The online fashion video game “Dress to Impress” is captivating teenagers and young adults, and students are vying for the coveted “Top Model” title. Notably, half of those grappling for this sought-after achievement are over 18, according to the New York Times, deviating from the typical Roblox-reported framework where 40% of players are under 12.

Freshman Maria Herrera Garcia, a dedicated ‘VIP’ player, considers playing the game at least once a week “nonnegotiable,” despite her busy schedule. 

“It’s been a recurring theme– me and my sisters have been really obsessed with fashion, and making outfits, just anything with a creative input,” the ‘VIP’ player says. “And I only play “Dress to Impress”. I think that I stopped playing other Roblox games at around 12. But [I notice that] there are people of many age ranges playing Dress to Impress, adults, little kids, just a wide variety.”

Produced by a loose association of young developers, the objective of the game is simple: to create an outfit, which includes hair, makeup, and accessories, that relates to a given theme in just 5 minutes. To garner the illustrious title of Top Model, players must climb ranks by winning catwalks.

However, “Dress to Impress” possesses several distinct features from Roblox’s other offerings. “Express your style, meet new friends, and embark on a stylish journey,” the game’s homepage reads. In keeping with this mission, it offers in-depth avatar customization, providing a platform for teens to express their evolving personal style with access to a vast digital closet. “Dress to Impress” also captures the zeitgeist by centering themes around popular celebrities and influencers.  This draws in a large proportion of teens interested in fashion trends and pop culture. Judging mimics social media validation, as players rate and comment on each other’s outfits through a dedicated chat, fostering community engagement and a dose of healthy competition. 

“Dress to Impress” has even received the influencer stamp of approval. James Charles, a YouTube creator with over 23 million subscribers, has dedicated multiple videos to the platform. Charli XCX, British singer and mother of “brat” summer, collaborated with the game in August to release brat-themed outfits, which was met with a record spike of 651,000 active players. 

“When famous people do something, it influences their viewers to do the same,” freshman Laird Galvin, who recently played her debut round of  “Dress to Impress”, said.

While an epicenter of the elite, the game shines in its accessibility. Students appreciate that though experience-enhancing subscriptions are offered, “Dress to Impress” offers a free outlet for their creativity. 

“I haven’t [even] spent any money on it … I’m interested in fashion and it’s fun,” senior Eva Tosca said.