HuniePop is a game that practically launched a subgenre. This game from HuniePot combines Match-3 puzzle gameplay, a dating simulator, and visual novel mechanics all into one surreal (and sexy!) package.
In HuniePop, you are a loser. You try and fail to pick up a girl at a bar, only to discover that she's actually the Love Fairy Kyu! Kyu wants to help you get some action, so she'll guide you through taking girls out on dates and ultimately seducing them.
Dates in HuniePop involve playing through Match-3 gameplay by combining the correct symbols while avoiding the bad ones in a certain number of moves. Make use of up to 6 items to help you get through the date successfully!
From the game's Steam Store page:
HuniePop is a unique sim experience for PC, Mac, and Linux. It's a gameplay first approach that's part dating sim, part puzzle game, with light RPG elements, a visual novel style of presentation, an abrasive western writing style and plenty of "plot".
After a pathetic attempt to try and pick up Kyu, a magic love fairy in disguise, she decides to take you under her wing and help you out with your crippling inability to meet new women. After a few dating lessons and some sound advice, Kyu sends you out into the world ready to take on the dating world and a wide cast of beautiful babes.
- 8 gorgeous girls each with their own personalities, preferences, and style. (Rumor has it there are several secret characters to unlock as well!)
- More than 20 in-game locations each with beautiful hand-painted environment art and many with full day/night cycles.
- Over 250 unique items (food, drinks, gifts, accessories) that you can purchase, unlock, collect and give as gifts.
- A beautifully composed soundtrack containing over 20 tracks of original music inspired by eastern pop, jazz, and bossa nova melodies.
- Thousands of lines of dialog, fully and professionally voice acted, complete with a unique character lip-syncing system.
- Customize girls' appearances with unlockable outfits and hairstyles! The girls will also dress up for dates! (Or dress down afterwards...)
- Collect nearly 50 stunning CG photos depicting the girls in various scenarios, including steamy bedroom scenes.
- An addicting match-3 style puzzle dating system with its own unique twists including upgradeable traits/stats, the ability to move any number of positions and special date gifts that have a variety of interesting effects on the puzzle.