It's no secret that dating nowadays can be daunting, and even with apps like Tinder and Bumble to make it easier, many people find navigating the world of romance intimidating. To counteract this anxiety, some individuals like to escape into a virtual universe, where they can play out these scenarios safely in the confines of a video game. It might seem a bit odd to people whose only experience of video gaming comes in the form of Mario Kart or Grand Theft Auto. However, giving players either confidence or an outlet in which to explore their softer side, dating simulators are actually a pretty popular type of game (especially in Japan).
For those who have never of them before, the set-up is pretty simple to grasp. Typically anime-inspired, the player usually assumes the role of a nondescript character who is thrown into a strange setting alongside a potential romantic partner. Or it could be a cast of several different characters whom the player can choose to flirt with and chat to by selecting scripted dialogue options from a list. Depending on the choices and preferences of the player, the narrative can progress in a number of different ways as the characters explore different storylines, eventually finishing the game with a happy ending.
Most of the time, these games have pretty mundane settings, so as not to break the suspension of disbelief. Maybe you're playing as a young doctor who has to pick from a selection of cute nurses, or a high school or college student looking to score with your classmates. But over the last year, an extremely unusual dating simulator has managed to achieve a devoted cult following on social media due to the bizarre (and frankly disturbing) nature of its premise. In this game, you're not trying to get off with hot schoolteachers, or coffee baristas, or even troupe of circus clowns. No, in this game you're pursuing a relationship with a horse. But not just any horse: a horse with a human head.
My Horse Prince, a mobile game developed by Japanese company USAYA for iOS and Android, follows the story of a workaholic young businesswoman (named by the player) who doesn't have time for a love life. She decides to pursue equestrianism as a hobby, and when visiting a nearby ranch, she meets Yuuma, a freaky horse-human hybrid, featuring a handsome fella's face attached to a stallion's neck. Despite being (understandably) creeped out by Yuuma initially, our plucky protagonist quickly develops an affection for the centaur and gets to work trying to win his heart. Yup; it's exactly as messed up as it sounds.
Thus begins a crazy bestiality love affair, which consists of ten main chapters and three bonus chapters of gameplay. This mostly involves the player tapping special icons that appear in-game during the course of the story. Collecting these icons will gradually lower Yuuma's stamina gauge, which can be temporarily increased by conversing in playful banter with him in conversations where players are given the choice of three answers. Selecting a negative answer will decrease Yuuma's stamina (which players can undo by opting to watch a quick commercial) which means he will fall out of love with you.
There are also a number of fun mini-games to enjoy, in which the player can interact with Yuuma one-on-one and only a few of which are situations that a horse could be reasonably expected to participate in. Oh, they start off innocently enough: first, you feed Yuuma carrots, and then lovingly brush his mane. But then things get more and more surreal. You can take Yuuma surfing, or watch him play bass guitar alongside his band (yes, he has a band, don't question why, just go with it) and eventually Yuuma decides to ditch his stable and move in with you. He's keen that way. Before you know it you're at home merrily chopping spring onions for a stir-fry with your man-horse leering over your shoulders and gazing into your soul while he feeds you chocolates. What the hell, USAYA? Seriously?
To be fair, I think the game developers know that the game's weirdness is its central appeal, and the lovesick protagonist does demonstrate some self-awareness about the situation, at one point stating: "Do I really have those kinds of feelings for a horse…? I tried my best to suppress such dangerous thoughts. No matter how hot he is, he still has a horse’s body!” It's hard to even imagine writers like Stephanie Meyer or E.L. James writing dialogue like that without hysterically giggling.
However, despite the ridiculous conceit and cheesy dialogue, the game has managed to accrue a pretty dedicated fandom, with fans posting fan art on its unofficial Tumblr page. In her review of the title, games journalist Gita Jackson praised the game's wacky premise and off-beat humour, stating: "Despite the repetitive nature of the game, each weird situation our beleaguered protagonist gets herself into is oddly charming ... This is a mobile game, so it’s really only got enough room for the one joke, but if you’re into that one joke, then you should definitely pick this one up. My Horse Prince keeps finding a new way to be absurd long after you think it should be over."
But this isn't the first dating simulator game to receive plenty of attention online recently. For example, Doki Doki Literature Club! - developed by modder Dan Salvato - is a similar kind of rom-com visual novel, albeit one with a dark and morbid twist. I don't want to give it away, but what appears to be a happy-go-lucky anime dating tale set in a high school poetry club quickly turns into a deep and complex horror story, which explores themes of suicide, depression, obsession, alienation and isolation. It's something which, tonally, is as far removed from My Horse Prince as you can get, and yet it proves that the often maligned genre has a lot more scope than most people are willing to credit it with. Personally, however, I think I'll stick to dating real people for now - that's more than crazy enough for me.
