Doomed Love (game)

Lore & Background

Doomed Love is a visual novel dating sim with a point and click interface. The player assumes the role of Doomguy, the only zombieman in a high school of demons but for John Romero, as they seek to find a date for the upcoming Icon of Sin Festival. The game is divided up into several levels, each of which takes the form of a new day. Each level begins with Doomguy preparing for the day and ends with them finishing school; in between, Doomguy is tasked with various missions, which usually involve them engaging in mundane activities with the four possible love interests covering various levels of romance, with a total of five different endings. When not on a mission, the player is given free roam over a small area of their high school, which includes a stage, and the homes of their friends. There are several side quests that the player can engage in when not on missions, which unlock an extended ending to the game.

Recurring The Simpsons character Lenny Leonard is also included in the game, in reference to 'Sad Springfield' fan art of Cooper's which had gone viral earlier that year. Addressing the inspiration behind the conception of the game, Cooper stated that 'I did some Doom fan art a wee while back and one person commented how they loved the art, but they'd tried playing Doom and it made them anxious. I jokingly said to them how I'd put these "cuter" monsters in a dating sim — not really intending to make it. But then the idea just seemed so good in my head, and it kind of grew from there.' He elaborated further about creating the game over the course of 'a month, maybe a little longer. I had to make it when I wasn't doing my full-time job or watching my son, so it was solid work in evenings and weekends, but luckily the Ren'Py software was really easy to use.'

Reader's Guide

Doomed Love is significant as a notable example of a fan-made parody that recontextualizes a violent video game franchise into a romantic comedy dating sim. Its creation was directly inspired by a critical comment on the artist's fan art, leading to a game that subverts expectations. The inclusion of John Romero as a character and his public praise of the game highlights a rare instance of a creator endorsing an unofficial adaptation. The game's positive critical reception from outlets such as PC Gamer, Vice, and Italy 24News, which praised its charm, art, and inclusiveness, demonstrates how fan works can achieve mainstream recognition. The game also showcases the use of the Ren'Py engine for rapid development by an independent creator balancing work and family. Its legacy lies in its role as a cultural artifact that blends nostalgia for Doom with the dating sim genre, and its success on Itch.io illustrates the platform's role in distributing niche, fan-driven projects.

Did You Know?

• Doomed Love was programmed, illustrated, and composed by Scottish cartoonist David B. Cooper.
• The game includes recurring The Simpsons character Lenny Leonard, referencing Cooper's earlier 'Sad Springfield' fan art.
• Doom co-creator John Romero praised the game and his own inclusion in it.
• The game was created over about a month using the Ren'Py software.