Visual Novels and Otomes getting adapted to anime is a pretty common occurrence. It’s a good way to get some publicity for your game while putting out an anime with a guaranteed audience from the fans of the game. I’m gonna call it cross-media advertising. I’m pretty sure that’s not what it means….
Let’s face it, you’re not here to learn things (please tell me you haven’t taken anything on this site seriously… I cannot be held responsible for that!) No, no…Instead, today let’s talk about those delicious casts of characters you would love to take out for a night on the town. Here are my Top 5 shows I would like to see adapted into dating sims!
You know what I found out while doing this post. A lot of shows HAVE dating sims. Like MOST of them. Aside from just about all Sports and Harem shows (and a lot of ecchi games for cute girl shows), stuff like Durarara, Hunter x Hunter and My Hero Academia all have some type of otome game. I didn’t go into it deeply enough to find out whether these are official licensed spinoffs or just sprite art pasted over some random dating sim but if you google them, you will find them. Warning, there are things you cannot unsee.
Anyway, for this here list, I have *tried* to stick to titles that don’t have any dating game incarnation – or at least any I could find on the first google page… I must say, the choices get narrowed down considerably!
Recovery of an MMO junkie
This seems like it would have been a given, seeing as it already has a lot of romantic themes going on. I’ve only recently discovered this show and I really like it. It’s saccharine and oversimplified but also earnest. It makes me feel good.
But more to the point, I would love to play a dating sim that also allows me to play an ingame MMORPG. That’s two games for the price of one. Ok – so I could just go hit on people in an MMO but some of those people can be real mean. For example, I was a complete jerk in WOW. I’m joking, a partial jerk…
Hellsing
I did find a Hellsing “dating game for girls” you tube video but it’s a twick…
I guess gore filled horror animes aren’t your natural go to when thinking about otome inspiration but why not get your heart racing in all sorts of ways. You have a wide range of characters that should cover most kinks and some pretty sumptuous designs to pick from.
I guess a similar argument could be made for Drifters and I’m really just fine with a drifters otome as well. Just typing Drifters Otome was a little weird.
You’re thinking I just want an excuse to date Integra Hellsing and there is no actually reasoning behind this choice. Just let me tell you: you are absolutely right.
Gugure Kokkuri San
Obviously, we are taking Kohina out of the equation. No school kids!
I must admit, this little show is sticking with me for much longer than I would have believed. The absurdist humor and deadpan delivery was right up my alley. Another aspect I tend to appreciate was the cast of very attractive weirdos that populated the show.
There really needs to be more humour based otomes out there (not that Oz Mafia isn’t pure comedy gold, but I don’t know that all of it is on purpose) and with potential suitors like these, you are guaranteed at least as many giggles as flutters. Ok probably more giggles.. Still, I wouldn’t mind taking these boys out on a date, especially since they’re occasionally also very lovely ladies. Talk about best of both worlds.
Bungo Stray Dogs
It seems very odd that I didn’t find a BSD dating sim. At least some type of Yaoi fan made one. Am I the only one who found these guys really quite hot? I’m not sure I can trust my own judgment anymore.
But you know what, this is MY list and I wouldn’t mind spending a Sunday afternoon or two, throwing my virtual pride out the window as I desperately throw my virtual self at… well… pretty much every adult in the cast. Yeah, even the evil ones. Man I really DO need to revisit my standards…
The Royal Tutor
Duh
I mean when I saw the publicity art for this show, I thought it WAS a dating game. Like a weird let’s all date a blonde prince dating game.
If you’ve dismissed the Royal Tutor as unsubstantial fanservice fluff, well you were probably right… But it was very *pleasant* unsubstantial fanservice fluff. What more could you want in a dating sim.
A collage of beautiful, nice, sensitive archetype clichés with just enough tragedy in their pasts to keep things interesting (?) and a few older foxes with dry sarcastic senses of humour. These guys are all designed to be parodies of fantasies, but the series is a little too soft hearted to actually make fun of them and you end up with a bunch of gentle super bishies.
Honestly though, anyone out there know how to program a dating sim. Maybe I could just use visual novel maker. I’m pretty sure I can get the copyrights for next to nothing, I mean it IS cross advertising and all (still no clue what that term means and if I’m using it right).
So while I draw up plans for what’s certainly going to make me a multimillionaire, let me know which series you’d like to virtually date your way through. No judgement! FYI, Psycho Pass already has a dating sim. Just in case you were wondering.
