Hey there Blerdy Tribe, it’s Melanin Monday here on Blerdy Otome and that means I’m spotlighting another Melanin Friendly Game! For those of you just joining the party—every Monday I spotlight games that feature Black and brown characters for anyone looking for titles with just a bit more representation. As a blerd and a gamer, I am always on the lookout for representation in my games. This is largely a personal project for me—there are almost no “diverse game” tags on major game sites—so, it can be pretty difficult find games with characters of color… unless you already know where to look.

In last week’s post I spotlighted Afterparty, a hilarious supernatural adventure game from Nigh School Studios. This week I’m looking at Later Daters from Bloom Digital Studios— the dating sim where you play as sexy seniors.

Old souls of the world, this is your time to shine – and potentially get a little action in the romance department!

You’re the newest resident at Ye OLDE retirement community, where you’ll meet a cast of sexy seniors who are all dying (not literally) to meet you. It’s a lot like summer camp, but with orthopedic shoes, bridge clubs, and more jell-o. Later Daters, the sexy yet wholesome gaming experience you never knew you needed!

-Synopsis

Later Daters is an episodic romance visual novel developed by the team behind Longstory. In this dating sim you play as a fully customizable senior citizen who has just moved into Ye OLDE Retirement Home. Interact with the various residents of Ye OLDE as you build lasting relationships with your fellow sexy seniors. Enjoy a wide range of romantic relationships, including LGBTQ and poly relationship options. Getting old doesn’t mean you have to stop living and for the residents of the Ye OLDS Retirement Home, retiring is just the beginning of another exciting adventure.

While Later Daters has an overall light hearted tone, it does delve into the highs and lows of aging—each character has their own unique story to tell and it’s worth replaying to hear them all. Each of the characters you encounter at YE OLDE have led long, colorful lives—from washed up rock stars to bubbly grannies and everything in between. Later Daters explores the harsh realities of getting old in ways you wouldn’t expect from a dating sim. Loss, loneliness, fear of death and more come into play as you take a peek into the intimate details of the lives of YE OLDE’s unique cast of characters.

But, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Later Daters is how it deals with the relationships between the residents of the retirement home. You can befriend or romance eight attractive seniors, building a relationship that will carry you through your golden years. But, the game takes things a step further, offering an inclusive LGBTQ experience and even poly relationship options. You craft your experience and hey, if you want to date more than one person, you can. Whether you choose to pursue romantic entanglements or keep things platonic, the game doesn’t punish you for your choices! This is your story and you control where it leads.

You can play the game now on Steam, Windows & Mac, and Nintendo Switch

Thank you for reading and supporting Blerdy Otome! Have you played Later Daters? Share your thoughts! Got a Melanin Friendly Game you think I should spotlight? Send it to me! 

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