Crush Crush

Incremental dating sim video game

2016 video game

Crush Crush

Developer(s)| Sad Panda Studios
Publisher(s)| Sad Panda Studios
Engine| Unity
Platform(s)| Android, browser, iOS, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, Nintendo Switch
Release|

February 9, 2016

* Browser

* WW: February 9, 2016

Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux

* WW: October 19, 2016

Android

* WW: October 29, 2019

iOS

* WW: January 2021

Nintendo Switch

* WW: January 27, 2022

Genre(s)| Incremental game, dating sim
Mode(s)| Single-player

Crush Crush is a free-to-play incremental dating sim created by Canadian game developer Sad Panda Studios.[1] The game features a number of characters that the protagonist can date and win over. Crush Crush is live serviced, and continues to receive updates and new content from its developer. Over the years many large new features have been added, such as text messaging, limited time events, animated characters, voice overs and cross platform voting.

Receiving a positive critical reception, the game was expanded into a media franchise, including the games Blush Blush, Cabin Fever, and Hush Hush, crossovers with Yandere Simulator, Orgynizer, and the Merryweather Media webtoon series Internet Explorer, and a webtoon adaptation of Crush Crush produced by Merryweather for WEBTOON in 2021.

## Gameplay

[edit]

The goal of Crush Crush is for the protagonist "Marshmallow" to interact with and ultimately seduce all of the characters in the game. The base game has 20 romanceable characters, and over 50 additional characters can either be purchased as paid DLC, or unlocked for free during limited time events. To progress, the player must work at different jobs to earn money, practice various hobbies to improve their attributes, and use their money and skills to level up each character's affection for the player.[2] Each of these activities require "time blocks" to perform. Achievements award the player with additional time blocks, allowing them to perform more activities simultaneously. These activities progress in real time even when the game is closed. Like other incremental games, Crush Crush has a prestige mechanic. The player can reset their game progress at any time to unlock a permeant speed boost for future playthroughs. The requirements to progress through the game scale exponentially, encouraging the player to take advantage of the prestige mechanic multiple times.[3]

Alongside its main progression system, Crush Crush also has "phone flings" where the player receives in-game text messages and pictures from different characters. Some characters must be fully romanced in the main game to unlock their phone fling, while others start as a phone fling, and can then be unlocked in the main game later.[4]

## Release

[edit]

Crush Crush was originally released on February 9, 2016 as a browser game on Kongregate. A downloadable version was released on Steam in early access on May 13, 2016, followed by the full release on October 19, 2016.[5]

In late 2016 an adult version called Crush Crush: Moist and Uncensored was released on Nutaku as a browser game, with the adult version coming to Humble Bundle shortly thereafter. In 2019 Crush Crush was released on Google Play, in 2021 Crush Crush was released on the App Store, and in 2022, the game was released on the Nintendo Switch.[6]

### Webtoon

[edit]

In December 2021, Sad Panda Studio partnered with Merryweather Media to produced a webtoon adaptation of Crush Crush.[7]

## Spin-offs

[edit]

Release timeline2016| Crush Crush

|

2017
2018
2019
2020| Blush Blush
2021| Cabin Fever
2022
2023| Hush Hush

Sad Panda Studios have developed and published several Crush Crush spin-off games. Crush Crush has also appeared in crossovers with games from other developers.

### Blush Blush

[edit]

Blush Blush is an incremental dating sim with the same gameplay model as Crush Crush but featuring male love interests instead of female. It was released in early access on April 4, 2019 with the full release on Aril 22, 2020.[8]

### Cabin Fever

[edit]

Cabin Fever is a romance visual novel developed by Steamy Buns Games and published by Sad Panda Studios. It was released on July 12, 2021.[9] In it the protagonist is a computer programmer living in an isolated cabin, who forms a relationship with the main heroine Mallory when she gets lost in a storm.[10] Mallory also appears in Crush Crush as a DLC character.

### Hush Hush

[edit]

Hush Hush – Only Your Love Can Save Them, or simply Hush Hush, is a dating sim featuring characters from both Crush Crush and Blush Blush.[11] Lotus, an original character from Hush Hush also appears in Crush Crush as a DLC character. The game was released in early access on August 22, 2022 with the full release on April 20, 2023. In Hush Hush the player must manage their everyday life working at different jobs, choosing how to spend their time, and pursuing the game's five possible love interests.

### Crossovers

[edit]

The protagonist of Yandere Simulator Ayano Aishi and supporting character Kokona Haruka (as Generica) were added to Crush Crush as dateable love interests in 2016, with Michaela Laws and Caitlin Myers reprising their respective roles, while the cast of Crush Crush were added to Yandere Simulator as character skins.[12] Following the end of the Yandere Simulator licensing in 2023, Ayano was redesigned as "Ayeka", now a parodic composite character with Monika from Doki Doki Literature Club!.[13]

In 2021, the protagonist of the Merryweather Media webtoon series Internet Explorer was added to Crush Crush as the dateable love interest "Explora", voiced by Mew Miya, after the company partnered with Sad Panda Studios to create an official Crush Crush webcomic.[7]

Characters from Crush Crush make cameo appearances in the 2022 game Orgynizer, developed by LizardFactory.[14]

## Reception

[edit]

The Crush Crush franchise has a received a universally positive critical reception.

Comic Book Resources called Crush Crush "the best example of how an idle and dating sim game can be both low-key and fun at the same time" which makes one "feel like relaxing after a long day".[4] PC Gamer said "There's a sea of hentai junk games on Steam, and then there's Crush Crush", a game full of "crazy stuff [which is] fun and rewarding".[15] In a 2021 article about Crush Crush, Gamesindustry.biz wrote that Sad Panda Studios is "Crush Crushing stereotypes" by providing "adult games about everyday people".[16]

RPGFan rated Hush Hush 86/100, saying the game "reminds me of the song "Coconuts" by Kim Petras. At first blush, both entities appear to be vapid, cringeworthy fanservice. But further glances reveal smart, self-aware subversion that’s more than meets the eye".[17][18] GameGrin rated the game 8½/10, noting it "really shines in the writing and how it’s delivered by the cast [with] art [that] is great throughout", concluding to call it a "fantastic visual novel about dating a bunch of people to save their lives [that is well] worth a look if you like pretty women".[19]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ O'Kanagan, Thompson (November 15, 2023). "Germany-Based Company Acquires Sad Panda Studios". Business Examiner. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
2. ^ Estrada, Marcus (May 16, 2016). "Crush Crush is Basically a Dating Sim Clicker". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
3. ^ eShopper Staff (August 16, 2023). "Crush Crush for Nintendo Switch – Review". eShopper Reviews. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
4. ^ a b Hou, Philip (August 20, 2020). "Idle Dating Sims Are Relaxing – and HORNY". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
5. ^ "We're Out Of Early Access!". Valve. October 19, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
6. ^ Sad Panda Studios (January 27, 2022). "Crush Crush on Nintendo Switch". Nintendo Switch. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
7. ^ a b Merryweather Media (December 14, 2021). "We teamed up with @SadPandaStudio to produce a comic for Crush Crush, the anime Idle Dating Sim!". Facebook. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
8. ^ "Early Access Complete". Valve. April 22, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
9. ^ "Cabin Fever – Kotaku". Kotaku. July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
10. ^ "Cabin Fever on Steam". Valve. July 12, 2021. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
11. ^ Anderson, Joshua (May 19, 2018). "Hush Hush Is a Kickstarter-Funded PC Game about Girls with Secrets". Twin Cities Geek. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
12. ^ "Yandere-chan guest stars in Crush Crush!". Yandere Simulator Development Blog. October 25, 2016. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
13. ^ Dennison, Kara (October 27, 2016). "Yandere Simulator Cameo in Crush Crush". Crunchyroll News. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
14. ^ Sad Panda Studios [@CrushCrush] (December 20, 2022). "Uh oh! What's Pamu gotten herself into now? Looks like a fun swingers party, actually! Go check out her cameo in Orgynizer, a fun and sexy indie puzzle game!" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
15. ^ Kaiser, Vrai (January 20, 2021). "There's a sea of hentai junk games on Steam, and then there's Crush Crush". PC Gamer. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
16. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (July 2, 2020). "Crush Crushing stereotypes with adult games about everyday people". gamesindustry.biz. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
17. ^ Chandran, Neal (June 8, 2023). "Review: Hush Hush – Only Your Love Can Save Them". RPGFan. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
18. ^ Chandran, Neal (February 2, 2024). "RPGFan Games of the Year 2023 ~ Editors' Awards: Neal Chandran". RPGFan. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
19. ^ Duncan, Andrew (February 2, 2024). "Hush Hush – Only Your Love Can Save Them Review". GameGrin. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Webtoons published by Webtoon

First published in Korean|

* Noblesse (2007–19)
* Welcome to Convenience Store (2008)
* All of Us Are Dead (2009–11)
* Denma (2010–19)
* Tower of God (2010–present)
* Along with the Gods (2010–12)
* Cheese in the Trap (2010–17)
* The God of High School (2011–22)
* Fashion King (2011–13)
* Orange Marmalade (2011–13)
* Girls of the Wild's (2011–16)
* Dr. Frost (2011–21)
* Bongcheon-Dong Ghost (2011)
* Soul Cartel (2012–16)
* Ability (2012)
* God of Bath (2012)
* The Gamer (2013–present)
* A Simple Thinking About Blood Type (2013–15)
* Wind Breaker (2013–present)
* Guardians of the Video Game (2014–21)
* Lookism (2014–present)
* The Sound of Heart (2014–20)
* A Girl Who Sees Smells (2015–20)
* Yumi's Cells (2015–20)
* Super Secret (2015–18)
* Gosu (2015–23)
* Terror Man (2016–20)
* Nano List (2016–18)
* Tomorrow (2017–23)
* Sweet Home (2017–20)
* Romance 101 (2018–21)
* True Beauty (2018–23)
* Your Letter (2018)
* My Daughter Is a Zombie (2018–20)
* The Deluxe Taxi (Red Cage) (2018–19)
* Our Paradise (2018–24)
* No Home (2018–2024)
* Save Me (2019)
* Jeong Nyeon (2019–22)
* 1 Second (2019–24)
* Mom, I'm Sorry (2019–21)
* Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid (2019–21)
* The Girl Downstairs (2019–22)
* Viral Hit (2019–present)
* The Boxer (2019–22)
* Pyramid Game (2020–22)
* Mirae's Antique Shop (2020–present)
* Seasons of Blossom (2020–23)
* Tiger Coming In (2020–24)
* Return of the Blossoming Blade (2021–present)
* Dark Moon: The Blood Altar (2022–present)
* The World After the Fall (2022–present)
* Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple (2023–present)

First published in English|

* Cyber Force (2015)
* Hooky (2015–20)
* unOrdinary (2016–present)
* Erma (2016–present)
* Adventures of God (2016–present)
* Let's Play (2016–present)
* Live with Yourself! (2017–24)
* 1000 (2017–18)
* War and Peas (2017–present)
* My Giant Nerd Boyfriend (2017–23)
* Witch Creek Road (2017–21)
* Merryweather Comics (2018–present)
* Lore Olympus (2018–24)
* Mage & Demon Queen (2018–23)
* Outrage (2018–22)
* SubZero (2018–22)
* Cursed Princess Club (2019–24)
* Third Shift Society (2019–present)
* Heartstopper (2019–present)
* The Wrath & the Dawn (2019–22)
* Lost in Translation (2020–present)
* Not So Shoujo Love Story (2020–present)
* Crush Crush (2021)
* Warrior Unicorn Princess (2021–present)
* Witch Creek High (2023–present)
* They Called Us Enemy (2025–present)
* Locke & Key (2025–present)
* Sonic the Hedgehog (2025–present)

First published in Indonesian|

* Tahilalats (2014–19)
* Si Juki (2015)

First published in Japanese|

* Senpai Is an Otokonoko (2019–21)
* The Ramparts of Ice (2020–22)
* Girl Crush (2020–present)
* Super String: Marco Polo's Travel to the Multiverse (2022–24)
* The Reason We Fall in Love (2023–present)
* Suicide Squad Isekai (2024–present)

Adaptations|

* Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–present)
* Rot & Ruin (2010)
* Welcome to Convenience Store (2009 & 2012)
* Horror Stories 2 (2013)
* Work It! Convenience Store (2014)
* Fashion King (2014)
* Dr. Frost (2014–15)
* Orange Marmalade (2015)
* A Girl Who Sees Smells (2015)
* We Broke Up (2015)
* The God of High School (2015)
* Cheese in the Trap (2016)
* Noblesse: Awakening (2016)
* Fantasy War Tactics (2016)
* G.O.H. – The God of High School (2016)
* Lucky Romance (2016)
* The Sound of Your Heart (2016–17)
* Go Back (2017)
* Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)
* Teenage Mom: The Series (2017)
* Cheese in the Trap (2018)
* Sweet Combat (2018)
* Gangnam Beauty (2018)
* Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018)
* Tale of Fairy (2018)
* My Giant Nerd Boyfriend (2019)
* Hell Is Other People (2019)
* Pegasus Market (2019)
* Merryweather Media (2019–present)
* The Tale of Nokdu (2019)
* Welcome (2020)
* Tower of God (2020–present)
* Super Secret (2020–21)
* The God of High School (2020)
* Love Revolution (2020)
* Noblesse (2020)
* Beauty Water (2020)
* True Beauty (2020–21)
* Sweet Home (2020–present)
* My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021)
* Nevertheless (2021)
* Yumi's Cells (2021–22)
* Lovers of the Red Sky (2021–22)
* She Would Never Know (2021)
* Taxi Driver (2021–present)
* Hellbound (2021–present)
* All of Us Are Dead (2022–present)
* Love and Leashes (2022)
* Tomorrow (2022)
* My Daughter Is a Zombie (2022)
* The Sound of Magic (2022)
* The Golden Spoon (2022)
* Seasons of Blossom (2022)
* Connect (2022)
* Reborn Rich (2022)
* Unlock My Boss (2022–23)
* Lookism (2022–present)
* Skullgirls (2022–2024)
* Island (2022–23)
* Romance 101 (2023)
* Duty After School (2023)
* The Girl Downstairs (2023)
* Black Knight (2023)
* Bloodhounds (2023)
* See You in My 19th Life (2023)
* Mask Girl (2023)
* Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman (2023)
* Erma: The Game (2023)
* Let's Play (2023)
* A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023)
* Doona! (2023)
* Vigilante (2023)
* The Deal (2023)
* The Story of Park's Marriage Contract (2023)
* Death's Game (2023)
* Between Him and Her (2023–2024)
* Chicken Nugget (2024)
* Lore Olympus (2024)
* Beauty Newbie (2024)
* Viral Hit (2024)
* Mom, I'm Sorry (2024)
* True Beauty (2024)
* Pyramid Game (2024)
* Yumi's Cells: The Movie (2024)
* The 8 Show (2024)
* Tiger Coming In (2024)
* Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (2024)
* Seasons of Blossom (2024)
* Guardians of the Video Game (2024)
* A Killer Paradox (2024)
* Marry My Husband (2024)
* Dear X (2025)
* The Boxer (2025)
* Friendly Rivalry (2025)
* Our Paradise (2025)
* Terror Man (TBA)
* Gosu (TBA)
* Nano List (TBA)
* Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid (TBA)
* Your Letter (TBA)
* 1 Second (TBA)
* The World After the Fall (TBA)
* My Daughter Is a Zombie (TBA)
* Return of the Blossoming Blade (TBA)
* Third Shift Society (TBA)

*[WW]: Worldwide
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template