In a New Game, an Argument With a Jealous Girlfriend Becomes a Dark Souls-Style Fight

The new indie game Kobayakawa-san turns an awkward conversation with a girl into a full-blown Soulslike boss fight. Instead of simply choosing dialogue options, players can attack, parry, and dodge, while every wrong answer results in the character’s instant death.

Kobayakawa-san was created by independent Japanese developer Hokuto. The game puts an unusual spin on the traditional dating sim formula, combining a romantic storyline with mechanics typically found in challenging action RPGs.

The story follows a protagonist who finds himself in an awkward situation after talking to a girl he likes when he probably shouldn’t have. Now, he has to explain himself and find a way out of an uncomfortable conversation that quickly turns into a full-blown interrogation.

The usual dialogue options are replaced with combat moves. During the conversation, players can choose from four actions: Light Attack, Heavy Attack, Parry, or Dodge, which is labeled as “roll” in the game.

Kobayakawa-san leaves very little room for error. There is only one correct answer to each question, and choosing the wrong option results in the protagonist’s instant death.

Fortunately, dying doesn’t mean starting over from the beginning. The game takes players back to the previous scene where they made the wrong choice, allowing them to try another option and continue the conversation.

At first, the concept is quite intriguing, although the girl’s behavior, as she essentially plays the role of the boss, can sometimes feel a little strange and inconsistent. At the same time, it fits the deliberately exaggerated portrayal of a jealous partner and the overall absurdity of the situation.

A full playthrough of Kobayakawa-san takes around five minutes. Players are asked only a handful of questions, so much of the experience comes down to guessing the correct response and going back after each failed attempt.

Unlike traditional Soulslike games, where battles often depend on the player’s reflexes and skill, Kobayakawa-san requires very little actual mastery. The goal is simply to find the correct sequence of answers and survive a peculiar battle filled with jealousy, suspicion, and the constant need to explain yourself.

If you manage to make it through the entire “fight” successfully, the story ends on a much happier note than the protagonist’s numerous deaths along the way. In the end, the character gets to walk home with his “princess boss,” who remains by his side despite everything.

Kobayakawa-san is available in English and offers an unusual take on the dating sim genre, where even a simple conversation with your crush can turn into a battle in which one wrong answer can cost you your life.