Love Esquire

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"Love Esquire" is a humorous dating sim/RPG where you play as a squire on a quest to win the hearts of five dateable waifus, each with unique stories and secrets. Combat is turn-based, allowing you to use unconventional techniques to keep your knight alive. Raising your stats and forging relationships will aid you in becoming the ideal man and winning the affection of your chosen lady.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 596 reviews

story125 positive mentions

grinding47 negative mentions

The voice acting and art are top-notch, making it one of the best visual novels ever.
The characters are well-developed with interesting backstories, making the story engaging.
The humor is spot on, providing a mix of comedy and emotional depth throughout the game.

The gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, especially when trying to max out relationships.
There are issues with audio mixing, where some voice lines are either too quiet or too loud.
The combat system feels simplistic and could use more depth to enhance the overall experience.

story
270 mentions
46 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its depth, humor, and engaging character arcs, with many players noting unexpected plot twists and emotional moments that enhance the overall experience. While some found the pacing and grindy gameplay detracted from the narrative flow, the well-written dialogue and character backstories kept players invested. Overall, the story is considered a standout feature, blending romance, comedy, and drama in a way that surprises and entertains.
- “As you pursue these romances, you'll see a darker side to their story, and it is well worth a read.”
- “The story is excellent and the characters are so memorable.”
- “I was drawn in by how much fun it was to get to know the characters as the plot developed.”
- “The characters and story fit into basic tropes and don't have much depth.”
- “A couple of the storylines, while short, were kind of interesting (Amy and Vel in particular were a bit different) but on the whole, most storylines felt somewhat truncated to me - with each relationship actually culminating right at the end of the game in what felt like a jump from 'we kind of, maybe like each other' to 'we are in love!!!' that was so fast it gave you whiplash.”
- “The actual plot content is incredibly small, and I mean incredibly.”
humor
149 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-1 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its sharp, witty dialogue and the ability to blend comedic moments with deeper, emotional story arcs. Players appreciate the quirky characters and the balance of lightheartedness with more serious themes, often finding themselves laughing out loud at the interactions and scenarios presented. While some critiques mention a lack of variety in humor styles, the overall consensus is that the game delivers a fun and entertaining experience filled with memorable comedic moments.
- “It's hilarious, it's wholesome, and its dialogue is sharp as a knife.”
- “Loved the humor in this game; it made me laugh out loud more than I can count.”
- “The dialogue is second to none when it comes to humor, with witty exchanges between characters.”
- “Even Hugh, who could have easily been portrayed as a jerk or petty rival in other dating sim games, is a decent, if not funny, guy who looks out for his squire and personally ensures his training goes well.”
- “The attempts at humor often fall flat, leaving moments that should be funny feeling awkward instead.”
- “While the game tries to inject humor into its dialogue, most of the jokes feel forced and fail to land.”
gameplay
91 mentions
31 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this dating sim is a mixed bag, with many players finding it repetitive and grindy, yet some appreciate the blend of RPG mechanics and time management elements that add depth. While the combat and character interactions can be enjoyable, the overall experience is often marred by tedious loops and a lack of engaging mechanics. Despite its flaws, the game offers a charming story and vibrant characters that keep some players invested.
- “The RPG mechanics break up the dating sim bits, so I didn't get tired of it, and the writing is filled with random jokes.”
- “The fun characters, world, and great voice acting, along with the actual RPG mechanics, make this a very addicting game to play.”
- “Love Esquire excels with a stat-raising system, light RPG game mechanics, and a little bit of time management.”
- “The characters are good, but my god, the gameplay is a boring grind.”
- “Despite all of the beautiful graphics and good voice acting, the gameplay loop is a boring waste of time.”
- “The standard gameplay loop doesn't serve to engage the player, but rather to bore them, and that wouldn't be worth playing even if it were free.”
graphics
53 mentions
64 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their beautiful artwork, vibrant colors, and charming art style, which enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers noted the high-quality visuals and smooth animations, particularly in the character designs and environments, contributing to the game's appeal. However, some criticism arose regarding the inconsistency in detail among character artworks and the repetitive nature of the gameplay, which detracted from the otherwise stunning visuals.
- “This was a great game with awesome visuals and some good music and sounds.”
- “The art style and visuals are also really well made.”
- “The graphics are great, with a very clear art and bright art style, detailed backgrounds and animated sprites.”
- “Some character artworks have more details than others, with generic townspeople not even having eyes, much less lip sync, compared to named characters (and some named characters don’t even have lip sync during their lines of dialogue).”
- “Graphics are high quality and even if a bit repetitive, that’s basically the problem with all visual novels.”
- “Visuals are charming for a dating sim, also turn-based fighting system that places us on a side where we can't attack.”
grinding
48 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly during initial playthroughs and in New Game+ modes. While some appreciate the grinding as a core element of the gameplay that enhances character development and story progression, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leading to repetitive tasks with minimal rewards. Overall, the grinding can be a significant commitment, but it is often balanced by engaging dialogue and a compelling narrative.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's far too long and grindy.”
- “The only downside I found to this game is that it is really grindy.”
- “There's too much grinding in this game.”
music
29 mentions
62 % positive mentions
28 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its quality and atmospheric fit, though some note a lack of variety and occasional repetitiveness. While the voice acting is highlighted as exceptional, issues with audio mixing sometimes hinder the experience, making dialogue difficult to hear over the music. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's visuals and narrative effectively, contributing positively to the overall enjoyment.
- “The music is lovely, and the voice work is quite good.”
- “The art and animations are great, the music is atmospheric and perfectly suitable, and the voice acting is amazing!”
- “The music is well produced and there is enough variety that it doesn't become monotonous.”
- “The music and soundtracks are not that varied but they're decent.”
- “Also, there are a lot of technical issues ranging from some dialogue volume being so low it's impossible to hear with the music to some being a little too high and causing the mic to clip.”
- “My biggest peeves with this game are that the audio is sometimes mixed pretty badly - characters will suddenly sound much quieter than they did before, making it hard to hear them over the music.”
emotional
23 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its blend of humor and heartfelt moments, with players noting the surprising depth and complexity of the characters and storylines. Many reviews emphasize the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings, ranging from laughter to tears, thanks to strong voice acting and well-crafted narratives. Overall, it is praised as a touching and wholesome experience that exceeds expectations in emotional engagement.
- “It's so wholesome and funny and full of moments that will unexpectedly hit you in the feels.”
- “It has good art/animations, surprisingly great English voice acting, solid humor, likable and complex characters as well as incredibly emotional scenes that actually made me cry.”
- “I really didn't expect to find the story to be so compelling and emotionally provoking.”
replayability
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game boasts strong replayability, primarily due to its multiple character routes, endings, and achievements, which encourage players to explore different choices and outcomes. Many users highlight the presence of secret events and the challenge of unlocking all content as significant factors that enhance replay value. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy revisiting games for varied experiences.
- “It has good replayability due to the different character routes.”
- “Multiple endings for each girl and a secret ending for getting all the girls really give this game a lot of replay value. I highly recommend this game.”
- “So after finishing the game twice (once on normal, once on easy), I gotta say that the game is challenging in its own way and has a ton of replay value.”
- “I know it's upcoming, but it'll do wonders for the replay value of this game, which is moderate-to-low right now.”
- “So after finishing the game twice (1 on normal, 1 on easy) I gotta say that the game is challenging in its own way and has a ton of replay value.”
- “I'm waiting for a guide; this game has so much replay value it would take ages for someone like me to unlock all CGs... there's even some secret events and not all choices are obvious at first glance until the very end!”
character development
9 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game excels in character development, offering depth and individuality to each romance option, which sets it apart from typical dating sims. Players appreciate the charming character designs that align well with their personalities, enhancing the overall experience. The combination of engaging character arcs and stunning visuals contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Where most dating sims give each of your romance options a series of tropes that define them, Love Esquire gives each girl an incredible amount of character development and depth.”
- “If this game didn't have good character development, I would have stopped playing.”
- “If you're a fan of character development like I am, you will enjoy this game.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with them on a personal level.”
- “While the character design is cute, it doesn't translate into meaningful growth or change throughout the game.”
- “The characters seem to be defined more by their appearances than by any real development or backstory.”
optimization
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's voice acting is highly praised for its quality and believability, particularly the main character's performance, which is described as exceptional. However, there are notable issues with audio optimization, including instances of microphone peaking and sudden volume drops that detract from the overall experience. While the voice performances are strong, some moments lack fidelity, indicating a need for further polish in the audio department.
- “The comedic performance delivered by the talented voice actors makes playing this game worthwhile.”
- “It's clear that they spent a lot of time working with the voice actors to get the performances down pat.”
- “Alejandro Saab delivered a stunning performance that singlehandedly elevated this game from 8ish territory into 9 territory.”
- “The vocal performance they got for the main character is excellent, but it is occasionally undermined by mics peaking or the volume suddenly dropping out.”
- “The game has some points to polish: the performances of the voices are very well achieved, but on several occasions (especially the protagonist) lose fidelity.”
- “I cannot give any info on performance on PC, sorry.”
stability
9 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for various bugs and glitches, including issues with character sprites, incorrect voice lines, and inconsistent scene unlocking. Players have reported frequent lags and freezes, leading to significant progress loss, and the absence of promised features like controller support has further frustrated users. While the development team is noted for their responsiveness in addressing these issues, many feel the game was released prematurely.
- “The game is a bit buggy, and some scenes play differently if you want to rewatch them after unlocking.”
- “I feel it might have released a bit too early as there are still some bugs and glitches, but the team behind this is very passionate and quick to please in patching the game slowly but surely.”
- “Now because of this, I've been screwed out of six hours of progress because of how buggy everything about the game is, and I'm now hardlocked out of an important event.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its impressive art, animations, and fitting music, which together create an engaging environment. The voice acting enhances the charm of the characters, while the varied locations contribute uniquely to the overall ambiance. Overall, the combination of these elements results in a captivating and enjoyable atmosphere.
- “The art and animations are great, the music is atmospheric and perfectly suitable, and the voice acting is amazing!”
- “Sound 8/10: the soundtrack matches the atmosphere and the talented voice acting breathes life into all the charming and endearing characters.”
- “You may not get to visit too many places, but they all add something different to the atmosphere of the town.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of this game is praised for its value and integrity, standing out in a genre often plagued by low-quality cash grabs. Reviewers appreciate the evident passion and care put into the game, making it a recommended choice for players seeking a meaningful experience in the dating sim genre.
- “In a genre with so many cheap cash grabs designed to give you as little value for your dollar as possible, seeing a game with obvious passion and care makes me want to recommend it to anyone who will listen to me.”
- “Not only will you not be disappointed, but we need more games like this one in the dating sim genre instead of cheap cash grabs.”