Cryptid Crush is an Urban Fantasy dating sim visual novel with TTRPG elements developed by Drowsy Drake Studios, released on itch.io on November 20th, 2020.
The game follows Robyn Hart, an amateur paranormal investigator who has recently moved to Longhope, a town inhabited by all manner of paranormal creatures. With the help of their Childhood Friend Atlas, Taro the “Nyangel”, Jamie the Jersey Devil, August the Werewolf, Tessie the Loch Ness Monster, and the ghost Madhouse Mike, Robyn attempts to uncover the truth about the mysterious curse they’ve been afflicted with. Can be played here
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Cryptid Crush contains examples of following tropes:
- Alliterative Title: Cryptid Crush, naturally.
- Ambiguously Brown: Robyn has a noticeably dark skin tone, and while it’s never really commented on, their voice actor is of Indian descent.
- Bad Boss: Judging by the news articles found in one of the rooms of the Elkhorn Radio Station, the station’s higher ups were very much this, forcing the station’s employees to work inhumane hours among other things.
- Character Customization: To a rather limited degree. While you can customize Robyn’s first and last name, clothes, accessories, and pronouns, their overall appearance is relatively static.
- Companion Cube: During his time at the Elkhorn Radio Station, Mike had constructed an effigy made out of discarded Toxic Waste Energy cans as well as a a water jug, pencils, and a plastic bag, along with a sticky note with a crudely drawn face on it. He refers to it as Debbie and treats it like his manager. It’s implied he subconsciously named it after his actual manager and close friend from when he was alive.
- Creepy Cemetery: The climax of the first half of Chapter 1 takes place in one.
- Demonic Possession: Mike pulls this on Atlas, taking over his body and making him noticeably taller. Interestingly, even after Madhouse has left his body, it still seems to have had lingering effects on Atlas, such as giving him telekinesis.
- Ghost Amnesia: Mike seems to be suffering from it, noting that he couldn’t remember anything before the Station. He learns more about his past following the end of the first half of Chapter 1.
- Haunted House: The abandoned Elkhorn Radio Station, the setting of Chapter 0, is haunted by the spirit of Madhouse Mike, a radio host who died on-air.
- Heel–Face Turn: Madhouse Mike pulls one at the end of Chapter 0 following his defeat at the hands of Robyn, Atlas, Jamie, and Turo and a heart-to-heart with Robyn.
- Load-Bearing Boss: Immediately after Mike’s departure, the already dilapidated Elkhorn Radio Station falls into further disrepair.
- Luck Manipulation Mechanic: What the Karma mechanic essentially is. It allows you to re-roll a failed dice roll in exchange for one unit of Karma, which can be regained by choosing not to re-roll a failed roll.
- Mobile Maze: The layout of Longhope’s library changes daily, and as such maps of it have to be updated every day.
- Monster Town: Aside from the fact that Longhope is populated by Cryptids of all kinds, it’s a relatively normal coastal town.
- No Saving Throw: When Mr. Walker attacks Madhouse in the cemetery, the roll to resist his attack is 999. Needless to say, there’s no way to avoid it.
- Our Cryptids Are More Mysterious: In the context of the game “Cryptid” seems to refer to any being that doesn’t fit into human society, whether they be werewolves, sasquatches, ghosts, or something else.
- Randomized Damage Attack: As the game’s combat system is TTRPG-inspired, attack damage is for the most part randomized, though higher and lower values are dictated by differences between the attacker’s offensive stats and the target’s defensive stats.
- Romance Sidequest: While not fully implemented at this point, Atlas, Mike, August, Jamie, and Tessie will have optional relationship routes added.
- Vagueness Is Coming: While Taro seems to know the nature of Robyn’s curse, Robyn (and by extension the player) doesn’t, aside from the fact that it will result in a horrible death in a unknown amount of time.
