The dating sim genre is full of games ranging from comedic to dramatic and relatively realistic to strange and outlandish. This wide variety of options has helped make the genre a very popular one in the world of gaming, and with different takes on the genre come new relationships to explore and new matchmaking techniques to experience.
While any game under the dating sim umbrella shares core mechanics like meaningful decision making, these games can still be quite diverse, with some blending genres, making them more accessible to those more familiar with other kinds of games. Regardless of a players’ experience level with dating sims, these games are some of the most diverse and interesting offerings in the genre.
That said, though niche, dating sims never quite seem to go out of style. Perhaps it’s due to the constant torrent of new releases, or perhaps it’s thanks to innovative developers continually pushing the genre to new heights. Whatever the reason, there’s guaranteed to be a dating sim out there suited for every player.
Love Language Japanese (2019)
A unique and unusual game in the dating sim genre, Love Language Japanese has players romancing women at a university while also simultaneously learning Japanese. Using visual novel elements, minigames, and built-in lessons, this game aims to teach players how to read and speak Japanese.
This game is definitely on the bawdier end of the dating sim spectrum, but those looking for a visual novel gaming experience that will teach them something in the process will find this game intriguing. Also, the game is designed for beginners totally unfamiliar with the language, so prerequisite knowledge isn’t required.
Speed Dating For Ghosts (2018)
A title that takes a decidedly out-of-left-field approach to the dating sim genre, Speed Dating for Ghosts sees a dearly departed protagonist meet with thirteen ghosts in an attempt to find someone with whom to spend eternity. It’s quirky, comedic, and it’s over pretty quickly, but the title is a great time for those who love a bit of dark humor mixed in with their dating.
From a ghost who really, really wants to rob a bank to a spirit with a severe fear of ghosts, Speed Dating for Ghosts is a humorous and at times touching tale on which fans of the genre should not miss out.
Max Gentlemen Sexy Business! (2020)
Fans of tycoon games and Victorian aesthetics will want to check out Max Gentlemen Sexy Business!, an adult-oriented dating sim that sees players simultaneously running a business and competing for the affection of any of a dozen Victorian ladies and gentlemen. Players can customize their characters and run their businesses however they choose.
Romantic and professional relationships go hand in hand here, making every decision on both the tycoon and dating sim ends of the game vital. The game is also notable for its adult content options, which allow players to choose what content they are comfortable seeing and interacting with.
Helltaker (2020)
Helltaker may not be a traditional dating simulator, but its ravenous fanbase seems to take a lot of pleasure in attempting to romance the game’s hellspawn. The game sees a man embark on a quest to assemble a harem of demon women, and, as silly as it sounds, the demons he meets are all uniquely wonderful despite their statuses as rulers of the underworld.
It may be more of a puzzle game than a dating sim, but the thrill of Helltaker comes more from meeting the denizens of the eternal plains of torment than from navigating its labyrinths.
Raptor Boyfriend: A High School Romance (2021)
The teenage Stella is desperate to ingratiate herself into the social tapestry of her new high school, but there’s a problem; she’s moved into a secretive community of cryptids, and she’s got to romance one of three unique zoological anomalies.
Players can choose to charm either a female fairy named Day, a Sasquatch named Taylor, or a velociraptor named Robert. It’s certainly not the typical high school romance set up, but its one-of-a-kind premise, mixed with its striking comic book aesthetic, make it stand out in a relatively crowded gaming genre.
Negligee (2016)
When an easily-flustered woman named Hannah takes on a management position at a lingerie store, she must learn to thrive in her new role. Desperate for help, she takes on three college-age girls and must choose which of the three to take on full-time.
While explicit content is definitely a part of Negligee, there are all-ages versions of the title available for those who prefer to experience a more grounded love story.
Arcade Spirits (2019)
Video game history fans will love the intriguing premise of Arcade Spirits; the video game crash in 1983 didn’t happen, and arcades are more popular than ever in the year 20XX. Players take on the role of an employee at a futuristic arcade and have the opportunity to romance its diverse array of customers and employees.
Much of the game is customizable, as well, including conversation choices and the main characters’ appearance and personalities. Players have the option to romance both men and women, and they will also make choices that determine both their romantic future and the future of the arcade itself.
Hatoful Boyfriend (2014)
A game famous for its strange premise, Hatoful Boyfriend is a dating sim that sees players romancing talking birds as the only human at an elite avian school. The game plays mostly like a visual novel, with players following the twisting story and making decisions that will affect which bird they end up with.
As with many other visual novels, Hatoful Boyfriend’s multiple paths and endings will slowly unveil a more complete story when all of them are completed. Although the game’s premise is very humorous, there are also mystery elements to the game, including an alternate murder mystery story involving the protagonist of the main story’s death.
I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator (2019)
Though it may come across as an ill-conceived marketing stunt, I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator is actually a hilarious and well-thought-out take on the genre. From talking dogs to anthropomorphized kitchenware to the eponymous Colonel himself, there’s never a dull moment in this KFC-endorsed romance saga.
While dating is quite literally the name of the game, I Love You, Colonel Sanders places a major emphasis on comedy. The developers clearly knew how silly their project was, and the title riffs on everything from common dating sim tropes the complexities of JRPG combat.
LongStory (2017)
The world of dating sims has started to include more and more LGBTQ+ content over the years, and LongStory is a major player in this new wave. In this game, which is geared towards a younger audience, players step into the shoes of a new student at middle school, playing as the gender of their choice and dating whomever they would like.
This middle school, however, is full of drama and intrigue, as players will have to unravel mysteries and navigate through many friends and enemies there. There are many choices for players to make, including the option not to have any romance, allowing players to truly carve their own path.
Mystic Messenger (2016)
The mobile game Mystic Messenger is an immersive experience, casting players in the role of a character who has downloaded a mysterious app called Mystic Messenger through which they receive strange messages. As it turns out, the mysterious app connects the player to a group of men whom the player can romance as they solve the app’s mysteries.
With a variety of paths and endings available, players have plenty of choices to make along the course of each playthrough. Adding to the immersion, the game operates in real-time, with conversations only becoming available after a certain amount of time has passed in the real world.
HuniePop (2015)
Released in 2015 following a successful Kickstarter campaign, HuniePop sees a down-on-his-or-her-luck protagonist embark on a dating journey with the help of a love fairy named Kyu. Featuring a diverse cast of romanceable women, HuniePop combines the romantic elements of most dating sims with the stratic intrigue of a match-four puzzle game.
Though it’s perhaps best known for its adult-oriented scenes, HuniePop is far more robust than the many dime-a-dozen adults-only games found on Steam. The game rewards players who take the time to listen to the dialogue and remember things about their dates, and, on the whole, it’s much more engaging than most games that follow the often passive dating sim formula.
Purrfect Date (2017)
In this unusual comedic dating sim, players take on the role of researchers on Cat Island, where they must unfold the mysteries of the island and its feline denizens. In order to do this, however, they will have to date these cats as they themselves are slowly transformed into a cat by mysterious forces.
Purrfect Date is notable for its incredibly dark sense of humor as well as its cast of unusual romanceable cat characters. The hand-drawn art also introduces a lot of personality to this mysterious, funny visual novel/dating sim that will even surprise fans of the genre.
Sakura Wars (2019)
There are many games that combine dating sim gameplay with RPG elements, including high-profile series like Persona and Sakura Wars. In 2019, this latest entry in the series, a reboot of sorts simply entitled Sakura Wars, was released, placing players in control of Seijuro Kamiyama, a demon-fighting soldier.
The game combines fast-paced action RPG combat with slower-paced relationship-building segments similar to other dating sims. This entry is a great place for new players to jump into the series, and action RPG fans looking to get into dating sims will find the best of both worlds here too.
Doki Doki Literature Club! (2017)
For the uninitiated, Doki Doki Literature Club is a psychological horror experience masquerading as a cutesy dating sim. Yet, though it takes some seriously sinister twists later on, the first half of the game succeeds in presenting the player with all the best tropes associated with the dating sim genre.
Joining the titular club and getting to know Yuri, Monica, Natsuki, Monika, Sayori, Monika, and especially Monika can be great fun provided players are prepared for the shocking turns the game eventually takes.
Boyfriend Dungeon (2021)
Rather than embark on a traditional diner-and-movie date, the protagonist of 2021’s Boyfriend Dungeon must get to know her potential love interests by scouring monster-infested dungeons with them. What’s more, her suitors all have the ability to transform into weapons that reflect their personalities.
Players must weigh personal preferences against combat performance to discover the date whose truly right for them, and it makes for an undeniably unique experience. While the actual dungeon-crawling gameplay becomes a bit repetitive—a fault encountered by most action roguelikes—the premise and presentation along make Boyfriend Dungeon worth checking out.
Florence (2018)
A 2018 mobile title that was eventually ported to the Nintendo Switch and made available on Steam, Florence is a visual novel of sorts that depicts the work-a-day life of the eponymous twenty-something who eventually meets and enters into a relationship with a handsome cellist.
While Florence primarily chronicles the ups and downs of most long-term relationships, it’s best remembered for its authentic depiction of desk job life. Artistic and moving, it’s not quite a dating sim in the traditional sense, but it’s well worth experiencing nonetheless.
Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator (2017)
An oft-discussed dating sim notable for its affiliation with the YouTube comedy duo Game Grumps, Dream Daddy has players stepping into the shoes of a single dad who has just moved to a new neighborhood with his daughter. This neighborhood has several other single dads for the player to talk to and, hopefully, date.
Throughout the game, players will encounter many social situations and problems that will require them to make decisions or play minigames. Players can customize their dad to their liking, and the game’s many romantic options provide a lot of variety and replayability for those looking to romance every dad the game has to offer.
Harvest Moon (1997)
Released in 1997, the original Harvest Moon was an innovative and unabashedly adorable life sim that was far ahead of its time. Rather than quest through dungeons or platform to save princesses, Harvest Moon players slowly work to restore an old farm and struggle to turn a profit in a fairly grounded video game take on rural living.
Though it’s not necessarily the main focus of the game, courting romantic partners is a pretty important aspect of Harvest Moon. To do this, players must present eligible bachelorettes with gifts and visit them frequently in order to foster an affinity. It certainly isn’t the deepest mechanic, but it’s charming all the same.
Monster Prom (2018)
Taking place at a high school for monsters, Monster Prom tasks players with trying to get a date for the title event within a short timeframe of just three weeks. This relaxing game not only has humor, heart, and cool monsters but it also is filled with mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs such as a variety of items and hundreds of possible events.
One of the most unique features of the game is a multiplayer mode, allowing up to four players to compete against each other to find a prom date while helping and hindering each other along the way. The game also has DLC and two sequels, meaning this monstrous universe has plenty of content to explore.
