Do you like 50 Shades of Grey? Do you like boys love? Well, there’s a game that combines the best and worst (emphasis on WORST) of both! Where do I start with this game? It’s a mess. Sub for You is a Chinese boys love visual novel developed by BlueBerry Lanmei She & maratan and published by PlayMeow Games. Dive into the world of BDSM along with Li Ling and explore the pleasures that come from total domination~
Game Details
- Genre: Boys Love | BDSM | Romance
- Developer & Publisher: BlueBerry Lanmei She & maratan | PlayMeow Games
- Where to Get the Game: Steam
- Similar Games: Blood Domination | My Dangerous Life
Sub for You Synopsis
After an accident, Li Ling suffered from some physical damages. With the advice and help of his senior, Li Ling entered the hidden club of a high-end hotel–Hidden, where a public BDSM performance by ‘Emperor—Zhou Chun’ changed his life. Once reluctant about BDSM, Li Ling found himself struggling between his ego and desires.
Synopsis
Heads up! There is one image towards the end of this post with an uncensored peen, the text box covers it, but you can still see it.
Sub for You Review
I love trolling Steam for low budget visual novels with questionable translations. There’s just something about playing something you know is probably gonna be really bad, only to find it entertaining instead. And I hit the jackpot with Sub for You. This is the second BDSM BL game I have played this year and I did not know this was a thing…
Li Ling, a university teacher with erectile dysfunction is invited to participate in a BDSM club by his senpai to help “cure” his condition. At first, the sexually repressed Li Ling feels out of place at the club—that is until he see Dom Daddy, Zhou Chun perform a BDSM demonstration. Captivated by the handsome Dom and the seductive aspects of BDSM play, Li Ling finds himself wanting to give himself over to this new world of pleasure and domination.
Unfortunately for him, Zhou Chun isn’t taking on any new subs, especially inexperienced ones, and he rejects Li Ling. Wanting to entice Zhou Chun, Li Ling trolls the internet for someone to help pop his BDSM cherry and ends up worse for wear. In a twist of fate Zhou Chun offers to help Li Ling work through his trauma and takes him into his care. However, he warns Li Ling that he isn’t looking for love. This is strictly a relationship between a Master and a slave, and should Li Ling accept, Zhou Chun will fulfil all his sexual fantasies (and cure his ED).
So, the question most of y’all have; Does Sub for You offer a nuanced look at BDSM lifestyles? No. Not really. In fact, more often than not the writers fall back on existing icky stereotypes and tropes of the lifestyle that I really wish would go away. Like both, Li Ling and Zhou Chun seek out BDSM as a way to cope with past trauma and abuse. It’s especially rough when we learn Dom Daddy, Zhou Chun’s back story and it’s a little too close to Mr. Christian Grey’s for my liking. Which really undermines some of the good BDSM rep in the story.
Believe it or not there are a few instances in Sub for You where BDSM is explored in a meaningful way. Early on there is an emphasis put on how Dom/sub relationships are built on genuine trust, active communication of needs, and consent. Rather than folks just getting off on inflicting pain/receiving pain. Not to say that those types of unhealthy relationships aren’t depicted in the game, because they are. But, there is always a clear line between what is acceptable BDSM play and what’s just abuse.
This is especially noteworthy in Zhou Chun and Li Ling’s relationship, which from the start is presented as a healthy BDSM partnership. Zhou Chun is much more experienced in BDSM, whereas Li Ling is new to the lifestyle and fresh off of a traumatic situation with a bad Dom. He is in a vulnerable state that could easily be taken advantage of, but Zhou Chun is always mindful of Li Ling’s mental and physical well-being.
He gradually initiates Li Ling into his role as a sub, setting up boundaries to protect both of them from harm during their play. Which is especially important given Li Ling’s masochistic tendencies, that drive him to seek out more harmful behaviors.
At the start, Li Ling is down bad for Zhou Chun and seeks out BDSM as a way to both cure his trauma (read: ED) and seduce Zhou Chun. Sure, he’s intrigued by the lifestyle, but his early motivation for becoming a sub is solely to get close to Zhou Chun. Because of that, Zhou Chun is hesitant to fully integrate Li Ling into the lifestyle, preferring to gradually transition him into a more “vanilla” lifestyle after he overcomes his trauma.
There was effort to try and tell a decent story involving BDSM. Like the focus on how liberating Dom/sub relationships can be for someone. As Li Ling delves deeper into the world he comes to an understanding about himself and his sexuality, becoming a much stronger and confident person as a result. Being a sub is about empowerment for Li Ling and they do a really good job of exploring that growth throughout the story.
Sub for You is a game about BDSM, so there are actual depictions of BDSM play in the game. Characters get whipped and flogged, there are CGs depicting characters with whip marks on their bodies, Li Ling and other subs are called slaves often. Nothing is censored, the peens are on display, but so are the whippings. There’s a particular scene where Zhou Chun gives into his more sadistic tendencies during a session with Li Ling where he whips him well beyond his limits and it is rough. Not to mention the unavoidable rape scene (no Zhou Chun is not involved) that occurs at the start of the game. So, if this isn’t your cup of tea, maybe pass this up.
The English translation is awful. Awkward phrasing, stilted writing, and word choices that are laughably bad are the norm, not the exception. My personal favorite is how instead of moaning during the sex scenes, Li Ling will go “Woo…woo” like a train. Sub for You is readable, but this translation could have done with another read (or five).
The art is actually pretty okay considering the price tag, however the sprites don’t always fit the story. It’s clear a lot of the art assets may have come from different sources, especially the side characters. The scenes at the BDSM club hidden have all the characters in costume, and there’s one character in a barbarian outfit, another in what looks like a circus performer costume, another guy in a cat mask, and Zhou Chun in a military commander’s uniform. None of it matches anything and it’s distracting AF. But, the CGs are fine, so I’m guessing that’s where the bulk of the budget went.
Also, there is no voice acting, but there are sound effects for the sex scenes and the BDSM play scenes. So, you can hear the delightful sounds of fluids squelching and whips cracking… for immersion.
Let me be very clear, Sub for You is not a good game. Entertaining, sure, in a cringy, messy kind of way. But, good it is not. This is a game that could have done with way more polishing to iron out some of those kinks (no pun intended). But, for just over five bucks there are worst things you could throw your money at… I hesitate to fully recommend it, but if you have a little extra cash and are curious, why not pick this one up for the LOLZ.
