BEIJING: An orphan, trained as a cold-hearted assassin, learns what love truly means from a master thief. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, however, she kills her lover, granting him freedom as her final gift.
Joyce, from Shenzhen in southern China, played this female killer in a script-killing game, and after a 10-hour plot unfolding, tears streamed down her face upon reaching this ending.
She is one of many participating in the recently booming romantic script-killing games in China.
In traditional script-killing games, a type of role-playing game, six to 10 players sit around a table, each taking on a different role to solve a murder mystery.
In the romantic version, a female player is paired with a male host who plays her lover, acting out their romantic relationship as scripted. Other players engage in side plots that range from murder mysteries to family dramas and power struggles.
The male host’s role is clearly defined, such as childhood sweethearts, but the most popular scenario involves a late husband still protecting his wife as a ghost. The common thread in these stories is that “they only love you” and stand by you unconditionally.
The interaction between the player and her exclusive host includes acting out the script, cocktail-making and a one-on-one session known as the “small black room.”
Joyce mentioned in an interview that in the small black room, her “master thief” performs magic tricks, sings, and plays the guitar for her.
Other players have shared on RedNote that some hosts, with permission, may hold hands with the female players, lift them in a princess carry, or even give them a peck on the cheek.
Most players are women, who view the game as a brief escape from reality and a form of psychological healing.
Joyce expressed: “So many things in real life are disappointing, such as a bossy leader or difficult relationships. But in the game, you can experience the entire arc of a romantic relationship, and you are always at the centre of it. This experience has given me a lot of comfort.”
Sociologists suggest that many Chinese women also see these role-playing games as a safe and low-risk way to “rehearse romance.”
Paul Wong, an associate professor in clinical psychology at the University of Hong Kong, told SCMP: “Young people have become accustomed to quickly fulfilling their needs through shopping platforms like Taobao and Pinduoduo. This also influences their expectations of romantic relationships.”
Taobao is operated by Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post.
“These role-playing games provide instant gratification, and players know that once the game ends, so does the relationship. This way, they don’t have to worry about heartbreak or the risks associated with real-life relationships,” Wong added.
The price of these games typically ranges from 300 to 1,000 yuan (US$45 to US$140). Higher-priced options often feature more elaborate interactions, including detailed costumes, props, meals, and additional interactions.
Some female players provide subsidies to help others organise a game. Others even send gifts to their male hosts, often home-made love tokens related to their characters.
On mainland social media, some players mentioned that they have ordered takeaway for the host, sent birthday gifts, and even given gold jewellery.
A player known online as Xueying stated that last year, she played the same script over 100 times just for her favourite male host. She also bought him gifts, treated him to meals, and spent more than 150,000 yuan (US$22,000) on him.
In a sluggish job market and a high-pressure work environment, the younger generation is turning to paid emotional companionship services.
Wong explained: “People now seek quick emotional returns, viewing intimate relationships through a monetary lens. In this era of instant services, such as drive-in options and food delivery, both objects and relationships are treated as disposable, easily replaced rather than repaired.”
He raised concerns about the commercialisation of love, warning that it could erode its depth and permanence, normalising short-term, low-commitment bonds.
“One day, if you become poor, you can’t afford anything – not even love. Love should be a natural thing,” Wong remarked.
Meanwhile, in some cases, players of romantic script-killing games project their emotions onto the hosts and end up feeling hurt.
Several mainland media outlets have reported incidents where female players fell in love with hosts, only to experience betrayal or scams.
In China, some individuals struggle to find a partner, while others choose singlehood for personal development. Official data reveals that nearly 20 per cent of China’s population lived in single-person households in 2024, while both marriage and birth rates continue to decline.
Wong explained these trends by noting that, alongside paid companionship services, AI chatbots and pets are increasingly replacing traditional emotional bonds.
He also highlighted that, with divorce and break-up stories becoming more prevalent in the media, many people, observing their parents’ relationships, may see marriage as uncertain, leading to lasting unions becoming increasingly rare.
Wong urged society to provide healthier models of love and marriage, giving young people a clearer understanding of love, conflict, commitment, and resolution. - South China Morning Post
