Our hookup with Ten Dates appears to have gone exceptionally well. We have already reviewed the game and conducted an interview with a couple of the cast members, but I also got hands-on with the game and can’t simply pass its excellence by without writing about it. For those who want to check out the full review of the game from Dan Boise, you can do so HERE. For our interview with cast members Sam Buchanan and Charlie Maher, you can find that HERE.

I am a big fan of FMV titles as they provide different experiences from any other video game. Good Gate Media and Wales Interactive have joined forces once more to provide a sequel to Five Dates which appeared in 2021. Unfortunately, I never got around to playing the first instalment, so excitedly I went into this one blind and was pleasantly surprised. It quickly became my favourite FMV title that I have played from the growing collection in the genre and that is all down to exceptional acting across the board, how the characters intertwine with each other and the replayability. This is just a fantastic production that shouldn’t be overlooked and after ten hours so far, I am still sifting through to find out what I have missed.

Introduction

Diving into romantic comedy or keeping an eye on the dating scene isn’t really me if I am honest. I’ve been in my current relationship happily for the last decade, although I did date my partner a couple of times before we hit things off. We found each other online even though we lived a stone’s throw from each other, but I remember being a bag of nerves prior to meeting up. I do find dating rather intriguing though that your potential forever partner could potentially be sitting in front of you, or it could be someone you spend an evening with and never ever see again. Obviously, it is all about connection rather than looking for a one-night fling.

Ten Dates approaches the game from a speed dating perspective and the game starts off with two main characters of which you can choose one or the other. Misha and Ryan are very close friends who seemingly have a lot of time for each other. Misha is in search of love and tricks best friend Ryan into an evening of speed dating. Reluctantly Ryan accepts this outcome if you choose him and obviously Misha carries on her intention for the evening if you choose her.

Gameplay

Before you dive into the game you’ll get the opportunity to choose from Misha or Ryan. I really liked that you have the opportunity to choose both a male and female option. Not only does this give you different perspectives of the dating scene from each, but you also have a same-sex option for both as well. Once you have chosen you can construct your dating profile and away you go. After a short video call between Misha and Ryan, the night out commences and you’ll both go your separate ways to see if you can find your happy ever after.

With this being an FMV title, the gameplay loop is mostly observation with choice-based responses along the way. But what keeps the game fresh is there is such a variance in how you play out each portion of the game and the twists and turns each conversation can take. First-time dates are mostly trying to get to know the person, so you will get the opportunity to engage, respond to their questions and also choose whether you shrug off or listen to what they have to say. Everything is done with the directional and A buttons with the opportunity to press RB to skip sections if you are on a second run. The incredible natural acting keeps every scene magnificently knitted together and you can really feel those awkward moments and the instant connections.

Characters

Misha & Ryan (Rosie Day & Charlie Maher)

Misha and Ryan are the two main characters and whilst you interact together at the start and end of each run, you’ll be responsible for your own decisions throughout. Ryan who is played by Charlie Maher has starred in many roles in his acting career so far which consist of most recently Black Narcissus (2020), Conversations with Friends (2022) and Queens of Mystery (2019). Misha is played by Rosie Day who has an impressive acting portfolio which spans great programs such as ITV’s Homefront, Harley Street, Grantchester, BBC’s Siblings, Cuffs, and Channel 4’s Misfits.

Bash (Sam Buchanan)

Bash had me smiling throughout my interaction with him. He comes across as a real proper lad who loves a good time and a bit of banter. Depending on your choices throughout, Misha can potentially rub off this banter or go the opposite way. Sam Buchanan plays the part extremely well and the flow of his acting comes across as natural. Sam Buchanan plays Bash and is known for parts in The Power (2023) and Back to Black.

Brandy (Buket Komur)

Brandy didn’t seem to give much away, she appears to be reserved and sophisticated as well as career driven. She had a mysterious aura about her which I really wanted to uncover when playing Ryan. There is an element of surprise if you get a third date with her and learn more about her backstory. The way the actress plays Brandy is brilliant, she really left me guessing how to act and not put a foot wrong to please her. Buket Komur is renowned for roles in Our House, Honour and Signora Volpe.

  TY (Callum McGowan)

Ty instantly annoyed me but that was only because of his persona. He plays the part fantastically and instantly portrays a real bad boy image and has a sense of arrogance and a tactical personality in order to get females on his side. The mystery and spontaneity of his responses is something a lot of women would vibe with and with Misha it’ll be your chance to find out more. TY is played by Callum McGowan and has acted in Jamestown, Raven’s Hollow & Instrument of War.

Azalea (Boo Miller)

Azalea was the very first character that I interacted with and she came across as very sharp-witted yet game for a bit of a laugh. She has a very unique sense of fashion and personality which just made me want to find out more. I loved that she came across as much different to any other person in the game and a strong woman that you wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of. Boo Miller plays Azalea and has acted in The Stand-Up Sketch Show, Passenger, High Fidelity and more.

Jake (Sagar Radia)

Jake is literally a gentleman and someone who instantly came across as 100% trustworthy. Just an all-around charming and smiley guy, you just know he would always look after a woman and walk them to their door after a night out. As a nice guy myself, I always found that women aren’t always often fond of someone “too nice”, so it’ll be up to you as Misha to decide. Sagar Radia plays the part of Jake, he is an actor, known for Industry (2020), The Good Karma Hospital (2017) and Alien Culture (2018).

Toni (Ellie James)

Toni is a female footballer who instantly came across as a grounded woman who knows how to look after herself. Even if I felt she may be a tough one to crack and gel with, she is smiley and has some flirtatious banter about her. Will her persistent driven career path stand in the way of her becoming more than just a speed date? The part of Toni is acted by Ellie James who is known for I May Destroy You (2020), I Am… (2019) and Giri/Haji (2019).

Lucas (Kaine Zajaz)

Lucas is played wonderfully and the personality he bought across is nailed. A young lad who doesn’t have a large social circle and spends his working life alone. You can see his shyness, anxiety and cagey in him. But bring him out of his shell and he blossoms as a fairly bubbly yet kind-natured bloke who is game for a bit of fun. Lucas is played by Kaine Zajaz and is known for appearances in Cherry (2021), Raised by Wolves (2013) and The Witcher (2019).

Kathleen (Meaghan Martin)

Kathleen is played really well, she has her head screwed on. She is smart, intelligent and seemingly a bookworm who spends a lot of time in the library. She can be a tough cookie to crack to see if you can bring her out of her comfort zone, but how she came across made me really want to try and see if she can express her personality in other ways. Kathleen is played by Meaghan Martin who has done plenty of voiceover work in video games with roles in Battlefield 2042, Atomic Heart, Kingdom Hearts III, Until Dawn and more.

Hazel (Rhiannon Clements)

As Misha, you’ll stumble across Hazel by chance and it really intrigued me to see how a same-sex date would pan out and to find out whether there could be a real connection there. Hazel is a confident yet laid-back individual who has a deeper story to tell later down the line, should you be lucky enough to take her on second and third dates. Rhiannon Clements plays Hazel and has had parts in Hollyoaks, Death on the Nile and Doctor Who.

Derek (Anders Hayward)

On another same-sex date, you’ll get to have a delightful chinwag with Derek who is the host of the speed dating event. Derek appeared to be confident and someone who you could talk about anything with. As Ryan, you’ll be able to decide whether you feel a connection with Derek or if it isn’t your scene. One thing for sure though, Derek would be someone at the centre of a party on a night out. Derek is played by Anders Hayward who has also been in Death in Paradise, Life After Life and Intergalactic.

An Outstanding Performance From A Diverse Range Of Cast

I was pleasantly surprised with how good the cast was, each and every single one of them. The acting throughout is absolutely superb and it really felt as if I was playing through an episode of a Netflix or Amazon quality production. There is a diverse range of personalities and mindsets from all of the characters and I can only imagine how logistically challenging it was to shoot the lines from every different angle. There wouldn’t be just one straightforward script since there are literally several different outcomes from every single date. The writing is remarkable and I could feel a bond with each person if I wanted to dig deep and find it. Equally, I could also feel some cringe and awkwardness if I chose another response.

Final Thoughts

Ten Dates is honestly the best FMV title I have played in the entire catalogue of what’s available. The top-notch writing and spectacular acting are the rock-solid foundation of an all-around entertaining presentation. Bring with this how well everything has been shot in crisp 4k quality with well-displayed subtitles and dialogue, it just ticks every box of what I want from a game of this nature.

A Must Buy!

What I adored about Ten Dates though is the longevity and replayability that you may not expect from a game like this. With the number of dates on offer and the range of potential outcomes, it can offer dozens of extra hours of gameplay if you want them. Sure there will be some repetition of some scenes, but you can choose to skip these should you wish to get to the parts you didn’t see on previous runs.

I’m still yet to score every achievement in the game, but after several runs from both Misha and Ryan, I want to explore every nook and cranny. I’ll be really sad when this is over, but I would absolutely love to see another sequel or maybe more added in future, for its low price point of £13.74/$15.99 it is well worth every penny. Ten Dates is and will be one of my most memorable plays of 2023.