ValiDate: Struggling Singles in your Area

It seems like no matter what type of game we're looking for, we always end up going back to the comfiness of a visual novel. Something is calming and special about this genre that allows us to kick back and enjoy a nice ride, even though the game itself can get to be really emotional. Today we're covering a game developed by Veritable Joy Studios, and even though the name of the game might sound like some ad you'd see on a sketchy online site, it has a lot to do with the game itself. The game we're talking about today is called ValiDate: Struggling Singles in your Area, and it's a visual novel combined with a dating simulation game. But what is a game with such a title all about? Well, let's see what is behind ValiDate: Struggling Singles in your Area.

About the game

ValiDate is a visual novel game about 13 young cast members maneuvering through the difficulties of young adulthood. Each character in ValiDate is a person of color and is part of the LGBT+ community. You will play as one of the characters who have to find love and cope with the trials of society in a lifestyle centered around 9-5 jobs and a lack of opportunities to find their purpose in life.

The plots and dialogues of this game are inspired by the personal experiences of the creator, Veritable Joy Studios. Like the game, each developer has a different background, ethnicity, and gender. Each of the characters has its flaws that play a role in the ongoing narrative arc. You will have to empathize with one another while fulfilling your own needs. After each chapter, you will be presented with your list of achievements.

A dating visual novel

Even though dating simulation is also an important part of visual novels, in games like these you get to play as one character with different dating options. Games like Hatoful Boyfriend focus more on you having one character and choosing your love path rather than using a full array of characters and going through the entire dating possibilities for them. There are over 30 different routes to choose from in ValiDate, so there’s a good chance you’ll find something you like. One good thing about this game was that it doesn't feel repetitive at all. Sure, some choices may feel like they only lead to a decision where you have to go back to the previous choice but that's more than enough to spice things up. Another thing worth mentioning is that the game isn't afraid to tackle hard subjects, like racism and mental illnesses.

Pros

• Lots of characters
• Interesting story and development
• Different paths to choose from

Cons

• Some decisions don't feel very impactful at all
• Too linear