The best dating sims will have you grinning, kicking your feet, and sometimes huffing in frustration as you try to unlock that one secret romance route. While the genre has calmed down in recent years, there are still plenty of titles that let you be a full-blown casanova.
There are management sims, some of the best visual novels, and plenty of new games on the horizon as well that promise the ability to strike up a virtual relationship. It's clear that everyone just loves love, even the most cynical of gamers out there. So, if you want to dive into the dating sphere, we've got you covered.
From dungeon crawlers to hilarious pigeon romances, we've gathered together some of the best titles in the genre out there right now across a wide variety of different platforms. So read on below as we take you through the 10 best dating sims to fall in love with.
10. I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator
Developer: Psyop
Platforms: PC
If Colonel Sanders doesn't strike you as perfect husbo material, you haven't seen him in 'I Love You, Colonel Sanders!' yet. The dreamy, silver-haired Colonel will be your classmate during a three-day cooking class. Guess what’ll be on the menu?
Do not dismiss 'I Love You, Colonel Sanders' as just a marketing stunt - although it's quite short, it is funny, weird, and free to play. In fact, it has one of the best intro videos ever seen in a dating sim. So, if you can handle an abundance of fried chicken advertisement and anime references, do not leave the Colonel waiting.
9. Love, Ghostie
Developer: Janbeh Games, LLC
Platforms: PC
One of the best games in 2024 in terms of dating sims has to be this adorable management game where you play as a ghost matchmaker! It turns out that ghosts become love experts when they die, and after you pass away, you are put in charge of haunting a massive manner house. Your mission is simple: pair up residents in the house by sending gifts and organizing the house schedule (that also includes time for romantic dates).
There are multiple pairings to unlock as you progress the game, upgrades to your ghostly powers to purchase and also a series of hats to collect as well. What more could you want? Oh, and like with all the best dating sims, after you complete each couple's story, you get a special CG (computer graphic) to collect. It's cozy, cute, and a great pick for management-focused dating sim players.
Read our Love, Ghostie indie spotlight for more details on this gem!
8. Hustle Cat
Developer: Date Nightio
Platform: PC
Hustle Cat sees you take on the role of Avery Grey, who's just gotten a new job a local cat café. But this isn't your average cat café, as it turns out. There's more to the staff than meets the eye, and something mysterious is happening there that begins to affect you.
With a variety of different characters to date and routes to experience, Hustle Cat is well worth checking out - especially if you're fond of felines. It's also allows you to customize and choose the pronouns of your character, and you're free to date any one of the cast depending on the choices you make.
7. Jurassic Heart
Developer: Thongrop Rodsavas
Platform: Browser
Many dating sims make their characters look cuter than in reality, but not Jurassic Heart. A T-Rex looks like a T-Rex, whether you're dating him or not. But even though he looks scary, your new classmate Taira is a gentle dinosaur who enjoys playing the ukulele.
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.
For more toothy fun, check out our list of the best dinosaur games.
6. Hatoful Boyfriend
Developer: Mediatonic
Platforms: PC
In Hatoful Boyfriend: A School of Hope and White Wings, you play a human girl who has eight different love interests to choose from. Oh, and they're all pigeons.
Not only is Hatoful Boyfriend one of the funniest and most bizarre dating sims out there, it is also celebrated for its variety of endings and character depth. Like Doki Doki Literature Club, Hatoful Boyfriend's silly exterior hides a much deeper and fascinating storyline. This is also a unique chance to learn a thing or two about pigeon breeds, so make sure you don't miss it. While it was originally available on PS4 and iOS, it has since been delisted from the platforms, but you can still pick it up on Steam.
5. Boyfriend Dungeon
Developer: Kitfox Games
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
What if your weapons in a dungeon crawler could transform into incredibly hot people that you could date? Boyfriend Dungeon asks and answers that important question, giving you a chance to run through dungeons with a selection of weapons and date those weapons outside of the dungeon.
You can also choose to pie off dating anyone and just hang out with a cool cat, which is a very solid option if you ask me. Boyfriend Dungeon is delightful, a great new take on the dating sim.
For more details, read our indie spotlight for Boyfriend Dungeon.
4. Olympia Soiree
Developer: Otomate
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
On Tenguu Island colour is the most important thing, in fact what colour someone is determines their status. However, you play as an anomaly. Since you come from a mysterious island, you have the ability to choose your own colour based on who you decide to marry. However, finding love isn't easy, especially since there are multiple people who want to use you for political means and you have the weight of your mother's history weighing you down as well.
There are six love interests here for you to romance. Each have a happy ending as well as a series of bad ones to unlock. They are also equally well written and fit in perfectly with the rich world building on display in Olympia Soiree. Olympia Soiree is stunning, romantic and has a protagonist who is also strong in her own right, truly, this is one of the best Switch games for dating sims fans.
3. Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator
Developer: Game Grumps
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Imagine you're a single dad who just moved to a new neighborhood with his teenage daughter. You are looking for love, and surprise: your new town happens to be full of hot, (mostly) single dads! There's a Teacher Dad, a Fitness Dad, a Goth Dad… Seven daddies to match your own desires, and they all come with several different endings.
One of the things that sets Dream Daddy apart is the character creation. There's a broad range of customization options to help you design the dreamiest of daddies. If that's not enough reason to play Dream Daddy, then check out the dad jokes and the minigames. I hope you're into mini golf and fishing!
2. Monster Prom
Developer: Beautiful Glitch
Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
Yet another classic among dating simulator connoisseurs. In Monster Prom, you go on a high schooler's most important mission: scoring a date for the prom! It’s only different from reality in two ways: everyone is a monster, and you might actually succeed.
Monster Prom is colorful, cartoonish, and far more than a click-through adventure. You have to try your hardest if you want to score a date, and even then, there's a high chance of rejection. As dating sims are usually single-player only, one of Monster Prom's best features is the multiplayer option. In fact, Monster Prom is easily the best multiplayer game in the genre.
Love playing with friends? Check out our list of the best party games.
1. Doki Doki Literature Club
Developer: Team Salvato
Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
Doki Doki Literature Club is one of the most popular dating sims out there and one of the best anime games ever made as well. The story starts innocent enough with four potential love interests, a high school club, and lots of poetry. There's the sweet girl, the quiet one, the tsundere… But things are not as normal as they seem.
Doki Doki Literature Club has a great storyline and interesting characters, but the best thing about it is 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 think you can handle it, then this is one dating sim you don't want to miss.
Looking for more games to try? Check out our pick of the best RPGs, best sim games, and best short games you can play right now.
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