Mystery? and romance are both bedrocks of fiction, but their combination gives rise to something that remains as of yet unbeaten in ?the entire history of literature.

Every great tale has a bit of romance in it. Every memorable story takes advantage of suspense and mystery to keep the readers hooked. And the two of them together turn out to be entirely too irresistible to bookworms all over the world. Whether it falls on you the reader to piece together the puzzle and divine the hidden truth of a tale or the writer to suddenly upend your expectations, the idea is to keep you on your toes throughout the narrative. As for romance, what is character dynamic and chemistry without a bit of sexual tension? Or a tinge of soc?ial apprehension and dysphoria?

From the beginning of the Romanticism movement in the 18th century, mystery romance has remained a potent and insightful storytelling tradition, and even now, it manages to steal hearts and rope in readers with as little as a simple enigmatic premise. So, in case you're itching for your next fiction mystery romance book, read ahead for some of our best picks, old and new, from across the literary timeline.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

A highly acclaimed and revered young adult trilogy, followed by a standalone sequel, The Inheritance Games tells the story of Avery Grambs, who is suddenly bestowed with the immense fortune of a billionaire named Tobias Hawthorne. Avery has no idea why she was chosen, but she has to move to the Hawthorne mansion to claim this unexpected inheritance. The only problem is that the Hawthorne mansion is filled with secrets, mysteries, puzzles, and dangers, with Avery trying to uncover the truth and maneuver her way through Tobias�disgruntled family—especially his four grandsons. Trust me when I say that you’ll never be bored with The Inheritance Games and its intrica?te ??plot, not to mention the layered romance sitting at the heart of the adventure.

Five Decembers by James Kestrel

One of the best books of the past decade, Five Decembers turned into an instant classic when it came out in 2017, largely thanks to Kestrel’s nuanced and atmospheric storytelling. You follow a detective called McGrady, who is investigating a brutal murder case at the height of World War II. McGrady’s story takes him to several regions in the war-torn world of the late �0s, and amid all the horrors of the conflict that rages across different countries, he finds solace in the company of a female partner, with whom he develops a romantic relationship. Five Decembers is epic, mysterious, and s?urprisingly rich, not only offering readers a gripping mys??tery thriller but also a profound historical study of the times.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Released at the height of gothic romance traditions of the 20th century, Rebecca is the story of an unmarried young woman who weds a widower called Maxim de Winter and moves into his great estate. The unnamed protagonist of our story soon learns that the Maxim estate is haunted by the master’s former wife, Rebecca, who died under mysterious circumstances. The narrator soon grows obsessed with Rebecca and the circumstances surrounding her death and struggles to learn the truth about the de Winter household, while simultaneously dealing with the tense dynamic she has with Maxim himself. Rebecca explores?? themes of identity and jealousy, with a boatload of suspense and twisting re?velations added in for good measure.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

This is admittedly a bit of an odd choice for this list, but the romance in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo—while uncomfortable and unconventional—is rooted in past trauma and complex power dynamics. You follow the tale of Mikael Blomkvist, a discredited journalis?t, and Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant hacker, as they come together to explore the mystery of Harriet’s vanishing, the niece of an old businessman who went missing 40 years ago.

The author Stieg Lars?son claimed that he got the inspiration for Lisbeth when he bore witness to a friend of his getting gang raped by three men. In his account, Larsson stood by and did nothing, which later wracked him with guilt. Later, one of Larsson’s colleagues revealed that the author only heard this tale second-hand, and then passed it off as his own. The ??truth of the matter remains ambiguous to date, but the fact does lend a lot of depth to the character of Lisbeth Salander as she develops a bond with Mikael and attempts to deal with past traumas.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

The story of Big Little Lies takes place in an idyllic suburb in Australia. You follow three women—Jane, Celeste, and Madeline—whose children attend the same school. Each of them is dealing with their own personal struggles like domestic abuse, past trauma, and infidelity, and as the mysterious plot of Big Little Lies unravels around a sudden murder at the school, Jane, Celeste, and Madeline have to piece the puzzle together and lear??n the truth at the heart of this unlikely ?tale.

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

One of the most popular mystery romance novels in recent memory, Then She Was Gone is about the disappearance of a 15-year-old girl named Ellie. Ten years later, Ellie’s mother Laurel is still grieving the loss of her little girl, when, unexpectedly, she meets a man n?amed Floyd and is immediately attracted to him. Floyd has a 9-year-old daughter called Poppy, who bears a striking resemblance to Ellie. Meeting Poppy compels our main character to dig up old, unresolved traumas surrounding Ellie, and she?? begins to unravel a dark web of secrets at the heart of her life in a tension-filled narrative that explores themes of love, loss, and closure.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

One of the greatest novels in the English language, and a timeless exploration of love and morality with a deep sense of social, religious, and class criticism embedded in its core, Jane Eyre is still one of my foremost picks when it comes to the romantic and Gothic traditions. But it also?? serves that the novel is a mysterious ride as the titular character tries to discern the true nature of Mr. Rochester, with whom she falls in love. Jane’s love burns hot and fierce, but is weighed down, alas, by the moral dilemmas involving Rochester’s past life.

You might assume that many trendy "romantasy" books of the past decade, buoyed up to an absurd degree thanks to social media and "BookTok," are a post-modern invention, but that would be a very reductive way of thinking about it. Many strong heroines of fiction trace their roots to works like Jane Eyre—as do many feminist undertones in literary traditions of the past century. The Brontë sisters were all about questioning gender roles and criticizing the social hierarchie?s of the Vi?ctorian era, but their work still remains a relevant and quintessential piece of social studies in our modern times.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Imaginative, poetic, and sensational. These are the best words to describe The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. The 2011 romance fantasy novel has been compared to many classic works like Harry Potter and Neil Gaiman's Stardust because it involves magic, mysticism, and a fair bit of romance. The story follows a magical circus that appears without warning and only operates during the night. We follow a non-linear narrative centering around two young magicians, Celia and Marco, engaged in a high-stakes magical duel. Their spells, illusions, and wondrous ??apparitions soon create chaos w??ithin the circus, trapping a cast of unforgettable characters in the midst of their shenanigans.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Diana Bishop teaches history of science at Yale University, and by all tokens, she's nothing but a reluctant scholar. Yet there's more to this heroine than meets the eye, even if she doesn't know it yet. Diana has magical powers, which she has suppressed after the death of her parents. One day, when conducting her research in Oxford, Diana comes upon an occult manuscript that reignites her powers and brings her to the attention of mythical and supernatural beings like demons and vampires. Among these monsters is Matthew Clairmont, who gets involved with Diana and eventually falls in love with her. A Discovery of Witches remains a timeless classic of the fantasy romance as well as the my?stery romance genres.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

I wonder if anyone regardless of the depth of their grasp of literature could say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what genre Wuthering Heights belongs to. It’s certainly among the strangest works of fiction I’ve ever come across, and try as I might to divine all of its hidden meanings and allusions, it still eludes comprehension to a large degree. But as far as conventional wisdom allows, Wuthering Heights indeed belongs to the romantic tradition, and since the reader is suddenly thrust into the remote countryside of Yorkshire, England, and has to slowly unravel the mystery of Wuthering Heights, its peculiar Tennant's, and its eccentric?? owner Mr. Heathcliff, it’s safe to presume that it? belongs on this list as well.

Wuthering Heights is a haunting, grim tale of love, loss, and abuse. It underlines some of the darkest human tendencies, teaching us about class, prejudice, resentment, and the importance of a decent upbringing. It is poetic, yet brutal; It is romantic, yet cruel; It is mystifying, yet depressive. And it is, arguably, one of the best novels you could read in your lifetime. If you want to see the best and worst of humanity all in one tale, do yourself a favor and pick up Wuthering Heights.

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It doesn’t matter whether you’re happily settled in an amazing relationship, or dreaming of finding your pe???rfect someone, we all long for some romance in our lives. If you want to live vicariously through others, or want some inspiration, romance books are great. 

I’m a fan ??of romance, although I’m not sure there’s anyone in the world who could say otherwise. Whether it’s on the screen or within the pages of a book, there’s something so special about witnessing the growth of a relationship between two people, living through their drama with them, and coming out on the other?? side for better or worse. 

Romance books are also the perfect basis for romance movies, and most of the books on this list have been turned into a movie eit?her directly or as inspiration. Some of them have become tropes in their own rig??ht, while others have become beloved and classic flicks to curl up and cry over.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (1996)

Noah a?nd Allie, two people who meet during the summer and fall head over heels in love with each other, only to be parted by the judgement of others and the end of the season. Except that’s not the end. Noah, sworn in to a promise to build Allie her perfect waterfront home, bumps into her later on when she’s already engaged to another man. Heartbreak, frustration, hope, and true love all feature heavily in this absolute classic. 

The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary (2019)

Imagine sharing a one bedroom home with someone that you’ve never met because you work opposite hours. And then imagine falling in love with this person despite having never met them, through their belongings and consideration displayed through notes left around the house. That’s the plot of The Flat Share, and it’s an interesting and very cute read.

The? Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2003)

If you’re a fan of Doctor Who, this plot might be vaguely familiar to you. Henry has a condition that he can’t control, which sends him traveling through time against his will. Clare has known Henry since they first met when she was six, while in Henry’s mixed-up timeline he meets her for the first time when she’s 20. She spends all of life waiting for him to appear, while he hops around his own timeline. If you’re not put off by time travel and out-of-order storytelling, The Time Traveler’s Wife is de??finitely worth a read??, although it’s quite sad so grab some tissues.

The Love of my Af??terlife by Kirsty Greenwood (2024)

Let me set the scene: you die in the most embarrassing way you could imagine (choking on a microwave burger) and suddenly find yourself in front of the most attractive person you’ve ever seen in the waiting room which comes before the afterlife. Except he’s not supposed to be dead yet, and is returned to his life. That’s what happens in The Love of my Afterlife and in order to find this mysterious not-quite-dead stranger again, Delphie is sent ??back down to earth with a 10 day deadline to find him again, and no ??idea where to begin. 

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (1597)

I can’t write a list about romance without including the inspiration for countless more recent books and movies, Romeo and Juliet. Two teenagers from opposing families fall in love, only to be forced apart by their families beliefs. It all ends in disaster, of course, but the fact that this Sha?kespearian tale has gone on to inspire a whole world of other familiar stories earns it a place on this list.

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (2003)

Meeting the love of your life and starting your journey together is a wonderful thing, until it gets cut short by an inoperable brain tumor. However, Gerry had time to prepare for his death and, knowing that Holly will be a mess without him, he organizes some help for her during the grieving process. From notes, to gifts, and even a vacation th??at reminds her that she has another chance at love, Gerry provides it all from beyond the grave. 

A word of war??ning, you will cry, so make sure to have some tissues on hand. 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (2012)

Lou finds herself out of the job and in need of a new one, and takes on the challenge of being the home carer for Will, who became paralyzed in a motorcycle accident. He’s made a deal with his parents that he will give them six final months before heading to Dignitas in Switzerland to peacefully die. Lou tries to give him a re??ason to liv?e, and they do fall in love, but it’s not enough to make him change his mind.

Of all th?e books on this list (??and their movie adaptations), this one is the one that absolutely broke me. It’s full of the worst kind of heartbreak, learning to accept others as they are, and respecting the decisions of those you love most, even if you don’t agree with them at all. 

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella (2023)

Burnout is real, and Sasha has hit the wall. Instead of letting it take her down, she goes off to her childhood escape, a beach in Devon. All is well, despite how run down the area has become, until a stranger with his own issues shows up and throws a spanner in the works. After ignoring each other, and then butting heads, the two are drawn together by notes on the beach and then events unfold that neither expected. This is a very cute and fun ??read, and hugely relatable to anyone who has ever just wanted to get away from life's hardships.

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey (2022)

It’s a story that’s?? been told over and over again; two people fall in love while one of them tries to help the other get the attention of someone else. Fox is a notorious ladiesâ€?man, and his best friend Hannah knows it only too ??well. However, as he tries to help her attract her co-worker, feelings develop that she can’t ignore. Little does she know that he’s having a very similar problem himself, except neither can be honest about their own feelings. 

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (1996)

This list would simply be incomplete without the inclusion of the romance novel (and movie) series which shaped adolescence for my entire generation. And now I’m the a?ge that Bridget was when she started her diary, and despite having read this book when it was first published back in the early 2000s, everything makes so much more sense now. 

Bridget needs to take control of her life, and s??he’ll do it through a diary. Everything goes into the diary: successes, heartbreaks, embarrassments, and everything in between. And then there’s Mark Darcy, who is snobby and immediately disliked by Bridget, but they played together as children, so surely he?? can’t be all bad?

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I’ve been reading since I was very young, and I’ve spent many hours in both public and school libraries with my nose buried in a book. As a teenager, an??d admittedly ever since, I’ve found myself drawn to stories of first love and discovery. 

The??re are countless books about first love out there, and they all come with their own heartwarming moments??, as well as a whole heap of relatable moments. Over my many years, I’ve come across some books which stand out for their storytelling, or how long their lessons remain with you. I’ve scoured my physical and online libraries to list 10 of the best.

It probably won’t escape your attention that a lot of the books on this list have been turned into movies. All of them are very goo??d adaptations, and if you’re not willing to give up your time to read the books, then I can highly recommend each of their silver screen counterparts before diving into the source material. 

The Fault in our Stars

John Green (2012)

Just going to start this list with possibly the most heartbreaking story on it, The Fault in Our Stars, which has been adapted into a blockbust??er movie.

Imagine meeting someone, falling irrevocably in love with them, and then losing them to the scourge that is Cancer. Then, as if that isn’t bad enough, imagine doing thi?s while battling your own fight against the dis??ease during your teenage years. It’s a heartbreaking and terrifying prospect, you will sob while being unable to put this book down, and the story told by John Green will stay with you forever in some capacity. 

It Only Happens in the Movies

Holly Bourne (2017)

Recently dumped by her boyfriend, with her parents going through a divorce, Audrey has given up on the idea of love and roman??ce. At least until she gets a job and her coworker begins a ??relentless endeavour to win her over. 

I think we’ve all been in this situation at least once, where love feels like too much hassle and having our heart broken all over again isn’t worth the risk of falling for someone new. Whether it’s happened recently, or we remember that feeling from our younger years, It Only Happens in the Movies is relatable at any ag??e and enlightening ??for a younger audience. 

Five Feet Apart

Rachael Lippincott (2018)

There’s a whole subsection of teenage romance books which revolve around young people with medical issues. I’ve noted one in The Fault in our Stars, but there are two more on this list, and Five Feet Apart is the second of them.?? It’s also been adapted into a movie.

Two teenagers with Cystic Fibrosis meet and fall in love, but cannot get within five feet of each other due to the risk of infections because of their compromised immune systems. They can’t touch, not to hold hands or god forbid they kiss, but the events which take place bring them much closer together than it’s safe for them to be. I honestly never thought I'd find a book to rival The Fault in Our Stars in terms of "this is going to break your ??heart", but this one is definitely up there. Bring some tissues.

Everything Everything

Nicola Yoon (2015)

The last of our medically induced hardship romances is Everything Everything, which agai?n, has been turned into a movie that I can highly recommend. 

Imagine spending your whole life in a self-contained bubble because you’re so sick that even stepping foot outside of the bubble could cause you serious harm or worse. Then, a cute boy moves in next door and suddenly, you find yourself wanting to venture outside of the safety of home. That’s where this story s?tarts, but it certainly isn’t where it ends. 

There’s an absolutely heartbreaking twist in Everything Everything which will have you questioning everything, but the true joy in this book comes from the growth of its characters, as well as their love for each o??ther and the determination to be more than you think you can be. 

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Tom Bromley (2002)

Moving on to something slightly less gut-wrenching and more light-hearted, Crazy Little Thing Called Love focuses on Will and his adventures upon joining a band. The singer of the band is r?ich, has the most amazing girlfriend who he ins?ists on taking for granted, and Will wants better for her. Ideally, he would be the better person she would fall in love with. 

There’s a lot of sexual moments in this book, so I can’t say I recommend it to a particularly young reader, but I first read Crazy Little Thing Called Love when I was 14?? and it didn’t do me any harm. The book still holds a space on both ?my shelf and in my memory, and I highly recommend giving it a try.

The Statistical Probability of? Love at First Sight

Jennifer E. Smith (2011)

Let me set the scene: You’re stuck in JFK Airport after missing your flight, you’re having a horrible day, and you want to get to where you were meant to be. Suddenly, a cute bo??y catches your eye and you find out he’s British, and not only is he supposed to be on the same flight as you, but he’s sitting in your row. You spend the whole flight talking, only to lose track of eac?h other upon landing without having exchanged contact details. 

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight plays out over a 24 hour period, tracking the story of two youngsters in their desperate efforts to somehow, miraculously find ?their way back to each other. Technically not teenagers, because she's 20 and he's 22, but they are each other's fir?st love so... I'm counting it. I’ve never forgotten this story, and it might restore your belief in love at first sight. 

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

Louise Rennison (1999)

Of all the books on this list, this one is definitely aimed towards a younger audience who have yet to experience their first ‘true�love. However, at the age of 33, I still love this b??ook and the movie adaptation of it.

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging is actually the first book in a 10 book series which follows the coming-of-age story of Georgia Nicholson. There’s a lot of things that might make less sense to American readers than British, but if you can get past that, you’re in for a lot of laughs and lots of moments that anyone can relate to. Imagine Bridget Jones, but with far less life experience.

Opposite of Always

Justin A. Reynolds (2019)

Opposite of Always is one of those books which doesn’t wait until the end to break your heart and leave you emotionally scarred. Two teenagers, Jack and Kate, meet at a party. She wins his heart and his friends' affection, and then she dies. But that’s not where the story ends, because if it was, this book ??wouldn’t have made my?? list. ;

After her death, Jack is sent back in time to the moment when they first met, and he has the chance to prevent her from ever dying. But if he chooses to keep her alive, that choice has hefty? consequences for someone else in his life, and he has to ??make the choice between changing history or simply reliving the sad tale all over again. 

It’s Kind of a Funny Story

Ned Vizzini (2006)

The movie adaptation of It’s Kind of a Funny Story is one of my favorite movies of all time, and the book holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just a story of teen??age love, but one of finding yourself and your confidence, overcoming mental? illness, deciding what you want to be, and discovering hope for the future. 

The pressure of getting into the perfect highschool and making his parents happy sends Craig G?ilner on a self destructive path of starvation, insomnia and, eventually, a suicide attempt. He checks into a mental hospit?al where he meets friends, and a beautiful girl, who help him find the joy in life and confront his anxieties.

Better Than the Movies

Lynn Painter (2021)

Better Than the Movies might be the only book on this list to be entirely centered around a teenage love triangle, and it’s a story?? that’s been told time and again throughout literary history. A girl has a crush o?n a boy, and her annoying (but attractive) neighbor is friends with her crush, and agrees to help her in her efforts to get her crush's attention. 

However, it’s never that straightforward, and soon she ends up discovering that what she needs might have been under her nose the entire time. Better Than the Movies is about discovering that perfection doesn??’t exist, and maybe you need to dig a little deeper to figure out what will really bring you happiness. It’s a cliché, but that doesn’t make it any less heartwarming?? to read. 

The post 10 Great Teenage Romance Books Full of First Love appeared first on Destructoid.

Like everyone else who read Romeo and Juliet in middle school, I know love stories can get gritty. I have a medically concerning soft spot for wholesome romance novels, but I can't turn down a dreadful ballad of passions gone wrong (or rig??ht, depending on who you ask) either.

Dark roma?nce stories take our emotions and play with them like putty, bending and beating them until all we can do is? beg their star-crossed leads to make out, draw blood, or somehow do both at the same time. So let's break the sentimental Play-Doh and sink our teeth into the top ten darkest romance books ever penned.

Different strokes for different folks

My time on Archive of Our Own has taught me that people have very different definitions of "dark and twisted romance." Typical common denominators in?clude morally grey protagonists with dubious but consistent codes of ethics and a willingness to explore exceptionally taboo subjects, such as the subversion of consent, one-sided obsession, and the potential for abuse lurking within all relationships.

Every boo?k on this list features these elements to some capacity, and I’ve ordered them based on how well each uses these tropes to weave the tale of lust at their shadowed, sw??eaty centers.

10. Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

Dark romance books are, well, dark, but Haunting Adeline is easily the ?darkest I've read. Best-selling author Adeline Riley thinks she’s in for a relaxing sabbatical when she inherits her late grandmother’s mansion. Instead, she ends up becoming the newest obsession of Zane, a murderous vigilante who preys on human traffickers, pedophiles, and other criminals wh?o target women and children.

I feel obligated to warn you that Haunting Adeline is about as dark?? as a book can get. It’s almost laughable how grim this book sometimes gets, an??d its sheer gratuitousness could be a major turnoff for many readers. I stress again: read with caution.

9. Fifty Shades of Gray by E. L. James

I’m probably not winning many originality points with this pock, but it’d be blasphemous not to put this legendary piece of obscene literature on this list somewhere. Anastasia “Ana�Steele, freshly graduated from Washington State University, chances upon an opportunity to interview Christian Grey, an a?loof business magnate. Falling for his charm, Ana soon finds herself locked in a surre?al relationship with Christian, one defined by emotional distance, paperwork, and the entrepreneur’s obsession with BDSM.

Fifty Shades of Grey is m??ore sexually charged than an elephant swimming in musth, and there’s something commendable about the boldness with which E. L. James explores BDSM culture. That said, James�prose is about as papery as papyrus, and BDSM supporters and detractors have both made compelling arguments against the book’s representation o?f the practice.

8. The Risk by S.T. Abby

I’m not much of a “true crime guy,�but The Risk helped me understand (somewhat) why some people find serial killers so fascinating. Lana’s out for revenge against the people who ruined her life, and she’s not afraid to paint the walls red to get it. When Logan Bennet, an F.B.I. profiler, starts closing in ??on her??, Lana decides the only way to deter him is to give him something else to focus on: a relationship with her.

The Risk doesn’t pull its punches, although I will admit it doesn’t go as far as Chasing Madeline. S.T. Abby knows how to get inside the mind of a screwed-up soul, and she’s not afraid to show how far Lana’s willing to go to achieve her vision of jus?tice against those who’ve wronged her. If you’re looking for a twisted romance that wades into the dark but doesn't w??allow in it, this book’s for you.

7. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

While it's not nearly as ubiquitous as over a decade ago, Twilight left a bite mark on the public imagination that no metric of contemporary critique can hope to bury. During her first biology class in her new school, Bella Swan?? sits beside Edward Cullen, a mysterious outcast. After her investigation into the Cullen family reveals Edward’s true, vampiric nature, Bella finds herself sucked into a hidden world of ancient secrets, mortal danger, and untamable passion.

Unlike its movie adaption, Twilight is a surprisingly slow burn. Stephenie Meyer takes h??er time pulling back the veil over vampire society's complex inner workings and gives Bella and Edward’s relationship time to develop into something interesting. While a drought of character depth mars it, the book has an undeniable magnetism that later books in the series failed to replicate.

6. The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori

The seedy world of organized crime lends itself well to stories about dangerous, all-or-nothing romance, and The Sweetest Oblivion understands that fact well. Elena, the “princess�of a well-connected mafia family, is far from the happiest person in the room when she l??earns of her little sister’s engagement to Nicolas Russo, the up-and-coming head of a rival outfit. A secret admirer of the innate br??utality of her family's business, Elena finds herself drawn to Nicolas, or rather, the power a relationship with him could give her.

High-stakes poker games, shady back-alley dealings, and explosive?? gunfights abound in this high-voltage tale of inter-criminal romance. Elena’s smooth tongue and decisive ruthlessness make her a satisfyingly active protagonist, but Danielle Lori never allows her to slip into a thick plate of plot armor. An omnipresent sense of dread permeates every scene, with threats on both sides of the law waiting in the wings to snap up Elena if she loses the game of wits she’s gotten herself into.

5. God of Malice by Rina Kent

Most people see dating as a keystone of the college experience, but God of Malice shows how dangerous a secondary school relationship can get. Killian Ca??rson is a manipulative, remorseless psychopath who’s fooled everyone into thinking he’s the softest guy on campus. Well, everyone except Glyndon King, the quick-witted and outspoken black sheep of an artistic family who, in her own way, is just as broke??n as Killian is.

God of Malice's charm (for severe want of a better word) lies in the mutual instability of its leads. Killian and Glyndon are not the most well-adjusted individuals, and their competitive and volatile relationship propels the? novel’s story forward in exciting and unpredictable ways. There’s also something bizarrely wholesome about their connection, as the two quickly realize that??, for all their quarreling, they've both finally found someone who understands and accepts them.

4. Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux

What if a demon fell for a sacrificial virgin? That question summarizes the inciting incident of Her Soul to Take well. Leon, an infernal conjured from the depths of the Underworld, finds himself at a loss when he feels compelled to spare Rae, the captive sacrifice offered to him by a cult. Rae’s just as confused by this development, and the two soon find themselves loc?ked in a battle to save Rae’s soul from the persistent cult.

Her Soul to Take is an occult rom-com filled with supernatural hijinks. Leon and Rae's dynamic is unique and entertaining. Throughout, the two swap between being the master and the student as each learns more about the othe??r’s world. Harley Laouroux’s prose occasionally comes off a shade too serious, but the author knows how to have fun with their demonically creative premise.

3. Hooked by Emily McIntire

Hooked is a book that shows how much fun an author can have with a classic story that’s crossed into the realm of the public domain. In this re-telling of Peter Pan, “Captain�James Hook is the dashing young leader of a rebellious band of ruffians locked in a war with Peter, reimagined here as a??n aging, child-exploi??ting crime boss. The perfect opportunity for revenge comes to James when Peter’s daughter Wendy crosses his path, but things, naturally, get complicated as his feelings for his enemy’s offspring deepen.

My favorite part of any genre-bending fairy tale reimagining is seeing what th?e writer does with elements from the original. Peter Pan is already one of the most imaginative stories ever told. Emily McIntire constantly finds clever ways to adapt the Lost Boys, Smee, and other iconic characters, locales, and themes from J.M. Barrie’s childhood-defining classic, and these new interpretations help bolster the surprisingly endearing romance that blossoms between James and Wendy.

2. We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Young adult dystopia novels love to lock their adolescent protagonists in a cramped room with their hormones, but We Set the Dark on Fire pushes this element onto center stage. The authoritarian nation of Medio ??trains aristocratic young women to become the wives of the country's ruling elite, and they’ve paired Daniela Vargas with the son of a prominent military family. What Medio’s rulers don’t know is that Daniela’s a member of the revolution, and she’s planning ?to tear her nation’s oppressive government down from the inside.

We Set the Dark on Fire combines the ominous social commentary of A Handmaid’s Tale with the cathartic “eat-the-rich�vibes of Red Rising. Daniela is an insightful and inspiring protagonist, and Tehlor Kay Mejia’s thoughtful prose allows her to speak artfully about some very relevant issues, like ?female autonomy and class division. Daniela's relationship with her young, idealistic husband-to-be provides plenty of steamy material for romance fans to work with and adds much-needed levity to an otherwise heavy story.

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

If you didn't see this one coming, you either haven't been to a coffee shop in a while or weren’t paying attention while you were there last. Feyre, the daughter of a?? falle??n noble family, isn’t thinking about much other than survival when she puts an arrow through a wolf that tries to steal a deer she was hunting. So when a High Fey lord bursts into her family’s cabin, reveals the wolf she killed was his servant, and explains that she must accompany the lord to the realm of Prythian to repay her debt, she willingly goes to spare her loved ones.

A Court of Thorns and Roses has everything a fan of twisted romance books could ask for: a pair of deep and nuanced leads with unique moral codes,?? a world of strange creatures and stranger magics, and a plot that t?ouches on themes of guilt, redemption, and the restorative power of love. Grab a copy and hop on the “ACOTAR�bus. I’ll save you a seat.

The post Best Dark Romance Books For Fans of T?wisted Love Stories appeared first on Destructoid.

Romance anime can get a bad rep. For all of the beaut??iful stories they can tell, they have to compete with the less-than-stellar options that outsiders like to balk at. However, the romance subgenre has plenty of must-watch anime series.

Many romance anime follow a similar formula: two primary love interests slowly grow cl??oser together, jumping ?over dramatic hurdles, before eventually confessing their feelings at the end of the story. Along the way, one or more rivals usually come along and create a love triangle, or something even messier.

In its worst form, romance anime can rely on these tropes to get from start to finish without adding any substance. Stories ??that break this mold, or at least present this formula in a refreshing light, earned a place on this list.

Best romance anime of all time ranked

Here is a complete list of the best? rom?ance anime.

Honorable mention: Fruits Baskets

Where to watch: Hulu

Coming in just outside the top 10 list, it wouldn't be a proper romance anime ranking without mentioning Fruits Basket. The anime will make you feel every range of emotions from laughing to crying, and sometimes all in the same episode.?? The large cast of characters have difficult pasts and hard-to-explain relationships that get explored a??nd fleshed out over the course of a three-season run that culminates in one of the strongest finales in anime.

10. Lovely Complex 

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

This one's for all of the short kings out there. Standing five feet, nine inches tall, Risa is much taller than the average Japanese high school girl, while Atsushi is much shorter than his classmates. Both characters butt heads and have their differences, but it's clear from the very start that undeniable chemistry exists. Lovely Complex doesn't reinve?nt the wheel, but it doesn't need to when you have two lovable protagonists who make you laugh every time they are on screen together.

9. Teasing Master Takakgi-San

Where to watch: Crunchyroll (Season 1), Netflix (Season 2)

Teasing Master Takagi-San perfects simplicity. Midd?le-school students Nishikata and Takagi sit next to each other ??in class, and each episode is broken up into several short stories about Takagi finding new ways to prank Nishikata. You know exactly what will happen in every episode, yet the payoff is always worth it. Nishikata always tries to get revenge but comically fails, and watching the two attempt to constantly outsmart each other is adorable.

8. Hi Score Girl

Where to watch: Netflix

Hi Score Girl captures what it was like growing up in the 1990s and falling in love with video games. Two awkward high schoolers start as arcade rivals but bond over their passion. Hi Score Girl manga author Renusuke Oshikiri loved video games, and the adaptation faithfully displays those emotions on sc?reen. For what's mostly a wholesome story, the gut-wrenching ending makes the anime that much more special.

7. Your Lie in April

Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu

Be prepared to cry while watching Your Lie in April, because the anime hammers you with one tragedy after another. Piano prodigy Kosei Arima can no longer hear the piano after his mother dies. After giving up playing again, he falls in love with a violinist who inspires him to return to the stage. What comes next is an emotional rollercoaster that taps into every emotion. Without spoiling too much, Your Lie in April has beautiful music and tackles issues that would be nearly impossible ??for other romance anime to attempt.

6. Nana

Where to watch: Hulu

High-school romance is the most common setting for this anime genre. So it was a breath of fresh air watching Nana, which portrayed what it's like being a woman in her early 20s. Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu navigate the struggles of being in traumatic relationships and other stressful situations that come wi??th trying to find your place in the worl?d.

5. Kimi ni Todoke 

Where to watch: Crunchyroll (Seasons 1 & 2), N??et?flix (Season 3)

High-school freshman Sawako Kuronuma is ignored and bullied by her classmates because of her off-putting appearance, while Shota Kazehaya is respected and admired by all his classmates. The unlikely duo become friends, and it is heartwarming to watch Sawako slowly come out of her shell and find happiness. After the second season ended in 2011, it looked as though we might never see the pair on screen again. However, Netflix picked up the anime, and Kimi ni Todoke is returning for a third season in August, 2024.

4. Horimiya 

Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Amazon Prime

Horimiya cuts to the chase, as Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura quickly fall for each other and become a couple. Usually, we have to wait until the end of the first season or even later for the two leads to confess, but it was refreshing to follow the story of these likable partners. Accompanied by gorgeous visuals and a great soundtrack, Horimiya is one of the best romance anime from the past few years and d?eserves?? a watch.

3. Chihayafuru 

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

At its core, Chihayafuru is about Chihaya Ayase on her journey to become the best karuta player in Japan. So, while I would mostly classify this as a spor??ts anime, there is a love triangle front and center that drives the story forward from start to finish. The complicated relationship between Arata Wataya and Taichi Mashima as they try to formulate their feelings for Chihaya while also pursuing success in karuta makes for scintillating television.

Each season?? gets better than the last, building up to a finale worth all of the buildup. Even if you aren't a sports anime fan, karuta is much different than your average competition. And all the relationships, including the side characters, are some of the best in anime.

2. Kaguya-sama: Love is War

Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Amazon Prime

Kaguya-sama: Love is War marks an incredible achievement for romance anime. Several romance anime have garnered praise and worldwide popularity, but arguably not to the extent of this gem. Similar to Teasing Master Takakgi-San, Kaguya-sama: Love is War is about two high school prodigies in the student council, locked in a competition to make the other person confess their love - for each other. Both protagonists pull off elaborate plans to make the other crack, and its hilarious and wholesome. Yet halfway through the series, Kaguya-sama: Love is War takes a? surprising twist and includes some of the best character development in anime, as the high school students deal with relatable challenges that you have surely gone through as well.

1. Cross Game 

Where to watch: N/A

Cross Game checks off every box of what I want from romance anime, despite not being as popular or critically acclaimed as other names on this list. In the first episode, a shocking t?ragedy lays the groundwork for a complicated and turbulent love story of two childhood friends overcoming grief.

Motivated by a dream to win a high school baseball championship, Ko Kitamura and Aoba Tsukishima battle conflicting emotions in a beautifully moving story of overcoming resentment. Cross Game follows both protagonists from when they were kids all the way through high school as they develop an inseparable relationship that feels different than what you normally find from a love story. It also helps that Cross Game ?has one of the best anime opening songs I can remember, but what really left me wanting more after the final pitch was how close I grew to the characters and their struggle to reach acceptance over such a dramatic event.

The post 10 best romance anime of all time appeared first on Destructoid.

You and me could have a bear romance

Baldur's Gate 3 is just under a month away, at this point, and today Larian Studios hosted a Panel From Hell to celebrate the impending ??launch on PC. It featured a new Origin character with a unique playstyle, to??ns of gameplay details, and one very fraught scene with a Druid.

One of the big reveals of the Panel was the new Origin character, teased in its online mystery game, who is more like an Origin archetype: the Dark Urge. Much like Larian's work on Divinity, Baldur's Gate 3 will have ?the option to play as either a created character or one of the Origin characters who would otherwise ??be party members, like Shadowheart or Astarion.

The Dark Urge is a fully customizable Origin. Though they default to an alabaster dragonborn, you can play them as anyone. The Dark Urge is more about what resides in your character: an insatiable need for blood and carnage. While others deal with normal concerns, the Urge's battle is all about ignoring or indulging their impulses. They'll be guided by a vile servant named Sceleritas Fel, voiced by Divinity: Original Sin 2's narrator Brian Bowles.

Additionally, Larian added a little more voice talent to the lineup today. Maggie Robertson, who voiced Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village, is playing the third central antagonist of Baldur's Gate 3: a shapeshifter named Orin the Red. Alongside Jason I?saacs' Lord Enver Gortash and J.K. Simmons' General Ketheric Thorm, that's a star-studded rogues gallery.

The wait is un-bear-able

Of course, there was one moment of today's Panel From Hell that lit up social media. Larian showed off some of the romantic scenes in Baldur's Gate 3, which are an obvious draw for any weary, impatient BioWare fans. The first was a sweet, innocent scene with Karlach, the newly announced Barbarian character, ??as they go on a date with a cre??ated character.

The next scene was not quite so innocent. The player, as Astarion, met with the druid Halsin in the woods for a romanti?c rendezvous. And when Halsin wild-shaped into his literal bear form, things... escalated. I'll let Larian's own spokesperson take it from here:

"Have you ever considered the joys and pleasures of sexual congress with a wildshaped Druid?" said?? lead writer Adam Smith in a press release. "Because at Larian, we have, and ultimately landed on the side of giving the people what they want: tender, consensual romance with a man temporarily transformed into a grizzly bear."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW846h6FyU4&t=??19999s

As Larian founder and creative director Swen Vincke noted, the bear scene was steamy enough to get the studio banned on TikTok. The news ??was met with uproarious?? cheers from the live studio audience.

Thoughts on wild, wild-shaped romance aside, it does at least show Larian is doing the due diligence of recreating a tabletop experience. I can count the times I've played Dungeons & Dragons on one hand, but know enough about tabletop pals to know there's no way this exact topic hasn't come up before, amid suppressed giggles, at some table, somewhere. And it seems like Larian's light-hearted about the matter, too; in an interview with IGN, Vincke characterized the scene as "hila?rious." Indeed, th??e cut-away to the squirrel got a good laugh out of me.

So if the goal is to take the infinite possibility of a tablet??op game and its theater of the imagination, and try to capture it so that a virtual, prepared campaign could recreate the same possibility space, nothing says Larian's making it happen quite like comically raucous Druid romance.

For all that and more, Baldur's Gate 3 arrives for PC on August 3. PS5 players will get th??eir own shot at love on September 6.

The post Baldur’s Gate 3 gets a new, dark Origin and some wild bear romance appeared first on Destructoid.

We talk to developers about how they make virtual romances click

Dating sims have proven to be pretty resilient over the years. As genres have come and? gone, virtual romance has certainly waxed and waned too; but it’s never fully disappeared, and in 2023, feels stronger than ever.

Appealing art, compelling narrative, and social gameplay elements are all compelling aspects of a game in their own right, so it should be little surprise that developers would eventually think to mash all of them together into a collage of elect??ronic love. From early halcyon d??ays at Tokimeki Memorial to Dream Daddy and Boyfriend Dungeon, deve??lopers have created a variety of romance stories in virtual landscapes over the years.

Even other games are starting to pick up dating and romantic elements. Much like how RPG elements have seeped into broader game design, pieces of the social sim genre h??ave seeped into games like Hades, Mass Effect, and Persona.

So when given ?the chance to chat with the panelists behind a LudoNarraCon talk about this topic, I wanted to find out: how do ??you make a dateable video game ??character? How do you make romance compelling in a fictional, virtual environment? And how have those drives evolved as time has gone on?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss674WVuA1U

Why dating sims?

For Amanda Gardner, narrative director of Romancelvania, dating sims tap into a core fant??asy of cultivating relationships through choices??.

“Romance novels and shipping characters on TV is entertaining, but the idea that you can control that couple? Super satisfy?ing and empowering,�says Gardner. “I prefer a lot of nuance in my dating games—can I flirt lightly with this person, or should I go full seduction with my dialogue choices? I think tha??t taps into the need to make the experience your own.�/span>

That’s echoed by Dani LaLonders, producer on ValiDate, who says dating sims show a side of romance you “don’t typically see in other parts of the medium.�Teddy Dief, creative director of Team OFK, looks at dating sims a bit di??fferently; they appreciate the impressive work in the field, but for Pop. Love. Panic! The OFK Story, they weren’t implementing dating sim elements, so much as romantic elements, lining?? up with their interactive series ap?proach.

[caption id="attachment_377487" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Team OFK[/caption]

And it’s important to note that dating sims, and more broadly romantic aspects of narrative games, aren’t only for fantasy fulfillment or sexual gratification. As marketing coordi??nator Yasmine Lee points out to me, dating sims can be fun even when someone’s not in the mood for romance.

“It’s great to roo??t for someone whose backstory or personality appeals to you, capturing that special ‘something�when you ?need a little pick-me-up in your gaming sessions,�Lee says.

For whatever reason you might engage with romance i?n a game, the appeal exists and may be broader than you think. And it’s gradually growing, too. While the biggest AAA games haven’t fully latched on yet, Lee notes it’s “impossible to ignore�the impact of dating sims on the indie game scene, as well as the genre’s long history in Japan.

“I don’t believe KFC would have done a marketing campaign focused on their dating game with ??Colonel Sanders if dating elements weren’t popular,�Lee says.

Making a hottie

The format is popular, but that’s just part of getting fans in the door. An appeal has to exist in the potential candidates for romance themselves. As Gardner remar??ks, it all has to start with motivation. What does a character want, and in not just a romantic way?

“I? think this makes the story resonate more, and makes the relationship really pop,�Gardner says. “Because honestly, what's worse than a two-dimensional romantic interest? Nobody's interested in that�/span>they become stock ch?aracters and the lov??e story becomes throwaway.�/span>

Sometimes those elements can surprise you.? Ga??rdner’s project, Romancelvania, centers around dating monster movie-style characters. A vampire, a Jersey Devil, or a seductive pumpkin in a witch costume are all options. There’s a delicate balance between campy humor and character depth, but that surface tension can draw you into the ?character. According to Gardner, fans have wound up liking some of these characters like the party boy Brocifer a great deal more than they had expected to.

It’s about subverting tropes. Gardner told me about differ??ent tropes used for Romancelvania, ranging from monster tropes and romantic tropes (i.e. exes to lovers) to the setting ??itself, framed in a reality show format.

“Even if you've never experienced one of those, there are universal attributes that would b?e familiar,�said Gardner. “But, most importantly, after connecting the dots of the tropes, I use this c?omposite to really ask myself�/span>can this be a believable person? Does their motivation work? And, if so, I start to subvert and add more nuance to the pre-existing tropes and end up with a fully realized character that I hope resonates w?ith anyone, regardless of what they've experienced? before.�/span>

Authentic love

For LaLonders and ValiDate, authenticity plays a big ro??le too.?? A core part of ValiDate: Struggling Singles in your Area is that it’s an #OwnVoices story; meaning, it’s written?? by an all-people of color team, with a diverse array of romantic options and pursuits.

�/span>ValiDate wouldn’t be so authentic if we had a different team working on it,�says LaLonders. “The reason why people consider it relatable and so real is because the people behind these characters have also li??ved similar lives as?? these characters. It just hits differently in a way you typically don’t feel when a character is written by a non person of color.�/span>

[caption id="attachment_380646" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Veritable Joy Studios[/caption]

That authenticity is also built up by ha??ving “real stories�in the game, based on the experiences of the writers, their friends, and the people in their lives. It’s based on realism and thus aims to be as realistic as possible,?????????????????????????? including bad endings and rejections, and even “rancid vibes�as part of the experience.

But ValiDate i??s also still seeing updates, and receiving player feedback. One example LaLonders gives is parents; players “seemed to like�the parents included in ValiDate, and so the team added more. But listening to feedback is a careful balan??ce.

“For active feedback, we try not to listen to it too much because we are scared of changing the direction of our game narratively based on feedback and getting too far away from our original goal,�LaLonders says. “However, we have [been] actively taking notes, internal dialogue being too long and drawn out ?at times, a route being a little dryer than other routes. We see the feedback and we are adjusting slightly to make our game better!�/span>

Spiderwebs

As I mentioned before, it’s not all dating. For Te??am OFK and the recently renamed Pop. Love. Panic! The OFK Story, there aren’t dating sim elements, b??ut just plain dating. Two band members are in a relationship, and another—Luca—has their own encounters?? in the LA dating scene.

Dief and th?eir co-writer Claire Jia started writing Pop. Love. Panic!  with the structure of a TV sitcom, they tell me. And since romance is a key part of the lives of these musicians, that means also showing how those elements tie int?o their everyday lives.

“We wanted to show how dating isn’t just a game mechanic, or an effort that is totally separate from life, but especially for artistic characters like ours, romance is kind of all around you,�Dief says. “LOL ??that sounds really cheesy but it’s how we feel. Hopeless Romantics. Desperate Romantics. It’s hard out here.�/span>

[caption id="attachment_380647" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image courtesy of Kenneth Shepard[/caption]

The contrast between these two is interesting; while Itsumi and Jey are two ban??d members in a relationship, navigating a working romance, Luca’s story ??heads toward the apps. (Dating apps, that is.) These create scenarios in which Team OFK—both the writing team and the band itself, in the story—can explore weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and tension.

“Yes you’re absolutely right, these two dating relationships were intended to be a visible contrast,�Dief says when I bring up these two relationships. “Showing a romance between c??haracters who meet as friends, and collaborators in the band, versus showing Luca‘s romance with someone he met on an app. But actually what is more important to our story is the way in which they are the same: both of these dating scenarios proved ??to be problematic for the people involved, get messy for them, cause them pain, not go the way they want them to.�/span>

A heart’s true desire

Dief makes an interesting point at the end of my quest??ions, about the goals?? of dating.

“For OFK, the most important lesson we want players to walk away with is that dating is not a game that can be ‘won,’�they say. “You meet people. You hi??t it off, or you don’t. You have a relationship, or you don’t. Or you have a platonic relationship! There is no romantic story that ends in a singular victory.�/span>

It’s good life advice?, for sure. It’s also a good point of examination for dating sims, even from people who don’t always engage with the genre. From the outside, a dating sim can seem like a lot of things: a horny management game, a visual novel filled with cute anime boys, or an RPG with a side of hotties.

[caption id="attachment_271263" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The bea?uty is it can be any or all of those things, and it doesn’t have to just be about dialog?ue either. Gardner tells me that her game-dating preferences lie in Mass Effect and Persona 5, while Lee errs towards a classic like Clannad. Romantically-inclined games can incorporate different styles of gameplay to change things up?? or offer variations like roguelite dungeon crawling or M??etroidvania action. Lee highlights how, when marketing Romancelvania, the team leaned into the “wacky and weird side�of its plot and characters—it’s about matching the “melody�of the game, ?as they say.

And as Dief stresses, it’s not about figuratively scoring, either. For them, it was a hurdle to over?come, with players coming to Pop. Love. Panic! with an expectation set on a game of love. “And we had to find a way to give them that, without turning romance into a game,�Dief says. “Without turning peoples�hearts into something to ?be manipulated and won, with points and prizes.�/span>

So while it’s been years and the genre has evolved, it still feels like there’s a lot more to explore. And while I set out to learn about what makes a good virtual hottie??, I’ve walked away with an appreciation for just how all these teams are thinking about the forms interactive romance can take.

Dating elements are certainly appealing in their own right, but they can also give greater insight into the stories and worlds a team is trying to build. And if that also res?ults in a rich cast of eminently dateable?? hotties, well, that’s an added bonus.

You can find Steam links for Romancelvania, ValiDate: Struggling Singles in your Area, and Pop. Love. Panic! The OFK Story here.

The post Love, pain, and hotties: Game devs talk a??bout what makes digital dati??ng tick appeared first on Destructoid.

What is a man? A miserable pile of smooches!

It might be Valentine’s Day, but we’re going to have to wait a bit longer for that love blood to hit the water. The Deep End Games and 2124 Publishing has announced that Romancelvania, their unholy cros?s-breed of Metroidvania and dating sim, will be hitting the bedsheets March 7, 2023.

Romancelvania introduces us to a Dracula whose confidence is still laid up after a savage beating at the hands of the Van Helsing clan. Their lover left them, their minions don’t respect them, and evil just doesn’t have the same appeal anymore. Death gets fed up with this pity party and sets Dracula up with their own dating show. It’s time to cho??ose from 12 “lucky�singles and help the dark lord (or lady) get their mojo back. Peer pressure is the proven way to turn a spark into a flame.

[embed]//youtu.be/-iJkv94HlBA[/embed]

Gameplay is a cleve?r combination of gated exploration and choice-driven dialogue. You’re given the option to choose a body type, and the dating options cover whatever it is you’re into, whether you’re more a Medusa or werewolf kind of person. The whole affair is fully voiced, which is an appreciated bit of extra effort.

It feels like simultaneously forever and not that long ago that I played the demo and came away im??pressed but skeptical. The whole concept seems like it will be extremely difficult to get right, given the amount of player agency available and the two disparate genres that are trying to be married. However, nothing about the demo implied that The Deep End Games is in over the depth, so provided the rest of the game matches the bar set by the earlier peek we got, then we’re in for a real treat.

Romancelvania is out on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on March 7.

The post ?Romancelvania brings the vampire smooching March 7 appeared first on Destructoid.

Bloodlust. Or perhaps just lust.

If there’s one thing I love more than Castlevania, it’s the fantasy that someone can find me interesting enough to extend our companionship beyond the boundaries of a five-minute conversation about the weather. Ah, yes, that’s the good stuff. Now, what if you took Castlevania and mashed it up with my delusions of tolerability? You’d get Romancelvania, which sounds like a pun that is trying too hard until you realize it’s a play on the word Transylvania and not Castlevania. Video g?ames have warped my perspective on puns, apparently.

However, the way of executing this sort of composition eluded me when I heard the pitch. I could think of a few ways to approach it, and each sounded rather precarious. I’m happy someone is making the attempt, even though I’m skeptical. After spending some time with Romancelvania’s demo, I’m not fully convinced they can pull it off, but I’m satisfied that the project is moving in the right direction.

Gets the blood pumping.

The setup is almost flawlessly clever. You play as Dracula, 99 years after being defeated by humans. The humiliation of being whipped into submission has caused your lover to abandon you and all?? your followers to start q?uestioning your leadership. You’ve been moping ever since.

Your buddy, Death, has gotten tired of your constant whining and sets you up on a reality dating show. A number of potentially lucky guys and ladies are scattered throughout your newly renovated castle, waiting for you to put the moves on them. Or you can just be friends, w??hich is nice to know. Not everyone is into Incubi, so having the option to keep things platonic is ap?preciated.

To win them over, you n?eed to pick the best answers from a dialogue tree, complete sidequests for them, and take them on dates.

You charmer, you

You also have to choose one of them to vote off with a currently unknown amount of frequency. This feels like a needless complication to me, and I have to wonder if the small development team is ready to deal with that many permutations of the gameplay. This is a concern I had through much of the runtime, but let me be clear in saying that the demo gave no indication that they’re in over their heads. I’m only saying that when I’m envisioning the end product, my m?ind gets a bit boggled. It se??ems precarious to me, but maybe I’m the one who lacks vision.

The demo itself is a small slice that introduces the game’s mechanics. Generally, things are similar to a Castlevania game of the Symphony of the Night formula. Areas are generally locked off until you gather abilities that allow you to bypass whatever obstacle is preventing you? from getting there??.

Scattered throughout the castle are 12 lucky contestants for you to get to know. The demo only gave a taste of three of these: Medusa, Brocifer, and Vess the genie. The actual cas??t is quite a diverse buffet for different tastes. There’s a succubus, a werewolf, a siren, and a bunch of others who, I guess, will have to rely on personality to get my attention.

If there’s one thing that Romancelvania nails, it’s setting the potential lovers up as quest investments. You can tell, even from the demo, that you’ll be jumping through hoops to score with any of them, which is, of course, the whole crux of the dating sim genre. Maybe it sounds like I’m stating the obvious, but if Romancelvania comes up short in any of its facets, the whole product will ??wind up limp and flaccid.

With extra cheese.

It helps that Romancelvania offers options for genders and gender preferences. While the demo only lets you play as the hunky he-Drac, it demonstrates its plans for she-Drac as well. Likewise, the cast of bachelorettes also includes bachelors, as well, and neither seems ??to have a preference between oysters and blood sausage. Even visual novel-styled dating sims often exclude the ability to set your preferences, so it’s great to see Deep End Games going? the extra mile.

Once again, however, this adds an extra bit of chaos into the cauldron, s?o I remain cautiously optimistic as I ?watch to see if they can chew all that they’ve bitten off.

All of this is wrapped up in a goofy bow. From the obvious references to the Castlevania series to the provocatively accentuated anatomy, Romancelvania eagerly embraces its chees?e. Some of the jokes it reaches for are eye-rolling but almost seem intentionally so. The area you start in, the ruins of Drac’s castle, are rendered with pixel-art textures while Dracula himself is sporting all the latest in abdominal shaders. It’s charming in its awkwardness.

On the other hand, I did get some pretty crap performance on my PC, which seems strange. It had a habit of dropping frames with annoying frequency. There’s still plenty of time to spit-shine the technical side of things, I?? would just hate to see that get missed.

Immortal pleasures.

There’s a lot that is yet to be seen in Romancelvania. The demo isn’t particularly short, but it only gives a taste of what’s to come. If the dish comes out as flavorful as what’s been shown so far, it’s going to be an absolute feast for fans of dating sims and Castlevania. However, I feel like Deep End Games have set themselves up with quite the balancing act. There are a lot of targets that they need to nail in order to pull o?ff a real knockout.

On the other hand, the demo certainly suggests that they might be abl??e to do it or, at the very least, they’re headed in the right direction. They’ve certainly demonstrated enough talent to gain my attention, so I’ll be eagerly awaiting the opportunity to sink my fangs into it. ??It’s currently unknown when we’ll get the full four-course meal, and the demo is hardly substantial enough to satisfy, but hopefully, we won’t be waiting too long for some spooky romance.

The post The Romancelvania Demo shows off a strong marriage between two irr??esistible genres appeared first on Destructoid.

Love is in the air again

The Game Bakers' lovely RPG Haven is getting a few more options for its key couple. In a free update out ?today, the star-crossed lovers Yu and Kay can now be a same-gender couple.

Previously, Yu an??d Kay were in a heterosexual relationship. With this update, players can opt to flip Yu to male, or Kay to female, allowi??ng for same-gender pairings.

The Game Bakers said in its update that this won't change the actual story arc of Haven, as you're still playing ??the story of Yu and Kay. This does, however, open u?p romance for a broader audience who'd want to see and identify with these couplings.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA5O-yeabIk

According to the studio, the original concept for Haven had eight couples, with a diverse range of relationships. During production the number slimmed down to the two characte??rs, Yu and Kay. But after launch, the studio started working on this update, to allow for these versions of the couple.

Haven was a bit of a departure for The Game Bakers, after the frenzied boss rush of Furi. Rather than dueling with increasingly difficult bosses, Haven is an RPG about a couple on the run from society, opting to elope rather than be??????????????????????????? separated.

I've only played a few hours of it, but my experience was pretty heartwarming. It was nice seeing a couple as the main focus of a story, especially one that was already in love rather than the usual run-up to dating. This update seems like a really cool way to open that experience up to more people, while keeping the core of what makes Haven click intact.

The Couples Update for Haven is out now on all available platforms.

The post ??Romantic RPG Haven adds same-gender couple options in new update appeared first on Destructoid.

This is what you can order off the secret menu

It’s sort of my role here at Destructoid to look at more obscure titles. That’s not because it’s my assignment, it’s legitimately what I enjoy doing. I’ve seen some complain that this year has not been a very exciting one in the industry, but I beg to diffe?r. There was a lot to fall in love with if you looked under the right rocks.

Hereâ€?™s a list of some of my favorites of 2021 gems that you may have missed. Each of them left a lasting impact on me, regardless of how short the ??experience may have been. If you think the year has been something of a disappointment, maybe check out these gems.

Bloodwash

If I’m remembering correctly, it was this year that I finally ??started exploring the lo-fi horror underground of the indie market. The sub-genre hooked me quickly because it represents horror like it’s never been done before. Short, ugly, and impactful. The games absolutely embody the slasher VHS flicks found at the back of video stores. I assume. This may surprise you, but I’m not actually old enough to have experienced that.

What grabbed me about Bloodwash is that you’re given a lot of agency on what actions you take while you wait for your laundry. You can go around the gloomy shopping plaza ??and dig into the mystery of the womb-ripper, or you can play somewhat tacky video games until the clock winds down. It gives the horror an organic feel, even if you’re generally going to land in the same place anyway.

In typical lo-fi horror fashion, this 2021 gem is over in less than 2 hours, but it’s one that has kept me thinking about it since I played it. There are lots of places to explore in this fledgling sub-genre, but from where I’m standing, Bloodwash is top shelf. That’s where they keep the real?? hardcore horror. Right? I’m honestly n??ot sure. That’s probably just where they keep titles A-F.

Happy’s Humble Burger Farm

You might have missed this 2021 gem simply because it was released in early December, a time of the year when we all catch up on our backlogs and new releases might as well not even exist. Made by Scythe Dev Team, one of the underground groups creating lo-fi horror, Happy’s Humble Burger Farm is wh?at happens when you give one of those creators?? a budget.

What captivated me most about Happy’s Humble Burger Farm was its central sandwich-making gameplay. The fact that a horror game has been based around the terrors of the se?rvice industry is pretty clever to begin with, but then you add in sandwich-centric boss battles and you have me drooling. Then you further tie in Scythe Dev Team’s surreal, dream-like storytelling and you?? don’t want to miss this. Even if the gameplay isn’t perfect, you probably haven’t played anything like it.

Perfect Gold

Romantic narratives can be extremely hit and miss because it’s deeply subjective. Some of the finest love stories I’ve encountered recently have been in ecchi visual novels that Destructoid doesn’t let me review. However, Perfect Gold isn’t ecchi, so I can freely talk about it.

Damn, Perfect Gold is one cute story about a pair of young almost-lovers. They hook up in the prologue, and the next thing you know, it’s jumped ahead to the next year a?nd they absolutely resent each other. Throughout the story, it’s revealed ??what happened in the intervening time, and you get to follow the characters as they attempt to reconcile.

Perfect Gold is straight-up a visual novel with neither bells nor whistles. You make some pretty shallow dial?ogue choices throughout, but unless you’re trying to intentionally spoke-jam the relationship, y?ou’re not at risk of running into a bad ending. With that said, it was the most fulfilling narrative I encountered all year.

Cruelty Squad

Cruelty Squad is art, but it’s the sort of art that makes you uncomfortable. This 2021 gem is like a Rennaisance painting of the devil jamming a hot poker into some guy’s butthole. You get the gist of what it’s trying to say, but you’re like, “Why did the artist take this approach? Are they terrified or aroused by the prospect of a crispy butthole?�/p>

From its garish and ugly aesthetic to some intentionally (?) bad game design, Cruelty Squad might be a tough sell. I’m not going to say that it’s saved by the gameplay, because it’s not. No, it just somehow claws its way into your skull and starts whispering directly into the wrinkles in your brain. I haven’t seen anything like it. Ever. And it make?s me want more.

Technically Cruelty Squad is a meatpunk immersive sim. You’re dropped into the level? to assassinate someone, and it’s on you to do it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Then as it proceeds, you descend further and further into corporate hell. And maybe if you search that fiery butthole closely enough, you might find some hidden subtext, but your family might start questioning your fascination with buttholes.

Actraiser Rennaisance

This one came and went quickly. It was the most exciting thing I saw during the Nintendo Direct in which it was announced. I promptly challenged Chris Carter to an arm wrestle over who got to review it, but fortunately, I won by default because he ?wound up not having the time. So, officially, I beat Chris Carter in an arm wrestle. I will now retire undefeated.

Anyhow, Actraiser Rennaisance is a remake of the Super Nintendo classic, Actraiser. However, the developers went back and layered on some new gameplay elements to elevate the gameplay. What made Actraiser special is ??still unchanged, but now there’s a deeper story and some tower defense elements. Itâ€??™s all placed on top of the existing sidescrolling and city-building elements like some delicious sandwich.

It was the most comfortable experience I think I had writing a review this year, even though I tore through it in the span of a weekend. Actraiser was alwa??ys sort of a calming g??ame, and that’s not lost with the remake. It has a nice mix of action and contemplative downtime that is absolutely infectious.

Unfortunately, there’s a stuttering issue on the side-scrolling sections, reporte?dly on all versions. We’re months out, and it still hasn’t been patched. It didn’t impact the gameplay hugely for me, but I know some will find it distracting.

Buck Up and Drive

Buck Up and Drive is a bit of a small, experimental 2021 gem in its own right. However, instead of testing new ways to convey narrative, it tries to push just how over-the-top a driving game can get. It’s like if you crossed OutRun with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. It’s like if raster graphic racing games hadn’t been superseded by 3D polygons and a game needed a dash of insanity to stand out from the crowd.

Drifting, boosting, hitting jumps, and flipping out like you just clipped the level geometry and the physics don’t know how to cope with the math explosion; Buck Up and Drive is about as far removed as ?you can be from reality and still involve cars. You battle police with sick drifts, grind on guardrails, and duel against other cars.

It doesn’t take long to see pretty much all Buck Up and Drive has to offer, but it takes time to learn all the ins and outs and it’s fun while it lasts. It’s currently only available on Itch.io, but it’s coming to Steam on January 6th.

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Sounds like romance is a no-go, though

Following the ?recent reveal of Firaxis??' take on the Marvel universe, today we got some more footage of Marvel's Midnight Suns. Alongside a trailer and a gameplay breakdown, we learned a few more details about the gam??e; including ?that no, it sounds like there won't be super-love in the air at the Abbey.

IGN showcased a first look at gameplay of Midnight Suns, a tactical RPG from the makers of XCOM and Civilization today. Rather than simply being XCOM with a layer of Marvel over the top, it looks like Fir?axis is diving into some interesti?ng ideas: namely, cards.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CiOR0Z5AoU

The gameplay seems to center around cards that you can pick up and add to your combat deck, with heroes gaining power and new abilities over time. The player takes the role of the Hunter, an ancient demon slayer and child of Midnight Suns antagonist Lilith, leading teams of three heroes on missio?ns against the demon horde.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRieHP1b7Gs

Being a leader also means getting to know your team, and as Firaxis showed off, you can chat with the various members of your crew back at the Abbey, the headquarters of the Midnight Suns. These dialogues even have choices, which can affect how your relationships?? with the various heroes ev?olve, unlocking new abilities in the process.

Although the Abbey is filled with eligible supers, it doesn't sound like anything will evolve past friendship. IGN interviewed Firaxis creative director Jake Solomon during today's livestream, and when asked whether these relationships could become something more?, Solomon said he gets ?why people are asking, but no.

"I think that, you know, in your mind you can be whatever you want to be," said Solomon. "?But we are saying that you are just very, very, very close friends.??"

Bad news for anyone trying to get some alone time with Wolverine, Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, or any of the other superheroes. But hey, maybe some of these mechanics can show up in a future Firaxis game. I'd definitely be down for an XCOM where love can bloom on the battlefield.

Marvel's Midnight Suns is set to launch sometime in? March 2022 for PC, PlayStat??ion, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

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