When did dating sims become popular?

While the genre started in the 1980s, arguably the first dating sim to make it big is Tokimeki Memorial, first released for the PC in 1994. Tokimeki made it big thanks to word of mouth.

What are dating Sims called in Japan?

In Japan, dating sim characters are referred to as capturable — whether that means you capture their hearts or their bodies depends on the game. But youll need to focus, as playing the field can result in an unsatisfying ending, and no one likes that. These games are often designed to be played multiple times.