Sim Dating Games for Girls
Dating simulations aimed at girls are a subgroup of otome games (pronounced oh-toh-meh, Japanese for girls' games). The vast majority comes from Japan, but a small number are created in the U.S. and other places. Dating sims for boys are more common than dating sims for girls, but you shouldn't have any trouble if you know what you're looking for.
-
The Basics
-
Dating sims are played much like Choose Your Own Adventure books. As the plot progresses, various characters appear, and the choices made by the player affect the relationships between the main character and the people she encounters. If you play the game well, the main character may land a steady boyfriend.
Nearly all dating games originate in Japan, so most games you find will be in Japanese. Some English-speaking fans enjoy playing the games in Japanese, in spite of the language barrier. However, a few games have been released in English, and some others have been translated by fans.
Types
-
Dating simulations for girls can be divided into two main categories: GxB games and BxB games, in which the G stands for "girl" and B stands for "boy." A GxB game features a girl seeking a boy, while a BxB features a boy seeking a boy. (There are also GxG games, but they're marketed toward men.) Westerners may find it strange that male homosexual romances are marketed toward straight women, but it's a common theme in Japanese popular culture.
BxB games can be further divided into shounen ai (which translates as boy's love, often abbreviated BL) and yaoi (an abbreviation for a largely irrelevant Japanese phrase, pronounced yow-ee). Shounen ai is a romance in which the strongest material is kissing, whereas yaoi contains explicit sexual content.
Creators
-
Most doujin games---including girls' dating sims---are created by small independent groups and sold directly from the creators to the fans at events like Tokyo's Comic Market. These groups, called doujin circles, are nonprofessionals who create games as a hobby rather than for money. As a result, the games are created on a low budget and are released on a small scale, making them difficult to obtain abroad.
Where to Find
-
Hirameki International and JAST USA have published girls' dating sims in English. The former has closed, but the JAST USA's website is still open for business at the time of this writing. Dating simulations are also available at a few online suppliers, like Amazon.com, YesAsia.com and eBay.com. There are also intermediate services that will purchase objects in Japan and ship them overseas.
Warning
-
Many of these games are suitable for all ages, but some include explicit sexual content. It shouldn't be too hard to tell the difference, but if you're having trouble, run an internet search for the doujin circle's website, which often provides a downloadable demo.
-
