Dream Daddy: how the gay dad dating sim became a hit game of the summer

How did a title about fathers dating each other become number one on Steam? It seems previously niche genres are suddenly hitting the mainstream

Robert is a bad boy who enjoys whisky, leather jackets and skulking in alleyways. Brian is a large, jolly chap who looks a tiny bit like the Ghost of Christmas Present from The Muppets Christmas Carol. Damien is a cape-wearing goth who loves blood, hates garlic, and wonders why Hot Topic would describe a ruffled blouse as "Victorian" when it's so clearly Edwardian. Ugh, the savages.

All of these seemingly disparate men have one thing in common: they're dads looking to date other dads in a new game called Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator. Launched earlier in July, it's currently holding the top spot on Steam, the dominant online PC games store better known for sci-fi shooters and serious fantasy role-playing adventures. Excitement round the title was so high, that when the release was delayed by a few hours, co-developers Vernon Shaw and Leighton Gray had to post an apology to wildly expectant fans on Twitter. It received over 17,000 likes.