FOR many people, going out into the real world and meeting real people isn’t the easiest task, and that was before a pandemic shut the whole world down for two years.
Still, if you want the experience of an idyllic romance, then the world of video games has you covered.
It may sound a little strange to those outside of the gaming circle, but romance games are often about more than just flirting with some pixels. They let you find love while solving a mystery, saving the world, or just telling a sweet romantic story.
We’ve picked out the best games that’ll let you pick your partner and woo them to your side forever more.
Catherine Full Body
Made by Atlus, the same studio as the Persona series, Catherine Full Body mixes puzzling with social sim elements, a speciality of the studio.
This game throws in a lot of moral quandaries and you pick your preferred partner. You must choose between Catherine, Katherine, or Rin.
This series of creatively named characters will challenge your ideals and make you really consider what you value most in other people.
Doki Doki Literature Club
In Doki Doki Literature Club, the cute anime girls who vie for your affection are far more memorable than most generic visual novels.
Exactly what makes this game stand out is best left a mystery for when you play it, but just know that there is far more to this game than meets the eye.
Steins; Gate: My Darling’s Embrace
The ‘harem’ romance is quite the fantasy for many romance gamers, and Stiens; Gate makes no bones about wanting to see those fantasies fulfilled.
It’s not all flirting and girlfriend gathering though, as you also have a very important side mission that involves travelling through time to save the world from an apocalypse.
Sounds weird, but you’d be surprised how by-the-numbers a plot like this is for anime.
The House in Fata Morgana
The faithful made is another common fantasy, but The House in Fata Morgana puts a unique spin on it by surrounding her in a multi-generational mystery of the old worn-down mansion you own.
You must piece this puzzle together through multiple periods in history to eventually conquer the evil force that lies in the heart of the mansion.
Collar X Malice
Want to fix the broken police system while wooing a bunch of muscle-bound anime men? Then Collar X Malice is the game for you.
As a sharpshooter police prodigy, you must do things by the book (sort of) to hunt down and stop rogue vigilantes from dispatching their own twisted sense of justice.
Amongst all the angst and romance, you’ll be confronted with real-world issues involving how we view and treat the police, which are very important topics to consider.
Nurse Love Addiction
This game is pretty much what it says on the tin. You play as a kind-hearted girl who isn’t the brightest, and you’ll be attempting to woo the other nurses around the school.
You can’t focus only on your social life though, as you’ll need to keep on top of your studies to get your nurse qualifications.
If you’re looking for a game that focuses on lesbian love without straying into outright pornographic territory, this is the romance game for you.
Muv Luv
Another harem game, Muv Luv is a three-game series that will have you uncovering secret plots and eventually facing off against a huge alien threat to your planet.
That said, you’ll still have plenty of time for romantic action, as your classmates are ready to throw themselves at you with even the slightest provocation. That said, the romances can become extremely heartfelt, and the women are engagingly written.
Hatoful Boyfriend
If you want weird, then you’ve got weird with Hatoful Boyfriend. For one thing, all of the romance partners, and in fact everyone in the world except you, are birds.
It’s tongue-in-cheek about it, but at the end of the day, you’re romancing a bunch of birds. The narrative branches out significantly depending on your choices, and like any good game, it can end with you battling it out against a scorned God for unclear reasons.
Written by GLHF.
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