LATER DATERS Review for Nintendo Switch

Later Daters is a new digital novel game coming to us from the developers at Bloom Digital Media. The game takes a refreshing new take on dating simulators, as it makes you and the other characters in the game elderly individuals living in the Ye Olde Retirement Community. From the second that you boot up Later Daters and select your character and companion, the drama and gossip that goes down in this place is REAL, people! I was so shocked at the drama that could come out of such a surprising place. Every character that you meet is so distinct in both design and behavior that I had no problem at all keeping them straight in my head, which is usually an issue to me in games that move quickly such as this one.

This resident disliked this other resident; this resident would sneak out in the night to go see her ex-husband; another resident you find out is an actual legendary Rockstar. The surprises and twists are just incredible and surprising and really keep you invested at every turn. As I understand it, in April 2020 only 3 of the chapters have been released and the other 3 will be released in October of this year. So, during my time with Later Daters, I picked my perspective lover, but was not able to nail him down completely yet. We are flirting though if you all are wondering!

While primarily a gaming sim, I found what really made Later Daters shine to me was its ability to discuss the difficult topic of death and the complications that arise when we get older. Understandably, this is a difficult topic for us to talk about it because the reality of the matter can be very sad and scary. Through conversations with each other and the resident counselor, members of Ye Olde discuss how they are coping with family member frustration, loneliness, loss of motor function, and diseases such as Alzheimer’s. They offer new perspectives on these topics that could make you see them in a more positive light, and character dialogue shares the elderly perspective on these situations.

Residents also discuss death and the logistics of it, especially on the topic of wills. It made me stop and think about when I was going to put a will together and for what reason. Do not go into the game thinking the plot is all doom and gloom, however. I think the developers have done a fantastic job balancing fun, lighthearted characters, and plot lines while at the same time interweaving some very serious and sad ones. It was such a good mix that I honestly did not even understand the gravity of the story until after I had put the game down for a little while and really thought about the characters.

Later Daters runs like a dream on the Nintendo Switch and is a perfect fit for the console. It was the perfect game for me to curl up in bed with during quarantine and play in the morning to stave off some boredom. I also really enjoyed the gender inclusivity and the LGBTQ representation in the game as shown by your own character selection screen and the residents at Ye Olde. You can choose from three different titles, Ms., Mr., or Mx., and characters at Ye Olde have all sorts of relationships, and you are able to pursue anybody in the building. Eyes off Jax though, that Rockstar is mine!!! My only complaints here is the length of the game. Ye Olde is just too juicy for so short of a playtime! October can’t come soon enough!

8.5/10, a heartwarming riot.

Check Out the Later Daters Trailer:

Later Daters is available for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. 

For more information about Later Daters, please visit: www.laterdatersgame.com.