The technical definition of a dating simulation game, known as a romantic simulation game in Japan, can involve several technical elements such as a time limit, several statistics such as looks and charm which can be boosted through exercise, or an "attraction meter" which can increase or decrease depending on one's decisions.Some original-English dating sims include Sim Girls, In a typical dating sim, the player controls a male avatar surrounded by female characters.The degree of sexual content varies, but may often include intercourse.Sexually explicit dating sims may fall into the category of H Game or Eroge.The censored version contains far more endings and new added scenes due to the absence of sexual scenes.Welcome to Otome, visual dating games made with women in mind.The gameplay involves conversing with a selection of girls, attempting to increase their internal "love meter" through correct choices of dialogue.
Generally you meet several characters, and will have to choose one to court.
When the game ends, the player either loses the game if he failed to properly win over any of the girls, or "finishes" one of the girls, often by having sex with her, marrying her (as in Magical Date), and/or achieving eternal love.
This gives the games more replay value, since the player can focus on a different girl each time, trying to get a different ending.
The most common objective of dating sims is to date, usually choosing from among several characters, and to achieve a romantic relationship.
The term "dating sim" is also often used incorrectly in English as a generic term for romance-driven games (ren'ai games), a subject matter which is stereotypically associated with the visual novel genre.