Kitty Powers' Matchmaker: Deluxe Edition

Kitty Powers' Matchmaker is a frequently enjoyable dating sim that nails its charmingly campy tone while providing a refreshing change of pace for those who fancy making love not war. It comes close to being a keeper, but the high cost of this version over its mobile counterparts, and a gameplay loop that struggles to keep it up for more than a couple of hours, means that Kitty Powers' Matchmaker just isn't quite relationship material.

Kitty Powers' Matchmaker is a cute and inclusive dating simulator that does a great job of normalising love, regardless of gender, sexuality or appearance.

Kitty Powers’ Matchmaker falls under the umbrella of casual game, and that’s where its value inherently lies.

I’ve never played a dating simulator before, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. But Kitty helps you set up a profile and guides you through your first date experience, showing you how to pick a date for your client, how to run the conversation and how to make your couple fall in love. After that first date, you’re on your own. Kitty takes off the training wheels, and it’s up to you to improve your reputation and get more clients to their happily ever after.

The joy of the game comes from Kitty Powers herself. Her hilarious and sparkling personality is enough to keep you engaged at least for a few hours.

Funny as the dialogue is, it will get old with the passage of time. But, while it lasts, Kitty Powers' Matchmaker is a great time killer that is oddly addicting.

Overall, I found my time with Kitty Powers fun and unique, whilst leaving my face always smiling. The package the developers have put together is really polished and tight, with some great mini-game fun to be had. I do think the price is a bit too high though and if it were under the £10 mark it would be perfect. The game does drag after a while and you lose the impact of going on the dates and playing the mini games, especially when the stakes get higher.

Is Matchmaker life-changing? No. Is it action-packed and as gripping as Breath of the Wild? Certainly not. It is, however, a fun little time-waster, full of memory puzzles, personality assessment and inclusiveness.

I don't think the final outcomes are entirely random – a well-paired match has more chance of a good result than a poorly-paired one – but there's definitely that element of random fate that's out of your control. That may make the whole game seem pointless, but if anything, it makes the dating part of the game that much more meaningful. It's about enjoying the moment, even if it might not lead to a happily ever after, and at least giving love a chance to blossom.

Kitty Powers’ Matchmaker is a quirky, light-hearted game that has transitioned well from mobile to console. I do feel it's better suited to being a mobile game, but this doesn't detract too much from the experience of playing the game on a console. The nice visuals, great humour and quirky gameplay all add up to create a supremely enjoyable game.