Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator

While it succeeds in being a happy, positive game, Dream Daddy's simulation doesn't go far enough.

At its core, this is a game that's funny and good-hearted, presenting a world where a single queer dad's ability to be a good father is never called into question. It's a pretty cool accomplishment for a silly game birthed from a meme.

Dream Daddy is a fun and surprisingly wholesome game about not just dating, but also the highs and lows of parenthood

Heartwarming; that’s the word to describe Dream Daddy. It’s a feelgood game, from its tongue-in-cheek Dream Weaver-esque theme tune to its message of acceptance and generally being excellent to one another.

Dream Daddy is a fun and light-hearted visual novel, but it's not without its share of issues.

Dream Daddy is a sharp and humorous visual novel that unfortunately erases the notion of queerness from male-male relationships.

I'm not sure if Dream Daddy is just a simple visual novel or a commentary on some social issue. Is it all a fever dream? Was there some nefarious explanation for the weirdness and coincidence of the proximity to all the hot gay dads? Did I let my mixed emotions about losing touch with my college-bound daughter drive me to explore a sexual side of me that I never knew existed? Was I secretly gay beforehand and masterminded the entire move to Maple Bay to satisfy a kink?

Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator has ample promise and a lot of heart, but wasn't given enough time to grow.

By and large, Dream Daddy succeeds at creating developed characters that have unique stories, interesting dialogue, and fun personalities. I wouldn't call anything here realistic; the cul de sac where the game takes place feels like a dreamy land where only the happiest characters exist, despite the hardships that they discuss. Dream Daddy looks great in handheld and TV mode, and this version boasted a handful more optional scenes, but nothing strikingly new in comparison to the rest of the dates.

Personally, I've always enjoyed a nice dialogue choice-based storytelling game, on the road! Another thing worth mentioning is: Many can find enjoyment in Dream Daddy, no matter the sexuality you possess — though depending on it, one might enjoy such more. Hence my scoring, as a genre enthusiast. I haven't played a meaningful dialogue selection game in awhile, so this was a refreshing change in pace.