Dream Daddy is dreamy, but a little lacking in depth

Dream Daddy, a dad dating simulator game featuring seven dateable dads with accompanying romance arcs, has had huge buildup on social media… but falls a little flat in its execution.

Dream Daddy is a dad dating simulator in the style of a choose-your-own-adventure or roleplay game. You dive into the game when your teenage daughter, Amanda, wakes you on the morning of your move across town. From there, you create your “dadsona” — your character — and then you meet seven dateable dads.

Game Grumps deserve praise for offering the ability to create trans dadsonas. They also deserve praise for offering the ability to create different dad bods — athletic, fat, and very thin. Dadsonas can have a range of skin tones, wear makeup, show off piercings, have body hair (or not), and style their hair several ways. Facial shapes and eyes differ enough to create very unique dadsonas on each playthrough.

In this way, and in the available romance arcs, Dream Daddy is really dreamy. You have your pick of seven dads (all of whom are single but one) who you flirt with on DadBook, which is basically Facebook for dads only. In-game, it’s also vaguely similar to daddy dating Tinder, but that works. That’s fine.

Unfortunately, some of the dialogue options in some of the romances make Dream Daddy fall a little flat. Although you’re a dad dating other dads, there’s a distinct feeling that everyone in-game is very straight and just kissing because the game creators coded them that way. There is opportunity for improvement. Craig dropping “bro” once you start properly dating is one. You and Brian using competition to flirt rather than just be rude to each other is another.

What saves Dream Daddy from a bad review is Amanda. Although the game is a dating simulator, much of it revolves around your relationship with your daughter, who’s going off to college in the fall. Heart-to-hearts seek to resolve her issues at school and with friends, even while she actively tries to set you up with dates. It’s the most realistic component of the game and it’s wonderful.

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Dream Daddy is available for $14.99 on Steam. It’s worth the money if only for the cute dadsona options and the various romances. The weirdness is manageable thanks to Amanda. Plus, there are so many dad puns.