The Secret Life of Dorian Pink is a AU RPG of Oscar Wilde’s best-selling novel
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is a contentious novel even among LGBTQ+ readers, but its impact is legendary, with the story being retold in various ways and mediums as the years have gone by. Instead of a film or TV series however, The Secret Life of Dorian Pink brings the gothic novel into the world of video games.
Set in an alternative universe of the Picture of Dorian Gray, players take on the role of the titular character Dorian. Dorian has swapped his Gray for Pink this time around, with his more unsavoury side locked in the depths of hell. This Dorian lives a happy life, elderly and hopelessly in love with his boyfriend, Basil Hallward.
Unfortunately for Dorian however, his old friend the Devil isn’t through with him. Just as Dorian prepares to propose to Basil, the Devil appears and kidnaps him in order to spit-roast him (oh, behave) over an open fire for Feastival.
With his boyfriend’s disappearance at the hands of the Devil, Dorian has no other choice but to, once more, go Gray.
Described by developer and publisher amberlimshin as a “choices-matter narrative RPG”, The Secret Life of Dorian Pink will have players making questionable choices, recruiting allies, making doughnuts explode, and even cutting the hair off a man’s chest. Sounds plenty homoerotic to me.
These allies appear to be familiar icons, as well. Players will encounter the likes Sybil Vane, Lord Henry Wotton, and even the Duchess of Monmouth. But much like the Dorian we’ve come to know as readers, these versions are just a tad different.
The Secret Life of Dorian Pink is available now to play on PC for the best price: absolutely free.