Dress To Impress - What Makes This Game So Addicting?
Written by: Feyola Anamori

The viral Roblox game, Dress to Impress (DTI), is taking over the internet by storm, capturing the attention of many. With collaborations from dominating artists such as Charli XCX, this game can be considered a resounding success, incorporating the world of fashion and style into a dress-up game that universally appeals to a broad range of audiences. Here we unpack its hype: What is Dress to Impress? And why is everyone so obsessed? 

 

If you haven't heard, Dress to Impress is a game developed by a teenage Roblox user who goes by the name Gigi. The concept is simple: Players are given a theme every round of the game, which varies uniquely from Hot Mess to Popstar, allowing them to exercise their creativity in a trendy fashion light. They are given a timer to choose their outfits, hair, makeup, and nails on a Bratz-styled avatar and display their final looks on a runway where other players can rate them based on stars. One of the main appeals to this game is that the accessory choices for the avatars are stylish outfits that teenage girls often see in their Pinterest feeds. Incorporating their dream wardrobe into a dress-up game with ideal body avatars creates an element of imagination and allows these players to live in a (quote) dream fashion world (quote).

 

DTI is often associated with Gen Alpha iPad kids or 13-year-old Sephora tweens. However, the game's worldwide recognition seems to prove otherwise. According to players of age, DTI doesn't feel like a game made for children, despite Roblox's reputation as a children's game. Streamers with millions of followers, such as Madison Beer and Kai Cenat have shared footage of playing the game, while other well-known figures have taken up the game in real life and created songs about it.  

 

Moreover, there has been controversy due to the creator and developer of the game being as young as 17 and 14 years old. Although some may find it a form of child labor, the public has expressed their praise towards these creators for accomplishing one of the most successful games despite their young age and academic responsibilities. 

 

As time progresses, the public and Gigi hope that DTI can serve as a reminder for young players' childhood in a fashionable way, as well as contribute a larger impact to the fashion industry by potentially creating future fashion designers. And we must not forget entertainment without regard to gender or age.