Game Groups > Gameplay feature: Dating / Romance

Included in the group are games in which the protagonist may (or is required to) date/court other player-controlled characters or non-player characters (NPCs) with romantic intentions, choosing the player's attitude towards the character in either actions or dialog choices.

In order to be part of this group, dating has to be a gameplay element. It does not have to be the main gameplay element (such as in Japanese dating sim games), but there must be at least some gameplay-related choices concerning a romantic relationship.

Limitations

• Games that only feature dating as a story-related element are not included, if there are no dating gameplay mechanics present. Thus, Leisure Suit Larry games or many Japanese linear adventure games should be excluded from this game group. Although their stories may focus on dating, the player has no dating-related choices in those games. Visual novels with multiple choice however, do qualify for this game group, provided these choices have a direct impact on the protagonist's dating prospects.
• Also not qualified are games in which the protagonist seduces women through purely physical actions (such as many sex games by Illusion).

Related Game Group

• Gameplay feature: Having Children