Out of all the games showcased in the Southeast Asian Games Showcase, Building Relationships continues the trend of dating sims but with an odd, unique gimmick. Developed by Thai developer Tanat Boozayaangool, this upcoming title invites you to a romantic adventure.
You play as a house… yes, a sentient moving house, as you explore this island and meet other buildings to date, like Millie the Windmill, Tenent the Tent, and more. Like other dating sims, you will be given a series of dialogue choices that will affect your progression with the other characters. But there is more to this island than just dating. In between the relationship building, you can do different things, like fishing, exploring, and doing other crazy things while you look for love.
Dating sims have evolved from just human interactions. Many indie titles have come out in the past few years where they experiment and go beyond tradition. Building Relationships is one of the games added to that list, and it is tiring to see how far one could go in this growing genre. Additionally, this game is more bizarre because it tries to add more than just the romance element, allowing players to explore this wonderful island filled with potential lovers.
Building relationships was showcased in different events, such as SXSW Sydney 2024, Wholesome Direct 2024, Game Devs of Color Expo, and many more. Boozayaangool teases on Bluesky that Building Relationships will have more features and hopes people are keen to play a “ridiculous adventure game” as a building.
Building Relationships is set to come out sometime in 2025. You can play the demo now on Steam.
About the Author
Erielle Sudario
If she's not podcasting, Erielle Sudario is seen either playing Baldurs Gate 3, The Sims, or a really cute cozy indie game that she found either in conventions or on TikTok. Outside of gaming, she's either embracing her inner Swiftie, building keyboards, or watching shows/films in theatres or streaming platforms.
