Crushed is an indie slice-of-life boys love visual novel developed by Hummingbird Games for Amare Game Festival 2023 and Black Visual Novel Jam. Corey’s winter break gets a lot more interesting when the love of his life, ahem, his newest crush moves to Thomastown. Can he convince the new kid to give him a chance or will he fumble at love once again?
Game Details
- Genre: Slice of Life | Boys Love | Romance
- Developer: Hummingbird Games
- Where to play the Game: itch.io
Crushed Review
Why aren’t there more black boys love games? Because after playing Hummingbird Games’s Crushed I realized that this is the only boys love game I have played where the cast is predominantly Black. As a Black gamer and boys love connoisseur, Crushed is something I didn’t know I needed in my life! Cute, awkward Black boys falling in love is something we need more of in this world… so folks, make it happen!
Crushed follows Corey, a book loving kinda quiet guy fresh off a really messy split with his (lowkey toxic) ex, Ariel. We’ve all been there, and to say Corey is a little worse for wear is an understatement. It’s especially hard to move on when his ex keeps blowing up his phone. So he isn’t really getting the space he needs to sort through his feelings and heal. Luckily for him he has a supportive friend group and the upcoming winter break to kind of chill and reset.
But, life has other plans for Corey. While slaving away at his Retail Hell bookstore gig, he runs into the light skinned man of his dreams, Jacob. Lots of awkward flirting and even more nerdy book debates later and Corey and Jacob seem to have a good vibe going. Corey is down bad for Jacob, but because he’s still dealing with the emotional fallout of his last relationship, he isn’t 100% ready to jump into a new situationship. And Jacob isn’t down for all Corey’s mixed signals… Will Corey get it together and give the budding relationship with Jacob a chance, or will he fumble the bag and strike out in love…again?
It’s cringy, it’s awkward, and it’s so, so real. Romance isn’t just about two (or more) people getting together and riding off into the sunset. It’s about doing all of that while handling your own shit too. From the baggage we carry with us from previous relationships. Our insecurities about ourselves. The awkwardness of making the first move (or the second). The confusion that comes with figuring out if the person you like actually likes you too, or if all the flirting is just all in your head… Sussing out the vibe and really getting to know your crush. Crushing on someone is a lot!
Crushed perfectly captures the complicated and downright messiness of falling in love in every awkward convo and every moment of self doubt Corey contends with during his pursuit of Jacob. But, the story doesn’t end there, it delves into Corey’s life, his anxieties, his relationships with his friends, family, and the everyday moments that make up his existence. There is an especially heartbreaking and raw scene where Corey shares what coming out at Bi was like for him and it hit hard. 😭
While it does deal with a lot of real emotions, there are a lot of fun, cute, and lighthearted moments too. Any scene with Jacob and Corey will hit you hard in the feels, from their adorkable book debates to the sheer chemistry between them. You just want those two dorks to just kiss already!! Then there are the hilarious text chats between Corey and his besties—the quips and jokes, the “real talk” tough love advice, and the merciless teasing that only true friends can get away with.
This is an intimate story that borrows from the people, places, and feelings we’ve all experienced. Crushed is a raw and genuine story, that while short feels authentic. These aren’t just characters, they’re people with very real feelings that we can all relate to, and that’s what makes this story so resonant. It comes from a very real place.
Crushed is a game with a lot of heart that isn’t afraid to celebrate the awkward, funny, and sweet aspects of falling in love while figuring yourself out. This game is a definite gem that deserves your attention… and can we please, pretty please get more Black boys love VNs out here. There are not nearly enough of them and Hummingbird Games is ahead of the curve!
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