Thirsty Suitors is a surreal story-driven game which throws turn-based RPG battles, skating and over-the-top cooking mechanics together in a spicy fusion! This isn't a dating sim - it's a breakup simulator. Battle your exes. Disappoint your parents. Find yourself.
The game's turn-based RPG combat system blends traditional mechanics with a focus on exploiting opponents' emotional weaknesses. Players can taunt their exes to discover their vulnerabilities and then target those weaknesses to deal more damage. The combat is further enhanced by the use of over-the-top, stylized animations that bring the emotional drama of the encounters to life.
Scattered throughout the experience, players must time button presses and gestures to prepare traditional South Asian dishes in cooking minigames. These segments not only provide useful consumable items for combat, but also serve as a narrative device, allowing players to bond with the protagonist's family and uncover insights into her relationships.
The traversal system enables players to grind, wall-run, and perform tricks on a skateboard as a means of dealing with "complicated feelings." While some QTE-based tricks can prove challenging, the skateboarding provides a refreshing change of pace from the turn-based battles and cooking minigames.
Developers have implemented a variety of accessibility options, including the ability to automatically time the quick-time events in both the combat and minigames, making the gameplay more inclusive for players who may struggle with precise timing.
Players overwhelmingly praise the successful integration of turn-based RPG combat, cooking, and skateboarding, highlighting how the gameplay mechanics are used to further the narrative and emotional themes. While some found the skateboarding challenges frustrating at times, the consensus is that the gameplay, when combined with the game's exceptional writing, visuals, and representation, results in a truly unique and memorable experience.