Roblox, the renowned children’s video game infamous for its reputation as a breeding ground for online daters and die hard gamers who never quite outgrew their love for fake block worlds, has had its ups and downs over the past few years. The relevancy of this block game has risen, then fallen, then risen, then stabilized. Despite its fluctuating levels of popularity, it’s still an iconic symbol within both the video game industry and many people’s childhoods.
Along with its cycle of fluctuating influence however, there remains a constant driving factor: one really popular game that gains traction on TikTok only for people to overplay it until they’re bored of Roblox altogether.
This cycle’s latest fad is the game Dress to Impress, a fashion game where you quite literally dress to impress, created by the Roblox user known as Gigi.
Like many Roblox games before it, Dress to Impress found its real rise to fame through TikTok. Videos of users sharing their best (and worst) outfits quickly went viral, bringing a new wave of players excited to join in on the fun.
However, with this surge in popularity comes the inevitable backlash. As more and more players jump on the bandwagon, some are starting to feel like the game has become overexposed. In typical Roblox fashion, the initial charm can wear off as players saturate social media with their videos, and it quickly goes from a beloved activity to just another overhyped fad.
Despite its appeal, Dress to Impress has garnered some complaints about the costs associated with looking good in the game. Like many free to play games on Roblox, Dress to Impress features purchasable items that enhance avatars’ appearances and give paying players an undeniable edge, aka a VIP game pass.
For some players, the cost of VIP clothing and accessories creates a barrier, making it tough to stay competitive without spending Robux (Roblox’s in-game currency).
“I love Dress to Impress—I can try out different looks and play with friends. But it’s annoying that everything seems ‘pay to win’ these days. I’m broke, so I can’t buy half the cool stuff other players have,” said Justin Tiglao (12).
This sentiment is pretty common among the Dress to Impress community, as many players feel the pressure to invest money in order to secure their place on a leaderboard.
Still, Dress to Impress is currently relishing its moment in the spotlight. Although, some wonder how long it can keep players’ attention. Games like Royale High and Adopt Me! have been able to build loyal communities with regular updates and new features, but even with their long standing reputations as iconic features of the Roblox community, their hype has died down for the most part. So, what makes Dress to Impress any different from the rest of these Roblox games?
“At first, Dress to Impress was amazing—it felt fresh, and I got hooked. But now it feels overhyped. I think they’re trying too hard to be like Royale High. They’re losing that unique spark they had at the start,” said Kathleen Chang (10).
The potential for Dress to Impress to sustain its popularity is dependent on how well the game can evolve with its audience’s demands. As Roblox games have shown, ongoing success often depends on the developers’ ability to innovate and keep the community engaged with new content—but even such innovations can’t keep players’ attention for long.
Still, many students are just excited to play the game while it’s still enjoyable.
“I play it with friends, and it’s honestly just a fun pastime. There’s nothing in particular that stands out, but I think that’s part of its charm. It’s easy and fun,” said Chloe Utterback (10).
Really, there’s no outstanding or exorbitantly unique factor to Dress to Impress. It’s a Roblox game that gained popularity on a social media platform, go figure. But still, many have found enjoyment in the formulaic and almost familiar format of the game. It’s not a revolutionary step in the Roblox fashion industry by any means, but it’s a fun game. Simple as that.
Whether or not the hype around it lasts, the game’s casual, accessible charm is its greatest asset, allowing players to enjoy it without taking it too seriously. Dress to Impress has carved out its place, if only for now. It doesn’t matter if it becomes a “Roblox classic” or fades like many games before it, its impact on the platform—and on players’ wardrobes—won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
