Dating simulators, more commonly known as dating sims, have continued to grow in popularity. To keep this gaming genre interesting, developers have created subgenres to attract various types of gamers. Most of the subgenres focus on the gender preferences of players and what type of characters they would enjoy pursuing. However, some dating sims focus more on developing relationships, life skills, and other subgenres of dating sims focus on mature and emotional appeal.
Continue reading to learn more about each subgenre.
How Gender Preferences Influence Subgenres of Dating Sims
As dating sims are relationship-focused, ensuring that all gender preferences are represented is crucial. Many dating sims are GxB (men pursuing women) or otome (women pursuing men). However, to include and represent the LGBTQ+ community subgenres, such as BL (boy’s love – men pursuing men) and yuri (women pursuing women). To many representations is key in choosing certain games to play, especially with a romantic atmosphere. However, for some, the in-game content and how the story evolves are key factors when choosing between games.
Mature and Deeper Emotional Responses Appeal to Adult Gamers.
Nukige is a subgenre of dating sims that signifies that the game strongly revolves around sexually explicit activities. For adults, nukige may be more appealing because the content should be catered more toward an adult audience. Also, having a dating sim include sexual activities can make it seem more realistic or enjoyable for adults.
However, some adult gamers who enjoy sexual content may yearn for more. Eroge is a subgenre of dating sims where sexual content may be a key factor of the game, but it also has strong storytelling and deeper emotional responses from suitors. Again, gamers may enjoy this for the realism it presents or even the game’s complexity. However, there are still other dating simulators that gamers enjoy playing that may have less to do with relationships.
Dating Sims Can be More than Relationships
Life simulation dating sims focus on building a career, making friends, and developing romantic relationships. Games such as Remember Me and Roommates are examples of dating simulators with life simulator elements within them. Being able to choose a job, go to class, or make friends is appealing to some gamers who are bored with the relationship-only focused dating sims. Dating sims such as these aren’t as easy to come across as the other subgenres.
As dating sims continue gaining popularity, developers will consider more subgenres and ideas to implement into these games. The majority of the subgenres reflect players’ sexuality and gender preferences. However, other subgenres, such as Nukige and Eroge, focus more on the mature content that can be experienced within the game.
Lastly, some players want to do more than strictly build romantic relationships, such as in life simulators within dating sims. Dating simulators are available on various platforms and can vary from teenage-type relationships to college and all the way to mature and adult themes.
Ferry Godmother Productions is working on its own dating sim; details will be announced soon! For updates, keep an eye on our site!