Doomed Love (game)
An unofficial Doom dating sim with demon love interests.
Doomed Love is a point-and-click visual novel and dating sim released on Itch.io on June 11, 2021. It is an unofficial adaptation of the 1993 game Doom. Scottish cartoonist David B. Cooper handled the programming, illustration, and music, and released an updated version on June 18. The game was created after Cooper posted "cute" fan art of Doom demons, and a commenter derided the original Doom series as "too violent" by comparison. Cooper responded with a joking suggestion of a dating sim, then decided to make it. The game also includes recurring The Simpsons character Lenny Leonard, referencing "Sad Springfield" fan art by Cooper that went viral earlier that year. Doom co-creator John Romero praised the game and his own appearance in it.
In the game, the player controls Doomguy, the only zombieman in a high school full of demons (aside from John Romero), and must find a date for the Icon of Sin Festival. The story is split into levels, each representing a day. Each day starts with Doomguy preparing for school and ends when school finishes. Between these points, Doomguy completes missions, usually mundane activities with one of four love interests, leading to five possible endings. When not on a mission, the player can freely explore a small area of the high school, including a stage and friends' homes. Side quests are available during free time and unlock an extended ending.
Cooper explained that the idea grew from a joking comment after a fan said Doom made them anxious. He created the game over about a month, working evenings and weekends around his full-time job and childcare, using the Ren'Py engine.
PC Gamer called the game "charming," praising its "goofy, anxious and lovable" characters, "adorable" art, and a MIDI soundtrack that turns Doom's original audio into "pleasant piano melodies." Vice described it as "a delightful time," noting the characters are well-drawn and easy to relate to. Italy 24News called it a "decidedly crazy visual novel" with an "over-the-top" dating sim structure, praising its inclusiveness and willingness to "let love blossom wherever it wants."
Quick Facts
- Title
- Doomed Love
- Director
- David B. Cooper
- Series
- Doom
- Engine
- Ren'Py
- Released
- June 11, 2021
- Genre
- Point-and-click dating simulator visual novel fangame
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Windows / macOS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Doomed Love was designed in response to a Tweet received by Cooper after he drew 'cute' fan art of Doom's demon characters. A commenter derided the original Doom series as 'too violent' by comparison to the fan art. Cooper jokingly suggested making a dating sim with cuter monsters, and the idea grew from there. The game was created over the course of about a month, worked on during evenings and weekends alongside Cooper's full-time job and childcare, using the Ren'Py software.
The player assumes the role of Doomguy, the only zombieman in a high school of demons but for John Romero, as they seek a date for the upcoming Icon of Sin Festival. The game is divided into levels representing days, with missions involving mundane activities with four possible love interests, leading to five different endings. Recurring The Simpsons character Lenny Leonard appears in the game, referencing 'Sad Springfield' fan art by Cooper that had gone viral earlier that year.
Reader's Guide
Doomed Love stands as a notable example of a fan game that reimagines a violent franchise as a wholesome dating simulator. Its significance lies in its origin from a single social media exchange and its rapid development over roughly one month. The game's positive reception, including praise from Doom co-creator John Romero, highlights how fan works can bridge communities and receive recognition from original creators. Critics such as PC Gamer and Vice commended the game's charming art, relatable characters, and reworked midi soundtrack that transforms Doom's audio into pleasant piano melodies. Italy 24News described it as a 'decidedly crazy visual novel' with an over-the-top dating simulator structure, praising its inclusiveness. The game's inclusion of Lenny Leonard from The Simpsons, tied to Cooper's earlier viral fan art, adds a layer of intertextual humor. Doomed Love demonstrates how a small-scale project can generate cultural impact through creativity and responsiveness to audience feedback, and it remains a frequently cited example of the 'cute demon' subgenre in fan games.
Did You Know?
- Doomed Love was created in response to a Tweet criticizing the original Doom as 'too violent' compared to Cooper's cute fan art.
- The game includes Lenny Leonard from The Simpsons, referencing Cooper's viral 'Sad Springfield' fan art.
- Doom co-creator John Romero praised Doomed Love on Twitter.
- The game was developed over about a month using the Ren'Py software.
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