Dating Game Review: Utterly Sweet BL Drama is All Sorts of Painfully Obvious

Dating Game Review: When shy game developer Hill arrives at his dream job and learns about his favourite virtual romance game shutting down, he is left devastated, until a surprising affection starts to blossom with reserved CEO Sakurai Junji.

Thai BL drama Dating Game has 12 episodes, each with a runtime of around 50 minutes.

Dating Game Review

This Thai-Japanese co-production is an entertaining, sugary-sweet watch that blends everything we love about BL dramas and presents it in an easy-to-binge format. The show blends workplace romance, gaming culture, and light comedy in a rather entertaining way, though I will say it’s not much different from the traditional, tropey shows BL dramas are famous for.

Following shy game developer Hill, who falls for cold and composed CEO Junji, as they collaborate to bring the former’s favourite romance simulation game back to life. The series is sweet and has some impactful moments, exploring self-worth, emotional growth and the blurred line between virtual and real love. As Hill explores the idea of loving outside of fantasy, Junji has to come out of his shell and open his heart up to Hill for their romance to blossom.

The unique charm of Dating Game is how relatable the characters are. They are flawed individuals with a good heart as they go through the ups and downs of their new circumstances after learning about “Yuka! Love Me Please” shutting down. That exploration brings them closer, and the heartfelt 12-episode run makes watching this rather heartwarming.

There isn’t a moment when you won’t root for Hill and Junji. While an employee falling for a CEO isn’t anything new, the trope feels fresh thanks to the cultural contrast. Both March Chutavuth Pattarakhumphol and Mukai Koji are new to the BL genre, but have good chemistry.

Hill’s character arc is one of the most interesting parts of the story, in my opinion. From a bullied, insecure gamer to a confident adult, his growth is commendable and relatable. Yuka’s impact on him during those vulnerable moments is interesting and begs discussion surrounding parasocial relationships and their impact beneath the lighthearted exterior. His growth is tied to learning emotional intimacy and escapism, something that everyone can relate to.

Apart from this, though, Dating Game is just an easy-to-watch, comfort show that maintains its light, romcom vibes throughout. It doesn’t get into the complications of the topics that it brings forth, which might leave a bad taste in your mouth, but in doing so, it resolves them quickly, making way for some romance to seep through. The pacing is also enjoyable and always keeps things steady to be enjoyed.

However, if you’re getting into this hoping for something mind-boggling, then you’re in for a disappointment. Dating Game is an obvious drama that never gets into anything truly polarising. You will be able to figure out where it’s going from a mile away, which is fine if you enjoy these kinds of dramas. This, however, diminishes the stakes a lot. Moreover, the side characters, as is the problem with these dramas, lack depth, and the subplots are not explored well enough. On that note, I also found Junji to be a little one-dimensional.

Final Thoughts

You get what you expect from this charming BL drama – nothing more, nothing less. It’s tropey and gooey, and distinguishes itself from other dramas of the genre thanks to the Thai-Japanese co-production. However, there’s nothing to write home about because it plays it completely safe within genre boundaries. Overall, it’s an enjoyable watch that lacks uniqueness.

What are your thoughts on Dating Game?

Also Read:

• Witch Hat Atelier Review (Episodes 1-2): What Is This Breathtaking Animation?!
• Daemons of the Shadow Realm Episode 1 Review: This Reminded Me Of the Kickass FMAB