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Sucker for Love: First Date

Sucker for Love: First Date

Akabaka · released Jan 19, 2022

IndieRPGSimulationPCNintendo Switch

Put the 'love' in 'Lovecraftian horror'! Perform terrifying rituals to win the affections of eldritch horrors and smooch 'em... at any cost!

89
VGC Score
Decliningmedium confidence
94%
At launch
98%
Steam all-time
79%
Press
100%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)7914
All-time Steam reviews98%941000
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)100%975
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 92.9, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 3,032 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 12 reviews sampled · 13 total reviews in window · weighted 6.4 up / 0 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (18)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 71
    trust 70Dec 23, 2022

    Trying to answer the question of what it would take to woo an eldritch bringer of the world’s destruction

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 69Feb 6, 2022

    Sucker for Love: First Date takes horror, comedy, and a hint of romance and blends them together into a short memorable, if slightly flawed, visual novel with a few surprises in store.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 66Feb 2, 2022

    Sucker for Love: First Date is a really clever melding of both horror and romance that takes a totally different route from other popular genre mashes like Doki Doki Literature Club. A wonderful dash of comedy imbues the game with an extra layer of goodness. The game managed to make me scared and laugh at the same time, so it’s such a shame that glitches are still ever-present because they really drag the experience down. I hope that Sucker for Love: Second Date may come out someday, expanding on the very solid foundation to make something even better. Oh, and to give me more unknowable horrors to kiss, of course.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 64Jan 20, 2022

    It’s not a particularly lengthy experience, but Sucker For Love probably doesn’t need all that much more to it. As it is, it’s a punchy, fun, and occasionally grim, dating sim that prefers to steer clear of the darker, dirtier lanes of cosmic horror and the raunchier, saucier side of dating sims. Yet mixes up just enough of both to make for an enjoyable treat for horror fans with a sense of humor.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 63Jan 26, 2022

    Sucker For Love: First Date is an incredibly charming and weird visual novel. Although it's held back by some technical issues and it's small scale, I hope to go on a second date

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 63Feb 14, 2022

    It’s not your normal everyday game, so I’m not judging it like one. I’m sure many, if not most, people simply won’t ‘get’ it. But if you’ve already seen images of it and it looks like something you’d enjoy, I have no hesitation recommending it whole-heartedly. Hell, you could even play it with a friend or partner, valentine’s day is coming up! I bet you’d all end up in hysterics. As for me, I’m hoping beyond hope that the subtitle ‘First Date’ indicates there’ll be more to come from this ludicrous entry. Simply put, I’m a sucker for Sucker for Love.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 62Jan 20, 2022

    Sucker for Love: First Date is an impressive visual novel that ably balances its horror and comedy, providing a unique take on the Cthulhu mythos you're unlikely to see anywhere else.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 58Jan 20, 2022

    If we take our eyes off what the P.E.N.I.S. is suggesting for a minute, Sucker for Love is a wholly enjoyable experience. The writing is hilarious and clever; especially a treat for anyone who has a Necronomicon on their shelf. Its approach to the genre is completely irreverent, and it pulls it off so well it’s flattering. It’s certainly not the longest visual novel you will find, but it’s worth forfeiting your sanity to summon. Just beware of the bugs that crawl beneath its skin.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 58Feb 25, 2022

    Despite the Elder Gods being presented as cute, quirky waifu material, Sucker for Love: First Date knows how to present its horror elements in a scary way: bloody rituals, terrible spells and their consequences.

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  • 75
    trust 57Feb 7, 2022

    Akabaka made a fun dating simulator based on a crazy narrative with Sucker for Love: First Date. Much like in real life, as each date occurs the game gets better and better, but also like in real life, it is still flawed in some areas.

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  • 60
    trust 57Jan 24, 2022

    Sucker For Love stands out for its bold premise and talented voice work, but aside from that, it can be a chore to actually play through. Its gameplay feels like padding to its core, and the writing, while occasionally humorous, presents itself as unfocused. The lack of grace with tonal balance ultimately makes this title a questionable venture that is best perceived as an entertaining experiment and nothing more. Still, its price point is fair, so if you’re moderately intrigued by what this game offers, it’s worth giving it a shot.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 56Feb 28, 2022

    Ignoring Sucker for Love: First Date would be a huge loss. It’s the best dating sim I’ve ever played and potentially the game of the year. It perfectly blends comedy and horror, features phenomenal voice acting and truly funny dialogues, and offers multiple endings. I can’t wait for the sequel.

    read full review ↗

…and 6 more tracked reviews.

Patch history