Later Daters
- April 16, 2020
- Bloom Digital Media
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Later Daters" is a visual novel game where you play as a senior citizen living in a retirement community, looking for love and friendship in your golden years. Make choices that affect your relationships and reputation, and explore various storylines with fully voiced characters. The game features humor, romance, and thoughtful exploration of aging and relationships.
Reviews
- The game features a diverse cast of characters and inclusive options for gender and sexual preferences, making it very welcoming for LGBTQ+ players.
- It combines humor and heartfelt moments, tackling serious themes like aging and illness while maintaining a lighthearted tone.
- The cribbage mini-game adds an enjoyable layer of interaction, allowing players to stay connected with characters even after completing the main story.
- The game feels incomplete, with only a short portion available and a 'To Be Continued...' message that leaves players wanting more.
- Some players found the narrative frustrating, as choices can feel limited and the ending may not provide the expected resolution.
- There are concerns about the game's brevity, with some players wishing for a longer experience and more content to explore.
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartfelt moments and humor, creating a feel-good experience that resonates with players. While some elements may feel contrived for emotional impact, the overall narrative successfully addresses heavy themes like death and community, offering a sense of validation and connection through its diverse character options. Players appreciate the balance of wholesomeness and depth, making it a charming and uplifting experience.
“Heartfelt.”
“The romance felt quite sweet and wholesome.”
“It's such a feel-good game, while at the same time being very heartfelt and bringing up heavy themes like death and illness.”
- story9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its engaging characters that feel like real friends, with multiple branching paths influenced by player choices. It balances a lighthearted tone with serious themes, creating a heartfelt narrative experience. Players appreciate the connection maintained through gameplay elements like cribbage, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the story.
“The characters feel like real friends and there are many different ways the story can go depending on your choices.”
“Not what I was expecting and I was so happy to have been a part of the story.”
“Not what I was expecting, and I was so happy to have been a part of the story.”
“Its overall tone and presentation is goofy, but its storyline deals with serious subject matter befitting its characters and their concerns.”
“I wished I could've been my polyamorous self in Long Story, but now I can in Later Daters!”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of silliness and heartfelt moments, allowing for both comedic and emotional experiences. Players appreciate the unique and charming characters, as well as the ability to make humorous choices without undermining the characters' depth. Overall, the game is described as witty, funny, and endearing, enhancing the overall experience.
“It is occasionally silly, manages to be both funny and sad as different characters struggle in different ways, and I got to smooch the person I pursued in each playthrough.”
“Light and funny, but it never turns its characters into a joke.”
“With the release of part two, I can now confirm with enthusiasm: later daters is heartfelt, good-humored, and extremely charming.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game, particularly Jax's songs, is described as catchy and deeply thought-provoking, leaving players with a mix of emotions and reflections on life. The standout track "Super Love" captivates listeners, making them eager to absorb every lyric. However, some users noted a lack of variety in overall music and background ambiance.
“The song 'Super Love' by Jax had me unable to click; I found myself waiting and listening to every word.”
“Oh my god, this music, these songs are magnificent!”
“Music: it's catchy, and Jax's songs are deep; it made me think about everything in life and I ended up with a good mess in my head, lol.”
“Only minus I'd say is the lack of overall music, ambiance, and background noises.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their unique and cute art style, featuring polished visuals and diverse character designs, particularly among the love interests.
“The art style is so unique and cute.”
“The love interests are diverse, and the art style is polished.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is relatively short, lasting about 1.5 hours over three in-game days, which may deter players who prefer longer experiences or replayability.
“The gameplay is engaging and keeps you on your toes with its dynamic challenges.”
“I love how the mechanics are intuitive yet offer depth for advanced players.”
“The variety of tasks and missions makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“If you don't want to replay, it is quite short (3 in-game days at the time of writing, i.e., 1.5 hours of gameplay).”
