Miscellaneous: Similar Non-VN Games

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Questions about other game genres with dating elements where you can play as a female protagonist seem to pop up at a regular interval, so I’ve listed some of the most common recommendations for those here.

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Harvest Moon / Story of Seasons franchise

Genre: Farming Simulator

Platform(s): GameBoy Advance, GameCube, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita

Additional Notes: Harvest Moon is a huge franchise spanning more than two decades’ worth of games over a bunch of different platforms. Only those released from 2003 onward feature gameplay as a female protagonist, however.

Which one should I start with? It doesn’t matter; Harvest Moon isn’t chronological and most entries in the franchise are standalone games. (Some have cross-references to each other or character cameos, but none of these are particularly relevant to the game plot.) Just choose whatever platform is most suitable for you and get started :)

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Stardew Valley

Genre: Farming Simulator

Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Additional Notes: Stardew Valley is essentially a Western indie revival of retro Harvest Moon with improved gameplay mechanics and new additions, such as same-sex marriage, adoption, support for mods, etc.

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Rune Factory 4

Genre: Farming Simulator, RPG

Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS

Additional Notes: Rune Factory is a spinoff from the Harvest Moon franchise and is set in a fantasy setting with RPG-like elements such as monster battling alongside the usual farming, fishing, mining, and interacting with local villagers. Only the fourth game allows you to play as a girl, however.

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Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable

Genre: JRPG

Platform(s): PlayStation Portable

Additional Notes: Often called “a cross between The Sims and a JRPG”, Persona features both slice-of-life simulation in a high school setting and typical fantasy JRPG gameplay. Out of the games in the franchise, Persona 3 Portable is the only one that features a female protagonist, however.

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Fire Emblem: Awakening & Fates

Genre: JRPG

Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS

Additional Notes: A series of tactical RPGs similar to Final Fantasy Tactics, but with the possibility of building relationships/romance between characters -- including, but not limited to, one's protagonist. (Only Awakening and Fates have a female MC, however.) Note that there are three different versions of Fire Emblem: Fates -- Conquest, Birthright, and Revelation, which all feature different casts respectively. Newcomers to the franchise are generally recommended to start with Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright, or Fire Emblem: Awakening (of which there is only one version).

() = These romances are reportedly less in-depth than those in the other games listed in this category, but the Fire Emblem series still remains a popular recommendation for those looking for RPGs with dating elements.

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Dragon Age series

Genre: Western RPG

Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Additional Notes: Although it’s recommended to play in a chronological order of release (Dragon Age: Origins > Dragon Age 2 > Dragon Age: Inquisition) to get the most out of the overarching plot, it’s not necessary as each game has a standalone protagonist and story. DA:O is recommended for those comfortable with a more retro Western RPG feel; DA2 for those who prefer more of a JRPG feel; and DA:I for those completely new to RPGs or who prefer action RPGs.

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1931: Scheherazade at the Library of Pergamum

Genre: Indie RPG with VN elements

Platform(s): PC

Additional Notes: The stat-raising part of this game is notoriously difficult, and some reviewers suggest to further read up on the obstacle level system beyond what is explained in-game. Newcomers to stat-raisers are recommended to play on easy. Despite being labeled as an RPG, Scheherazade has no "traditional" RPG gameplay elements, such as battles or world exploration.

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Loren: The Amazon Princess

Genre: Indie RPG with VN elements

Platform(s): PC

Additional Notes: Made by the same studio (Winter Wolves) who created C14 Dating. Despite its claim of advanced tactical combat, Loren is known to have a fairly simple combat/skill system. Recommended to those who are looking for an RPG with more visual novel elements rather than your “regular” RPG.