For the killer dating sim “Hooked on You”, we at MeinMMO asked the developers in an interview what this crazy game is all about: After all, it’s a dating game, but you date the killers from “Dead by Daylight”.
When you think of Dead by Daylight, you instantly picture matches full of adrenaline. Big, nasty killers hunt down four survivors who desperately try to escape the round or soon meet a gruesome end on the butcher hook.
But then apparently there were enough players who thought: “This brutal, nasty, and cruel killer … somehow looks hot!” Otherwise, it’s hard to explain why the developer Behaviour thought: “Dead by Daylight needs a dating sim!” The result is “Hooked on You”, a dating simulation where four of the creepy killers can be dated on the beach.
We asked the developers: What the hell were you thinking? And more importantly – can you date all the killers at once?
MeinMMO: Let’s start with a very simple question from all “Dead by Daylight” players who don’t check the subreddits and forums of the game. It can be summed up well with: Why?
Behaviour Interactive: That is probably the most important question.
Last year, we conducted a community-driven survey where we asked our players what other types of experiences they would like to play in the world of Dead by Daylight. The idea of a dating simulation was one of the top choices. Because it’s so completely crazy, we thought we had to implement it right away! At almost every meeting with our team, it was the same. People look at you funny, scoff, laugh, and then pause to realize that it’s actually brilliant.
We’ve known for years that our fans were craving hot content and are also aware of some of the more intense fan fictions that have emerged, so we decided to give them what they want. However, we had to present it in the right way, with all the seriousness it deserves, which is why we teamed up with Psyop. With their help, we created our first visual novel, which I think is truly magical.
Although it’s quite obvious that Hooked on You won’t play in the official canon universe of Dead by Daylight, can we expect some new details about the characters to be revealed that might be part of their original story? Or is it pure fiction of a fiction?
The fantastic thing about “Hooked on You: A Dead by Daylight Dating Sim” is that it starts with our killers that the fans have come to know and love – only they are placed in a different, more relaxed setting. Although Hooked on You: A Dead by Daylight Dating Sim doesn’t belong to the canon, the killers on Murder Island are somewhat softer versions of themselves, but their personalities and character traits remain similar.
When I go on vacation, I’m a gentler, more open version of myself, which is good for meeting new people. I feel more talkative with a cold drink in hand while enjoying the warm sun on the beach – just like our beloved killers. So yes, they can share unexpected things about themselves in this context. But amidst all that, they are still the same dangerous and crazy monsters.
How did you decide which killers would be part of the game?
That was a very difficult task for us, as we know that fans have their favorite characters – and although we want to please them, we also had to decide on an original cast for Murder Island.
We chose the favorite characters of the fans, but also some of our oldest killers: the Trapper, who is literally the poster child for Dead by Daylight, the Huntress, who is played by so many, the Ghost, who is just visually so interesting, and the Huntress, who has been cosplay more often than any other. We felt that these four as a core group would spark the imagination of a variety of players, and that’s how we made our choice.
Can you tell a little about the different personalities of the killers in the game?
I will refer to the dating app profiles of our killers because they explain it better than I could.
The Trapper: This alpha male, as big as a mountain, prefers to kill in caves, on beaches, and pools. Players can prepare to seek the trapdoor to his heart – and whether it’s worth getting caught. Or they mess it up and become his next victim. He will have fun either way.
The Huntress: The Huntress wants it all: love, family, and someone to help her butcher men in the woods. Is she a human? A beast? No idea. But her arms are out of this world! Now this lovable, squirrel-eating lady has stepped out of the woods and is ready to let Cupid’s axe fly in her new search for love.
The Ghost: The Ghost is so much more than just sex appeal. Behind the lean man lies a quiet, curious, sensitive boy. Did that come across super weird? Yes, it did. Are we going to change it? No, because the Ghost wouldn’t either. He meets everyone with open arms, no matter how super weird, and that makes him special.
The Spirit: The Spirit is not your average gothic girlfriend with a penchant for all things ghostly – she’s literally a ghost. You find her in the shadows with a stack of classic horror novels. She avoids any boring beach activity that everyone else is busy with. The Spirit isn’t competing for hearts. If she wanted to, she’d just cut it out with her katana.
One of the game’s slogans is “Find love or die trying”, which is pretty dark for a dating game. Will the game actually have death as a possible outcome?
While we can’t reveal anything, it’s important to remember that these are indeed killers. As mentioned earlier, their personalities that players have come to love in Dead by Daylight remain the same – they are just taken out of the world of the Entity and placed in a more tropical setting. I would advise extreme caution when dealing with them.
While the first trailer looks pretty nice, the game still seems to contain some of the creepier aspects of Dead by Daylight, like the Spirit being cut up, revealing flesh, tendons, and bones. Will this level of “gore” also be found in other parts of the game?
It was very important for us to preserve all aspects of our killers. The Spirit is who she is – skin and bones and all. We just thought it would be so much fun to move our killers out of that dark, horrifying environment – the realm of the Entity – to this sunny, exotic, sexy place. We love this contrast that these two universes represent: yes, our killers are sexier and well-dressed, but they are still, you know, threatening and dark.
Can we expect other characters from Dead by Daylight to appear in the game, maybe as side characters? Or will it focus solely on the Trapper, the Huntress, the Ghost, and the Spirit?
That’s definitely the most delicate question. So many of our fans have their favorite characters and are looking forward to spending special time with them. We understand that. And while this is the first visual novel in the Dead by Daylight universe, I feel that it certainly won’t be the last time we tell these kinds of stories. We’ve opened a box here that our fans will never let us close again. Not that we would want to!
Dead by Daylight players can usually never get enough of… well, everything. Since Hooked On You is a dating simulation, will there be a possible “harem” route where you can end up with all the killers?
This made me laugh! We are aware of our fans’ insatiable thirst and have visited the more enticing sides of our community. Never say never – but for now, let’s just say that we will focus on a one-to-one dynamic.
While “Introduce sex in Dead by Daylight” was a rather “meme-like” wish of the community, the announcement of Hooked on You has raised hope among fans. But the question remains unanswered: Will there be sex in the game?
The game is intended for an adult audience, and since it’s a Dead by Daylight dating simulation, surprises are also in store. Besides, is it NSFW? Well, fans will have to experience it themselves to find out! Dead by Daylight has always focused more on building tension and anticipation for the action than on graphic representation, but we’ll let you find that out for yourselves.
Will you play Hooked on You when it is released this summer? Or is the game clearly too crazy and will be played only on the secret second account that your friends must never see?
