Hatoful Boyfriend

 PC
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 35
  3. Negative: 4 out of 35
  1. Gaming Nexus
    Sep 12, 2014
    74
    Hatoful Boyfriend is not the pigeon-dating sim you're looking for: It's more than that. Curb your enthusiasm for branching storylines after playing through the early romance portion of the story.
  2. CD-Action
    Jan 9, 2015
    70
    After a couple of hours this pigeon dating sim (yes, you date pigeons) turns into a psychedelic post-apocalyptic horror with gore elements. Is any other encouragement necessary? [13/2014, p.67]
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  3. CalmDownTom
    Sep 18, 2014
    70
    Depending on your choices Hatoful Boyfriend can be a light-hearted dating sim set in a completely ridiculous setting, or a crazy ridiculous visual novel set in a ridiculous setting.
  5. GameSpot
    Sep 15, 2014
    70
    I was expecting to simply giggle at a nonsensical game in which I tried to woo feathered men, and what I received instead was wholly and wonderfully unexpected. Anyone with a taste for the unusual would do well to enjoy the company of these fetching fowl.
  6. Kill Screen
    Sep 15, 2014
    70
    If you prefer plots that are weird to begin with and just get weirder, you will be extremely happy with Hatoful Boyfriend; if you don’t feel excited by every single Japanese pop culture trope re-enacted by pigeons, Hatoful Boyfriend might not be for you.
  7. Softpedia
    Sep 11, 2014
    70
    Hatoful Boyfriend is at times barely a full video game, but at the same time, this is an experience that would be impossible to integrate into any other medium.
  8. IncGamers
    Sep 7, 2014
    70
    Hatoful Boyfriend’s goofy pigeon dating antics belie a smart, on-tone parody with a moment or two of sincerity.
  9. Joystiq
    Sep 5, 2014
    70
    Hatoful Boyfriend is great at setting a tone and building a strange bird universe pockmarked with bits of broken, human-constructed items. These objects are eerie in such a happy-go-lucky world, though the creep factor is welcome in a game as ridiculous as a pigeon dating simulator. We'll call it the peep factor.
  10. PCGamesN
    Sep 5, 2014
    70
    I came for the promise of pigeon romance, but I stayed for the surreal world these fowl reside in.
  11. Shacknews
    Sep 4, 2014
    70
    Hatoful Boyfriend is very much a mixed bag, in terms of story quality, but also proves to be a quaint curiosity. If nothing else, the anime art style is a pleasure to behold, with some bright and engaging set pieces on display.
  12. PC Gamer
    Sep 4, 2014
    70
    A one-of-a-kind glimpse into the world of anthropomorphic-animal Japanese otome, Hatoful Boyfriend is surprisingly entertaining.
  13. Games Master UK
    Oct 23, 2014
    69
    There's still plenty to coo over, especially if you unlock all the endings. [Dec 2014, p.80]
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  14. Destructoid
    Sep 4, 2014
    65
    Occasionally, it doesn't feel quite weird enough to carry the whole concept of a human schoolgirl at an all-bird high school, but there's still plenty of laughs to be had for a brief experience that you're going to have to play through multiple times to fully enjoy.
  15. games(TM)
    Oct 21, 2014
    60
    Ultimately, this is a run-of-the-mill dating sim that, while fun, is a hard game to love. [Issue#153, p.125]
    All this publication's reviews
  16. USgamer
    Sep 4, 2014
    60
    Hatoful Boyfriend is a straightforward dating simulator where all of your suitors just happen to be birds. If you're not drawn to your potential boyfriends, the early game can be a bit of a drag. While the second half of the game is worth the price of admission, many players will have a problem getting there. Proceed with caution.
  17. Eurogamer Spain
    Sep 18, 2014
    50
    Hatoful Boyfriend is not as bold and eccentric as it seemed. It's a typical visual novel, nothing else, nothing more.
  18. Game Revolution
    Sep 17, 2014
    50
    Maybe it's because I'm not Japanese or familiar with Japanese culture, but these otome games, I'm sure they have a place in Western society, but I don't quite know where to put them.
  19. Gameblog.fr
    Sep 10, 2014
    50
    A dating sim with pigeons? Eh, that's funny! A couple of minutes. Then it becomes embarrassing. There is an interesting post-apocalyptic background hidden behind all the WTF, but as rich as it is, anyone who's really into this kind of game will probably like interacting with human characters better. Especially for this price.

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 97 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 97
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 97
  3. Negative: 22 out of 97
  1. RightEOThen
    May 25, 2014
    10
    As my father said to me on his deathbed, "Son, I love you but if you learned anything from my massive waste of life its that you need to playAs my father said to me on his deathbed, "Son, I love you but if you learned anything from my massive waste of life its that you need to play more video games with bird sex in them". He then molted to death at the tragic age of 7 years old. My father was a blue jay. Don't make his mistake.
    Everybirdy needs to hear this message and seize life by the wings. Hatoful boyfriend is a game about love, acceptance and the ability to be hit on by pigeons. Is Hatoful Boyfriend perfect? No. But is it perfect? Yes. To say that Hatoful Boyfriend is a turning point in the dating sim genre but in the technological advance of civilization itself is not hyperbolic of a statement enough. I think of Hatoful Boyfriend both when i cry and when I make love. It is a wonderful piece of art that is better than any other work I have ever experienced. Also, fair warning, you might make a cum in yourself.    … Full Review »
  2. DanteDM
    Sep 12, 2014
    5
    It's just not that good. Why do people love this game to much. It has four ten out of ten critics. Be real, don't just put the maximum becauseIt's just not that good. Why do people love this game to much. It has four ten out of ten critics. Be real, don't just put the maximum because the game has some moments that make you laugh.… Full Review »
  3. nevershark
    Aug 26, 2014
    10
    Forget the clearly and regretfully uninformed reviews. This game is a shining example of what's possible with the visual novel as a medium.Forget the clearly and regretfully uninformed reviews. This game is a shining example of what's possible with the visual novel as a medium.

    Ever think too hard about something funny and realize that in order for it to be funny something else terrible had to have happened?

    Well, Hatoful Boyfriend is basically that, but in game form. Of course, it starts out hilarious and outlandish. But when the backstory rears its ugly head, it takes its seemingly kooky world, and meticulously and horribly explains how it came to be the way it is. And it isn't pleasant, not one bit. Sometimes you'll still laugh, but more often than not you'll be crying. Over birds.

    Probably one of the best written games I have ever encountered, without exaggerating - such a shame that it's so difficult to talk about without spoiling. If you're familiar with visual novels and/or like good plot in your games, give it a shot, but make sure you unlock Bad Boys Love. And get the tissues ready.    … Full Review »
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