Dating simulators are often looked down upon in the gaming community. People are quick to write them off as shallow or uninspired. But that is only because they rarely take the time to look past the surface. And if they did they would find a wealth of amazing stories driven by player choices. With casts of unique characters and engaging narratives that force players to consider every move carefully.
Dating sims have quickly become my go-to comfort genre. Whenever I want to spend my time playing something relaxing that still offers a degree of challenge. Over the years I have played hundreds of dating sims. Some are less than stellar. While others are amongst some of the greatest games ever made. And today I am going to share with you the best of the best when it comes to dating sims.
Hatoful Boyfriend
Perhaps the most infamous dating sim on the gaming market. Hatoful Boyfriend is a dating sim where every character, except for the protagonist, is a sentient bird. Yes you read that right. It is a bird dating sim. The game has overtly comedic overtones. Often poking fun at a lot of the tropes found in dating sims and romantic anime. But hidden beneath the surface is a stellar game with some of the best writing you’ll ever see.
The game gives you a choice whether you want the characters to be represented in human form or in their bird form. And I highly recommend playing in the bird form mode for the most authentic experience. The gameplay is no different from the standard dating sim. Dialogue choices impact your relationship with the characters. And as you learn more about the cast you will have to navigate their likes and dislikes to win their favour.
AI2U: With You ‘Til The End
This title is still in early access on Steam but it has quickly become one of my favourite dating sims. The game is framed as an escape room dating sim. You are tasked with escaping the room of your girlfriend. The twist is that the girlfriend in question is powered by AI. With one goal in mind. To keep you in their room.
And this isn’t like the old gaming AI of the past. With the wealth of technology available to us, this real AI girlfriend will learn and change depending on your inputs and actions. Allowing you to form a genuine connection with them. And this is a pivotal part in planning your escape. You need to pull out all your dating sim skills to beat this puzzle.
The game already features a number of unique locations with a variety of AI girlfriends to choose from. And we are expecting plenty more to be added in the months to come. With AI technology improving every year we are expecting plenty more games of this like to be appearing on the Steam store in the near future.
Boyfriend Dungeon
I am a huge fan of dungeon crawlers like Hades. And I adore a novelty dating simulator that asks me to romance something other than people. Boyfriend Dungeon combines both of these worlds to offer something truly unique. Most dating sims are done in the visual novel style. But Boyfriend Dungeon has some real gameplay meat on its bones.
The primary game loop is a standard dungeon crawler. You explore, fight enemies, gather loot. But in the sections between the dungeons you will have to go on dates with your weapons. Because in this world the people have the ability to transform into weapons.
In most action games you have to upgrade your weapons by finding resources to improve them. In this game you have to woo them romantically to increase their strength. It makes for a compelling gameplay loop. Do you romance the person you actually like? Or do you romance the one whose weapon is your favourite playstyle. I cannot recommend Boyfriend Dungeon enough.
Stardew Valley
You will have undoubtedly heard about Stardew Valley. It is one of the most popular simulators on the market. But you might be confused as to why it is on this list. Isn’t the game about running a farm? You’re right. It is. But everyone knows that the only real reason to play Stardew Valley is for the dating sim elements.
Stardew Valley has 12 different NPCs you can eventually marry. But you have to go through the arduous process of wooing them first. Each NPC has their own likes and dislikes. Different habits and personalities. And you have to work hard to figure out what is going to win them over. The complexity of the Stardew Valley makes this an ideal dating sim for anyone looking for a huge gaming project.
