Sucker for Love: Date to Die For

About

"Sucker for Love: Date to Die For" is a visual-novel game with a Lovecraftian horror setting, where you play as an investigator trying to escape from a labyrinthine forest after being kidnapped. To do so, you must summon and navigate a relationship with the game's new dateable entity, Rhok'zan, the Black Goat of the Woods. The game features 360-degree, hand-drawn 2D environments, multiple endings, and a nostalgic art style. Your choices will determine your fate as you try to escape the cultists' thrall and avoid the innumerable hands of The Thousand.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Sucker for Love: Date to Die For screenshot

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,706 reviews

story206 positive mentions

optimization4 negative mentions

story
414 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
49%
1%
The story of "Sucker for Love: Date to Die For" is a compelling blend of horror and romance, focusing on a single love interest while expanding on the lore and character dynamics from the first game. Players appreciate the heartfelt narrative and character development, though some feel the gameplay mechanics detract from the storytelling experience. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging plot, charming art style, and emotional depth, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “The story is so compelling and emotional, the characters having such colorful personalities with genuine attachment, and the gameplay is actually fun, a final boss battle being executed within a visual novel setup being impressive with how it was able to give real stakes and involvement, thrilling in how it necessitates movement, and how easy it is to get lost; both in fear, and within taking a few too many turns.”
- “The voice acting is stellar, the story is enchanting and builds up a lot, deepening our knowledge of the universe of the Sucker for Love series.”
- “This game really knows how to add everything in regular visual novel and make it scary, fun and complete with its main story alongside the side stories of the other characters in the game.”
- “There's also not much focus on alternate story paths in the way the first game did.”
- “The divergent paths on the story indicate you have some actual choices to make, but not really, it's more about redoing the game 20 times until you finally find the way to progress the story as it is meant to be.”
- “The lack of player agency with how the main character interacts with the story and how different it is from the first is what is the most upsetting to me.”
gameplay
278 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The gameplay has evolved significantly from the previous installment, introducing engaging mechanics such as a door-opening system and exploration elements that enhance the horror experience. While some players appreciate the added depth and tension, others find the gameplay repetitive and less focused on the dating sim aspects that defined the first game. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a mix of fun and frustration, with a strong emphasis on storytelling that may not satisfy those seeking complex mechanics.
- “The gameplay is engaging, the story is simple but heartfelt.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it is a slight improvement over the first game with having to be careful to enter rooms in order to not get a game over screen.”
- “The shift in focus is emphasized by the enhanced gameplay, with a full map to point and click through, 360-degree vision, and manual door-opening that serves as perfect jump scare bait.”
- “The gameplay is nonexistent; actually worse than nonexistent. It's pointless milling about, trying to avoid random enemies, retrying again and again to see what you need to do to avoid getting killed.”
- “The actual gameplay elements are poorly communicated to the point of it being infuriating.”
- “All that said, the game was too short and the gameplay loop often felt like it existed mostly to pad out the sparse interactions between the characters.”
humor
154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever blend of absurdity, charm, and wit, often juxtaposing comedic moments with horror elements, creating a unique experience that keeps players engaged and entertained. Many reviewers highlight the delightful character dynamics, particularly between the protagonist and the eldritch deity Rhok'zan, which add depth and humor to the narrative. While some feel that the sequel lacks the same level of humor as its predecessor, the overall consensus is that the game successfully balances funny and scary moments, making it a memorable and enjoyable dating sim.
- “The gameplay’s a bit weak, but that’s ok because it more than makes up for it with its story, a hilarious mash-up between Lovecraftian horror and magical-girl anime.”
- “It's a hilarious dating sim about smooching eldritch gods.”
- “The humor is all still very on point, and is able to lean a little more into the Lovecraftian horror influence than before.”
graphics
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The graphics of "Sucker for Love: Date to Die For" are widely praised for their vibrant and nostalgic 90s anime aesthetic, which enhances the game's charm and complements its horror-comedy narrative. Players appreciate the hand-drawn artwork, character design, and the effective use of VHS effects, although some have noted technical issues like slowdowns and crashes. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and storytelling.
- “The artstyle is honestly stunning and really hits that revamped 90's anime feel that it goes for; it's visually appealing to look at and the character art never fails to either look utterly adorable or terrifying depending on the moment.”
- “The art style is vibrant and distinctive, perfectly complementing the game's eerie atmosphere.”
- “Genuinely love the 90's anime aesthetic, the light VHS effects, the voice acting, music and ambient sounds, and the art is 10/10!”
- “This is not exactly a fully simulated universe that needs to run any serious graphics, yet somehow, in this 2D game with the barebones game elements that flash games from the early 2000s could surpass, we get constant slowdowns, non-responsive controls, and in just the first hour I had a crash of the game.”
- “Maybe it's just not for me, but compared to the first game, the aesthetic falls a little flat in terms of what I was expecting. The art is well done, don't get me wrong, but it all feels a little plain, not enough pizzazz, and the gameplay feels oddly tedious for the small amount of time that I played it. Maybe it gets better down the line, but it failed to hook me.”
- “This game hits the retro-anime aesthetic it was going for, but I feel it lacks in certain interactivity.”
emotional
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, blending horror and romance with heartfelt storytelling and engaging character dynamics, particularly between the protagonist and the eldritch deity Rhok'zan. Players report feeling a wide range of emotions, from joy to sadness, and appreciate the game's ability to create genuine attachments to its colorful characters. Overall, it is described as a surprisingly wholesome experience that effectively balances its darker themes with moments of warmth and humor.
- “The story is so compelling and emotional, the characters having such colorful personalities with genuine attachment, and the gameplay is actually fun, a final boss battle being executed within a visual novel setup being impressive with how it was able to give real stakes and involvement, thrilling in how it necessitates movement, and how easy it is to get lost; both in fear, and within taking a few too many turns.”
- “I'm ashamed to say this, but the old lady and the girl with the phone made me shed a tear :')”
- “I am not exaggerating, this game made me feel things I had never felt before.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
39%
7%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality and emotional depth, describing it as both captivating and fitting for the game's atmosphere. The soundtrack features a mix of styles, including pop and anime-inspired songs, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the stellar visuals and voice acting. Overall, the music is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's charm and replayability.
- “The soundtrack is amazing.”
- “Once again, incredible music and art and atmosphere!!!!!”
- “Enjoyable music and pleasant voice acting really sell this; I could actually see this as an OVA series on VHS during the 90s, a mix of the macabre horror and upbeat lightheartedness throughout the entire bit.”
- “The music is a pop too!”
- “It's a great mechanic to add that suspense not in the form of music or environment.”
- “Music?”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
71%
17%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including crashes and stuttering, even on high-end hardware. While some users noted that these problems did not severely detract from their overall enjoyment, the consensus is that the game struggles with optimization, particularly in fullscreen mode. Despite these challenges, some players still find the game worth playing if they can tolerate the performance hiccups.
- “I did encounter the performance issues, but they didn't significantly impact my enjoyment of the game.”
- “All in all, I would say this game is definitely worth your time, if you can stomach a bit of performance issues.”
- “First and most important of all (and easiest to fix, I wager) is the performance.”
- “It crashed my PC twice in fullscreen mode, and still performed rather poorly when in windowed mode (I even had the game set to laptop/performance mode).”
- “Performance is pretty bad even on good hardware.”
- “Half of my playthrough I played on the first public version (I think) and half with the day one patch (I think), and while this problem was somewhat remedied it still persists: the game's performance is kind of... not great.”
character development
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The character development in the game is praised for its engaging designs and art style, contributing to an immersive atmosphere. However, many players express a desire for deeper character arcs and more substantial world-building, indicating that while the visuals are strong, the narrative and emotional depth could be enhanced in future installments. Overall, the character designs are a highlight, but the development of characters and their stories leaves room for improvement.
- “Came for the well-endowed goat being, stayed for the plot, character development, scary scenes, choice matters, and art!”
- “Excellent voice acting from all the cast (including the previous game), great character design and art, interesting lore and story.”
- “I really loved the atmosphere and the character design, the art, and the whole old anime vibe going on here.”
- “Even so, I'm hoping that further installments will be more similar to the first game in terms of the number of love interests and tone while still delivering on the heartfelt moments and character developments from this installment.”
- “I also wish we had more character development or world-building.”
- “There's plenty more examples in favor of this theory too, like the 80's theme that was advertised in some of the game's promo material only being present in the menus and two character designs.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
35%
15%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant art style and exceptional music, creating an eerie yet beautiful experience that enhances both the storytelling and gameplay. Reviewers highlight the tension and unsettling qualities of the environment, which effectively contrasts with character designs reminiscent of classic anime, contributing to a unique blend of horror and humor. Overall, the atmosphere is described as immersive and engaging, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “It really creates a great atmosphere that is both unsettling and has you always questioning your surroundings.”
- “Seriously, this game is just beautiful in every way: the story, the atmosphere, the characters. I love everything about this game.”
- “Tense atmosphere and a lovable ol' goat.”
- “She's meant to be this determined and saccharine character who feels like she could have been plucked from any kids anime about the power of friendship, and I personally felt that worked well as contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the black woods.”
- “The art style is vibrant and distinctive, perfectly complementing the game's eerie atmosphere.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for frequent technical glitches, including freezing, softlocking, and lag, which can significantly disrupt gameplay. While some players noted that there are no major visual issues and enjoyed the overall experience, the persistent bugs and crashes, particularly during critical moments, detract from the enjoyment and can lead to frustration. Overall, while the game has potential, its stability issues are a notable concern for many users.
- “It constantly freezes and softlocks as a result, and I can't even back up the game and try on another computer because, for some strange reason, backups don't load and I'm brought back to square one.”
- “Laggy and glitchy: the game lags a lot and has numerous glitches from the book getting stuck, worn pieces not showing, some pages you complete are labeled as ???”
- “When I try to start up the game, my computer, which is pretty high quality, completely freezes up.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have noted that while the game is relatively short, certain aspects, such as moving around and limited interactions, can become tedious. Some reviewers found the gameplay lacking in excitement and variety, leading to a sense of monotony despite the game's brief duration. Overall, the grinding elements may detract from the experience for some players, though opinions vary on whether it improves as the game progresses.
- “Don't get me wrong, I generally liked both Hatoful Boyfriend and SFL, but I eventually found that they both grew fairly tedious and eye-rolly.”
- “Maybe it's just not for me, but compared to the first game, the aesthetic falls a little flat in terms of what I was expecting. The art is well done, don't get me wrong, but it all feels a little plain, not enough pizzazz, and the gameplay feels oddly tedious for the small amount of time that I played it. Maybe it gets better down the line, but it failed to hook me.”
- “And seventh, I'd say the game has only two drawbacks: moving around the house gets a bit tedious after a while, and I feel that there are not enough interactions with Rhok'zan.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for excessive advertising, particularly given the limited interaction and dialogue with key characters, which leaves players feeling underwhelmed after an initial brief engagement.
- “Do you need any more advertisements?”
- “You'd think a game advertising itself with a hot goat mom would have you interact with them for more than the initial 30 minutes, but it has shockingly little dialogue.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has limited replayability due to its linear narrative, which provides minimal incentive for players to engage in multiple playthroughs.
- “Limited replayability: the linear narrative may offer limited incentive for multiple playthroughs.”