issues require players to save frequently and be prepared for potential frustrations.
- “Steam Deck: there are a lot of glitches when you try to load a saved game on Steam Deck.”
- “Saving in some cases can also produce a save point that freezes a game when loaded from the main menu (you have to load from a working save as a workaround and even then it sometimes doesn't work).”
- “The game also had a tendency to freeze at important decisions, making me have to replay yet again, so it became a real effort in patience trying to deal with these glitches without throwing it out.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players praise its exceptional performance, claiming it runs better than titles like Assassin's Creed: Unity, others criticize it for lacking proper optimization, especially compared to other visual novels. Overall, the performance seems to vary significantly among users.
- “This game is at the peak of its performance.”
- “Exceptional optimization (runs better than Assassin's Creed: Unity).”
- “This game is at the brink of its performance.”
- “Having played many visual novels before, this one isn't optimized well at all.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for misleading advertising that doesn't fully represent the gameplay experience, which may deter some players. However, despite the self-referential ads and heavy exposition, many users find the game enjoyable, even for those who are not fans of visual novels. Overall, the game is perceived as fun, with minimal intrusive monetization.
- “Don't believe the comedic ads.”
- “But... the advertising, the descriptions, all of it are... not telling you the whole story.”
- “It's enjoyable on the whole, even if it contains not-so-subtle self-referential advertising at one point.”