Dating sims, or romance simulation games (恋愛シミュレーションゲーム, renai shimyurēshon gēmu), are video game subgenre of simulation games with romantic elements. Dating sims are often dialog-heavy and focus on time management. The player must befriend and carefully build and maintain a relationship with one or more characters.

Are people dating sims?

This genre of game – often referred to as dating simulations or dating sims for short – emerged in the 1980s in Japan, where they were popular with a predominantly male audience. But the growing community of people who play dating sims are mostly impervious to this disapproval.