Monster Prom throws players into a high school full of monsters. Your goal is to find a prom date within the next three weeks and to do so you’ll need to build up a relationship. If you’re not familiar, dating sims involve playing as a character as they try to navigate the world of relationships. What you say and do could lead to you romancing that special someone. Let’s look at some of the best games that feature dating and relationships prominently. Taking the crown in terms of most popular and most bizarre, Hatoful Boyfriend is the famous dating sim created by manga artist Hato Moa.
Changes such as discarding gender restrictions on clothing further cement The Sims’ reputation as one of the most inclusive games ever. Whether you’re looking for dates, messing around or even settling down to get married and start a family, you’re likely to cover all the facets of love. The Sims 4 also has updates and mods that include blind-dates, dating apps, as well as more public ‘Woohooing’ spots for the more exhibitionist among you. Florence presents a beautiful yet simple story about love through some easy-to-understand mechanics that evoke all of the ups and downs that come with any serious relationship. With engaging mechanics, an interesting story, and memorable characters, it’s no wonder why the Sakura Wars series is still around to this day.
A now popular game where you and other characters in the game fight at different places until one of you K…. Your male protagonist is restricted to heterosexual choices but there’s still a wide variety of potential romances. Appears to be a typical run-of-the-mill dating sim with an anime aesthetic, but as the game goes along, it’s clear that things aren’t quite as they seem.
As a senior, you get to choose a companion creature like a dog, cat, or robot and are on the prowl for other veteran lovers—date and flirt in this LGBTQ+ friendly title. Your choices determine what happens as you decide who to romance at this school. It’s time to start a courtship of epic proportions as you play as a Kaiju emerging in the world in search of love.
Ever wanted to know what the cross between a tycoon simulator and a dating sim would be like? Your family business has been stolen but you can reclaim it by forming strong partnerships with a wide collection of executives. Explore the life of a teenager as you work to balance your love life with your social life. You’ll meet several characters as you make it through the game’s eight episodes. While not simply a dating sim, this farming and life sim does allow you to develop a relationship with an NPC from your local village.
If you feel that you have the skills to win anyone’s heart, why not put your skills to the test with some free dating sim games? That way you can practice your smooth moves while offline. The three ‘daddy’ characters you can seduce all have extensive backstories, and there’s even an entire mythos surrounding Meatorion, the god of Meat Log Mountain river. This game is actually the first in a series, which is fortunate for anyone who wants to explore the area beyond the confines of the local clinic.
In this unique spin on the dating sim genre, players will arrive at the town of Rainbow Bay, where they’ll adopt a dog to care for and mingle with other fellow pet owners. Ebon Light takes a western spin on otomes, providing players with a fleshed-out fantasy world of elves and magic. The player can plan out their character’s personality and appearance, paying careful attention to stats and the game-changing decisions that can be made. Doki Doki Literature Club has a great storyline and interesting characters, but the best thing about it are the unexpected twists. This game will turn surprisingly dark when you least expect it, hence the reason it starts with the warning that it’s not suitable for “children and those who are easily disturbed”.
If you’re ready for a feels-trip with cats on a deserted island, Purrfect Date is purrfect for you. It’s been marketed as a mating simulator, but the real story goes deeper than that. Boasting a clever plot and silly chara-cat-chers, this game is a new must-play. Gratuitous action with 2D women is a controversial niche in dating sims.
Also known as “villainess isekai,” in these stories, girls are reincarnated into an otome game, often not as the intended protagonist but rather, a villain or side character. University is the beginning of an independent life for every person. This is where all serious romantic relationships begin, and only you can decide which one is your true love. But you can also just enjoy the young life, as you are suggested to do in Campus game. A new war is brewing and it looks as if Mara could be the means of peace.
Florence is a short-but-sweet game that focuses on the eponymous young woman. She’s growing tired of her routine life and wishing for something more. Eventually, she meets a man named Krish IndiaMatch who changes her outlook on life. Where Nekojishi has you dating buff anthropomorphic cat spirits, Purrfect Date lets you take your best shot at wooing an island inhabited by actual cats.
Through this concept, the creators were able to insure their cast would be flawed but redeemable, changing greatly by the end of the game. Truth be told, Jurassic Heart’s story is very short and only has a few endings. Nonetheless, its beautiful atmosphere and heartwarming story make it impossible to ignore. It’s just the right mix of silly, strange, and serious; all the required ingredients for one of the best dating sims. Again, there is substantial historical precedence that there is the potential that these games will become our reality in the future. I gave Star Crossed Myth a try — a highly recommended Voltage game.
If you’d rather orchestrate romance between other people than participate in it yourself, then The Sims is a great option for you. The Sims 4 has tons of expansion packs that add more content, too. The above titles make dating the primary focus of the game.
