Summary
Dating simulators are a unique genre of gaming, in that they allow players to enter the realms of romance, which is quite tricky to explore in gaming, and therefore, it isn’t often attempted. However, some brave developers have tried their hand at creating beautiful romances, letting players take control of a character’s dating life.
An even more niche genre is that of the horror dating sim. While most dating games involve happier themes and a gentler experience, there are a few that pull the rug out from under players, putting them in a world that is much more terrifying than could be imagined initially. Some use it for comedic purposes, others for aesthetics, and some aim to just terrify players, but theromance horror genre is definitely growing.
A hilarious twist on modern dating shows,Find Love Or Die Tryingisa free visual novelthat sets players on an island with seven days to find love. If they end up single at the end, they die. It’s a simple premise, but it makes for a hugely amusing game, mixing the threatening horror elements and potential psychopaths at every corner with the more traditionally romantic visual novel.
With a hilarious artistic style that perfectly encapsulates the danger and horror of the reality the player is stuck in, while also having an air of romance about it. There are various girls to meet and try to date, many of them with sinister undertones that don’t cause so much outright terror as the unsettling constant threat of a thriller.
There have been some unusual dating simulators, but few of them allow players to take control of a huge creature and then try to go and date other giant monsters.Kaichuis a hilarious game, short but filled with fun, taking place mostly as reporters get images of the scenes where two Kaiju meet, and go on a date.
This hilariously endearing game takes a normally sinister situation, huge monsters attacking cities, and turns it on its head by having the creatures fall in love. Players can choose from several humongous beasts that they want to achieve romance with, adding some replayability to a fairly short but hilariously fun dating sim.
Another surprisingly monstrous twist to a dating simulator is a real spin-off game for one of the most famous horror games of all time.Dead by Daylightfeatures a variety of killersattempting to chase down survivors before they can escape an area. Many of the more recent killers are from famous horror movies and shows, but a few of the most well-known ones are original characters who can be dated in this island-based dating sim.
Hooked On Yousees the player character washing up on an island where they find four killers: The Huntress, The Spirit,The terrifying Trapperand The Wraith. Players can choose one to try and romance, but trying for multiple ones or annoying killers can get the player murdered at any time. Featuring hilariously fun dialogue, some of the weirdest video game dates ever and plenty of replayability,Hooked On Youis one of the best spin-off games that players never saw coming.
Unique among dating sims as it comes with a multiplayer mode,Monster Promallows players to adventure through Spooky High, attempting to woo one of six monsters. An ingenious visual novel, the story is randomized each time it is restarted, making for a hugely replayable game that gives completely different experiences each time.
One of the most high-calibre releases of a horror-based dating simulator ever seen,Monster Prom,was highly successful as a Switch release. The single-player mode features a regular dating sim, while the multiplayer features four players competing for love, in one of the strangest multiplayer games available today.
One of the least romantic dating sim games, even criticized on release for how little romance it featured,Sucker For Loveinvolved a young man, the player character, discovering a pink version of the Necronomicon, the book of the dead seen in popular media on several occasions, including theEvil Deadmovies.
Once he discovers this, he begins sacrificing parts of his body to summon terrifying beings, including a female version of Cthulhu. This hilarious visual novel was a short experience but was praised for the horror themes and writing on release, as well as the delightful art style. It has even managed to garner a sequel which will be released in 2024.
One of the most well-known, infamous dating sims that unexpectedly turned into a horror game,Doki Doki Literature Clubbegins seeming very innocent. A young man joins the newly formed literature club at his school, finding that it only contains four girls, and begins attempting to romance one of the young ladies.
However, as the game goes on, sinister events begin unfolding, and by the end, players will be astounded that they ever thought this is a simple dating simulator. The horror elements unfurled here made for the scariest horror dating sim ever seen by far, but it isstill possible to get a good ending.
The follow-up to the successfulMonster Promwas released in 2020.Monster Campchanges up the formula of the first game somewhat, adding elements from shows likeI’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Hereas hilarious wilderness pranks. The player or players attempt to romance one of the NPC monsters in a sequel that was praised even more highly than the original.
The idea of a multiplayer dating sim was so completely original that it took a second attempt in the sequel before some of the mechanics were perfected on the multiplayer side of things. With them in the hilariously fun state ofMonster Camp, this franchise couldeasily go on and on for a long time.
One of the best twists on a classic formula seen in a dating sim,Slay The Princess, is a time loop visual novel where a hero is told by a mysterious narrator that he has to kill the princess hiding in a cabin in the woods. Each time loop, the player can make choices to either slay or save the princess, changing subsequent loops.
This fascinating game was brilliantly written and contained plenty of Eldritch horror feeling to many of the designs, and both the voice acting and music make for a fantastic experience. Players can choose to try saving the princess or killing her each time around, changing much about what occurs later, and there are multiple endings available, involving both the permanent death of the princess and her ending up as a romantic partner to the main character, helping make one ofthe best PC-exclusive indie games.
