Playable Dating Simulation Games

From LoveToKnow Dating

One of the most popular pastimes on the Internet is getting involved in playable dating simulation games. Whether it's to practice your social skills or just for some fun, there's probably a game out there you'll enjoy.

What Makes a Dating Simulation Game Playable?

With the advent of broadband and digital technologies such as Flash, it has become very easy for people to create animated games that claim to be "dating simulations." However, a programmer is not necessarily a good game designer, and there are many "dating sims" that seem to be little more than a series of "choose your own adventure" stories. One of the top hits on a Google search, "Sim Girls," is a very simple low-animation clickable storybook. However, it isn't really a game per se – the only way to lose would be to stop playing, and winning is mainly a matter of clicking the "next" button and reading what your character says to the next animated schoolgirl.

That's not to say these games shouldn't be popular – especially when they are featuring the characters from animé that people love. However, they aren't very challenging in gaming terms.

Play for Speed, Play for Strategy

Playable dating simulation games need to have more than just a compelling story line. Usually, the following characteristics make a game seem more fun for the people playing:

Variations in characters beyond "male" and "female:"

Often games will give you a certain number of points to distribute among various personality characteristics such as charm, strength and intelligence. Your choices make certain tasks in the game easier or harder.

Multiple branches of action choices

Part of the challenge of a game is trying to navigate through various choices, without it being obvious. Do you exercise to make yourself stronger, hoping to impress the girl, or work overtime to get enough money to take her out? Or do homework so that you don't get kicked out of the school she attends? The best dating simulations have many choices – such as the highly popular Sims Party series for the home computer, which have entire virtual worlds for the players to travel in.

Rewards large and small

If you work, you get money, and then you can go shopping, and your character can get something new – a better dress, a stylish purse, maybe that ice cream treat they've been craving. Even though it's digital, a playable game is one that gives you rewards on your way to the "big one" – your date with that special someone.

Time pressure

If there's no penalty for taking forever to get your date, there's not much point in playing. Whether it's the constant ticking clock of Speed Dating or simply the 100-day goal of Naruto, you need to have some feeling that what you're doing is leading somewhere.

Playable Dating Simulation Games Online

Some of the most popular and often-played dating simulation games are simple and self-contained:

RED is a game created by AOL with very entertaining drawings and a fairly tricky "heartbeat" feedback mechanism to let you know if you are making a good impression on your "date."
New Seduction is a bit different – a game you might play with a date, answering questions and doing tests of manual dexterity to try and make your way across a board. The questions are strange enough to make it a fun game to try to play with a friend.
Nummyz has produced several games, such as "Pop Star dating," that incorporate many of the ideas listed above.

Keep in mind that a game doesn't have to be only about dating. Harvest Moon, for example, is a farm simulation, but part of the process is to expand your family. Your characters have to try to find and go on successful dates as part of the courtship process.

Whether digital or real, one thing's for sure – dating is always going to be one of the most popular pastimes around.

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