How to Date an Entity (and Stay Alive) is a visual novel that puts the player in an unsettling situation: a mysterious, inhuman woman has appeared in their room, and their survival depends on handling the conversation correctly. She seems interested, maybe even amused, but her true intentions remain unclear. Every response, every pause, and every attempt to understand her could mean the difference between making it to the next conversation—or facing something much worse.
Dialogue, Interest Meter, and Consequences
The game revolves around choice-driven dialogue, where every response influences the Interest Meter. Keeping the entity engaged is key, but too much curiosity or hesitation could lead to dangerous consequences. With ten different endings, each playthrough unfolds in unpredictable ways. Some conversations reveal fragments of truth, while others spiral into unsettling encounters. The challenge is not just in choosing the right words, but in understanding what she really wants.
Atmosphere and Visual Design
The game’s artwork enhances its unsettling nature, blending stylized character designs with distorted, almost dreamlike backgrounds. The entity’s expressions shift subtly, making it hard to tell if she’s pleased, amused, or quietly deciding your fate. The dim lighting and cold color palette add to the uncertainty, reinforcing the idea that this is not a normal encounter. Even the simplest gestures—her tilting her head, the way she watches—make it clear that this is not just an ordinary date.
With a short runtime per playthrough, the game encourages players to experiment with different choices. Each ending offers a new perspective on the entity’s nature, some revealing hints about what she truly is, while others leave the player questioning if escape was ever possible. Whether the protagonist finds a way to satisfy her, anger her, or disappear entirely depends on how they navigate the conversation.
