Another Valentine’s Day, another day where I get to swipe right on dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, and that new one I recently downloaded, CatchFish2Day (I swear I saw Ryan Gosling on there!). At this point, I might as well start knitting my own funeral shroud because it’s clear I’m going to die alone. Just me, my dwindling self-respect, and Mr. Skittles, the cat skeleton under the floorboards. What a love story for the ages. But this year, I decided to find some Valentine’s Day games for singles to make the day a bit more fun.
FYI – check out Jon Scarr (4ScarrsGaming), my colleague and writer extraordinaire, for an exquisitely insightful article about games you can play if you’re in a relationship…
Whatever. Relationships are so 2024, said no one ever.
It’s a match! MrRight69 is waiting for you!
Me: “Hey! What’s up?”
MrRight69: “Chillin’. You?”
Me: “I am sitting here, wondering whether Schrödinger’s Cat is both in love and not in love at the same time… Quantum physics, am I right? Ha. Ha.”
MrRight69 unmatched you!
(Move over, Nicholas Sparks – my autobiography will be called “The Scent of Desperation” with a scratch-and-sniff cover that smells like microwaved leftovers and regret)
Ah yes, another year, another rejection so swift it defies the laws of time and space. At this point, I’m convinced my dating profile is a psychological experiment designed to measure just how fast a human being can lose interest. I’ve been ghosted so many times I’m considering changing my name to Casper and applying for a job at a haunted house. But hey, at least I have games—loyal, immersive, and unlikely to ghost me after three messages. Unlike my love life, they only crash when there’s a legitimate reason.
If you, too, have resigned yourself to spending Valentine’s Day in a cozy, dimly lit room with only your gaming rig for company, while your more attractive friends are out living their best lives and posting about it on Instagram, here are some top-tier titles to embrace your solitude in style:
1. Coffee Talk
Nothing says “romance” like brewing pixelated lattes for strangers who pour their hearts out to you. This cozy visual novel lets you play as a barista, serving warm drinks and even warmer conversations. Who needs a date when you have a coffee shop full of fascinating stories?
Plus, these virtual customers actually remember my name, unlike my last three Tinder dates who kept calling me “hey you” or “what was it again?”
2. Monster Prom
You might not have scored a real-life Valentine, but that doesn’t mean you can’t win the affections of a hot demon, a werewolf, or a sassy ghost. Monster Prom is a hilarious multiplayer dating sim where you attempt to woo a supernatural sweetheart before prom night.
Because at this point, I’m pretty sure only supernatural intervention could help my love life. Even my horoscope last week just said “LOL” with a crying emoji.
3. Florence
A short but emotionally powerful game that explores the highs and lows of first love. If you’re in the mood for something reflective and beautifully melancholic, Florence will tug at your heartstrings in ways that real-life romance sometimes fails to do.
Much like my heart, this game will only take about 40 minutes to complete before it leaves you emotionally exhausted.
4. Unpacking
Nothing screams “romantic escapism” like sorting through someone else’s belongings and learning about their life without any commitment. Unpacking is a meditative, story-driven puzzle game that tells a deeply personal tale through moving boxes and household items.
It’s also great practice for rearranging my stuff to make room for more cats, which is clearly where my life is headed.
5. Gone Home
Home alone on Valentine’s? Perfect. Gone Home is an emotional, first-person narrative experience where you uncover a deeply moving love story by exploring an abandoned house. Prepare to feel things—lots of things.
Bonus: you can pretend the abandoned house is your dating prospects after 30.
6. What Remains of Edith Finch?
If introspection and beautifully tragic storytelling are your jam, this one’s for you. What Remains of Edith Finch? takes you through a series of unforgettable vignettes, exploring love, loss, and the strange ways life unfolds.
The title also doubles as what my mother asks about my dating life at every family gathering: “What remains of your romantic prospects, dear? How about your… friend group? Your gay peers? Why aren’t you seeing anyone?” Thanks, Mom. Nothing says “Valentine’s Day spirit” like being interrogated about my love life during holiday dinner while Uncle Ted gets zero questions about the “roommate” he’s brought to family functions for 30 years.
7. Ten Dates & Five Dates (FMV)
If you’re missing the thrill (or horror) of first dates, these FMV (full-motion video) interactive rom-coms simulate the awkwardness of video dating. Make choices, flirt terribly, and see if your virtual dating skills are any better than real life. (Spoiler: Probably not.)
Unlike my actual dating history, you can just restart if you mess up, instead of lying awake at 3 AM replaying that time you sneezed into your date’s mouth.
8. Coming Out on Top
A hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt gay dating sim where you navigate the ups and downs of college life while pursuing various love interests. Whether you’re looking for romance, comedy, or absurdly wild scenarios, this game delivers.
And unlike my real-life attempts at flirting, the characters in this game actually respond with something other than uncomfortable silence and a hasty excuse to use the bathroom.
9. Thirsty Suitors
Imagine Scott Pilgrim but with more culture, style, and reckoning with your past relationships. This stylish RPG blends turn-based battles, skateboarding, and cooking challenges, all while dealing with your overbearing family and exes. Who needs a date when you have this much drama?
If only my real exes could be defeated with combo moves instead of awkwardly avoiding eye contact at the grocery store while pretending to be really interested in avocados.
10. Doki Doki Literature Club
At first glance, this might seem like a cutesy dating sim, but Doki Doki Literature Club quickly descends into psychological horror. If you want to remind yourself why love can be terrifying, or just need an excuse to scream into the void, this game has you covered.
Much like my dating profile, what starts out as charming quickly descends into existential terror.
11. Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator
Step into the New Balance sneakers of a single dad as you attempt to romance other hot dads in this wholesome and charming visual novel. Dream Daddy is the perfect blend of heartwarming relationships, dad jokes, and undeniable chemistry.
Because nothing says “I’ve given up on real-life romance” quite like fantasizing about fictional fathers while eating discount Valentine’s chocolate in your pajamas.
So, whether you’re drowning in existential dread, dodging romantic clichés, or just embracing the joys of solitude, these games will make sure your Valentine’s Day is anything but lonely. Grab your controller, pour yourself a glass of something nice —or a whole bottle, I’m not judging— and revel in the sweet, sweet romance of being single.
Because, let’s be honest—your last relationship probably ended when someone texted “lol” in response to your emotional vulnerability. And now the only thing that’s been inside your bedroom in the last six months is the Amazon delivery person throwing packages through your door.
Besides, Mr. Skittles would want you to be happy. Though to be fair, he probably also wanted to be fed occasionally, and we all know how that turned out.
As always, remember to follow us on our social media (e.g., Threads, X (Twitter), Bluesky, YouTube and Facebook) to keep up with the latest news.
