 Additionally, through its characters, "VA-11 HALL-A" challenges traditional viewpoints on affection, relationships, and friendships in video games, writes Ana Valens of Den of Geek.As such, the game's cast "is open, honest, and affectionate towards one another", out of necessity in getting by and surviving in a dystopian world.Ortiz and Damas attempted to infuse political allegories and social commentary into the characters and their stories without overburdening or taking focus away from the main plotline.