LOVE IS TRAUMA

LOVE IS TRAUMA is an adult-oriented dating simulation game. Featuring exquisite visuals, the game immerses players in the chaotic environment of a production set, where they will experience a truly extraordinary romance. In LOVE IS TRAUMA, players take on the role of a contestant facing a variety of safe and lawful trials and tribulations. You must drive the narrative forward through a series of choices as you strive to achieve a happy ending of your own. Your decisions will influence the flow of dialogue—and, in turn, the trajectory of the plot; with its multiple-ending system, the game encourages replayability, allowing you to unlock a wider range of distinct outcomes.

Gameplay:

~5 days in-game. 1 day of the pods, 3 days of challenges, 1 day of weddings/resolutions.

Each day started with a behind-the-scenes view with the host, where the player would make some decision that would affect the next reality TV segment

Fully drawn backgrounds

Several sprite poses for each character

Fully voiced reality TV segments and host segments

10k words

5 original tracks

....and a few other things. I forget.

Features:

LOVE IS TRAUMA frames its story as a reality television experiment where contestants pursue a happily-ever-after under manufactured trials.

Compact narrative: about 15k words and an estimated 1–2 hours of playtime for a single run.

Branching choices with five distinct endings and one primary love interest to pursue.

Includes voice performances and original music to enhance atmosphere and pacing.

Darkly comic tone with deliberate, eccentric challenges and explicit content warnings.

Pros & Cons:

Pros

LOVE IS TRAUMA delivers a concise experience ideal for players who prefer single-session, narrative-driven games.

Strong dark-comedy tone and unpredictable challenges create memorable character moments.

High replay value thanks to five possible endings and branching choices that alter relationships.

The game’s jam-made origins give it an experimental, energetic feel and focused scope.

Cons

Short overall length: the story typically completes in one to two hours and may feel brief to some players.

Limited romance options with only a single love interest route available.

Contains potentially triggering content listed in the warnings; not suitable for all audiences.

Conclusion:

LOVE IS TRAUMA was assembled as a jam entry by a small collaborative team: Robobarbie led direction, programming and sprite work while contributing voice work; Allie Vera served as primary writer and editor; Cérise (languidnimbus) and Destini contributed writing and QA; Mike Young provided additional voice acting; Faefield Productions supplied music, SFX and additional voice work. Additional contributors assisted with audio, QA and tools used during development.