The story was really creative and Kara was the most unusual and unique dating character I have ever met in a visual novel. My partner and I played this game together and really thought it was very cute game that really showcase the awkwardness of meeting someone new and also liking them. Love how we really got to Kara before anything happens between them. ValiDate is a romantic visual novel about 13 adults in Jercy City navigating new relationships and the harsh realities that come alongside them.
In this day and age, you’d expect the tedious process to have become easier with tech, but that hasn’t happened. Only those willing to pay big bucks for tax services tend to have an easy time during return season, but one visual novel has gone viral for attempting to break the status quo. Explore multiple locations, both spooky and serene, on this island paradise at the edge of eternity. Romance different characters with each playthrough to visit new, exciting areas as you enjoy cameos from a few familiar faces along the way. Superb visuals and animations only add to the impressive otome game that is BUSTAFELLOWS. The story revolves around a seemingly normal high school girl that struggles with the simple yet universal problem of loneliness.
With the variety that these games offer, there’s a dating sim out there for anybody and everybody. This genre doesn’t discriminate by gender or sexuality; it’s vast and all-encompassing. You can fully customize your character at the start of the game and then meet a ton of interesting people and dating prospects that the Funplex arcade, including cosplayers, gamers, and more colorful types.
NEKOPARA is a visually impressive otome game with four romance options that bring enough good looks to the table to make anyone purr. Try your hand in this cat café dating simulation where the servers look as tasty as the food. SteamDeveloperNEKO WORKsLength1 hour to beatRelease DateJuly 15, 2021Multiplayer?
This isn’t to say thatNameless is free of all the dark twistiness that is almost a staple at this point of visual novels. Nothing quite tugs the feels like horrible psychological trauma sometimes, andNameless knows how to dish in spades. Be aware that this vietnamсupid is paced a lot slower (as is most Korean story-telling in my experience) than the usual western or Japanese counterparts. With sharp writing and a great mix of low-brow and high-brow humor, this is easily one of the funniest dating sim games on Steam.
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Unravel these mysteries and find out what makes each character tick as you flirt, banter, and woo your way into their hearts in this darkly comedic adventure. These Killers are passionate and powerful in equal measure, and this seductive dream can become a nightmare quicker than you think. Check out our upcoming indie games guide for a look at all the other, slightly more normal, indie games set to launch in the coming weeks and months. I’m a freelance journalist who (surprise!) kind of has a thing for videogames.
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Depending on the route, the protagonist also gets amnesia in different ways. The Castlevania games got an anime adaptation and popular anime like Dragon Ball Z have gotten tons of video games. In the niche gaming world of dating sims, anime adaptations also exist.
The game is set in a fantasy world during the dark ages, and you start off at the base of Mount Needle. The main character is named Rosemary, a farm girl who aspires to be a knight. Conveniently, four gorgeous princes are looking for a knight escort to aid them in the perilous journey of traversing the mountain pass. Like any otome game, Hatoful Boyfriend gives you different love interests or routes to further the story. You can also level your character up by attending different classes, which will raise your stats that will dictate which kind of feathery suitor you’ll attract. Featuring six main romance options, Reimei no Gakuen revolves around these teens blessed with certain powers but are also cursed with random negative occurrences related to their power.
It’s just the right mix of silly, strange, and serious; all the required ingredients for one of the best dating sims. BUSTAFELLOWS is a refreshing twist to the otome genre with how it handles mysteries and puzzles while utilizing the main character’s power. You are given five romance options, and each one gives birth to its own rich storyline filled with suspense and romance.
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Unfortunately, the game got a lot of trolling backlash from giving players this option. This may not be too surprising though, as wargaming and military science fiction isn’t typically the site for progressive LGBTQIA+ inclusion. While the game has favorable reviews on Steam, it does have some issues such as repetitive quests, clunky controls, and glitches. Many players have mentioned wanting more depth in the story, but still overall recommending it to others. It is especially satisfying to interact with all the animals, a trait many gamers wish every game had. Since 2016, The Sims has given the players the freedom to make characters outside of the gender binary.
Along the way, you’ll have some mini-games to play as well and similar to other games within the genre plenty of conversations will be had with various characters. While this is a wacky game on the list, you won’t have to pay a cent for this dating sim experience as it’s completely free on Steam. Another visual novel you might find of interest is Everlasting Summer.
NoRose of Winter is a medieval visual novel adventure that any otome fan can enjoy. Published and developed by Pillow Fight, it was released in October 2016. The required specs for the game are at least a Windows 7 OS, 2 GB of RAM, 500 MB of storage, at least an Intel 3000HD graphics card, and a 2.0 GHz processor. SteamDeveloperDicesukiLength8 hours to beatRelease DateDecember 22, 2020Multiplayer? NoCinderella Phenomenon is a not-so-average fairy-tale otome visual novel game.
The game offers surprising depth, replay value , and genuinely great storytelling and characters. Reviewers are not joking when they say Hatoful Boyfriend made them laugh, cry, and blew their bird brains. “Might,” because you are not actually sure, and that is part of the mystery. One school day, on a bus ride back from the “Alpaca Kingdom,” your character falls asleep next to your girlfriend Yukari and then wakes up next to a white alpaca who speaks exactly like Yukari. The rest of the game (more of a visual novel than a “dating sim,” since your only romantic option is an alpaca) is all about coming to terms with your llama-shaped girlfriend. Unfortunately, the English language localization of the dialogue is rather poor.