- Regular Update: Feb '24 - 8 February 2024
In short: added costumes that unlock through random events when you reach a decent popularity level, added a zoomable ID card, added the option to play your next run with the character you last completed the game as, added a new title screen.
- The Yuuuuuge Update - 26 January 2024
Greetings game enjoyers, Today marks one of Loser's Romance's biggest updates yet. Keller the ginger holy roller is now befriendable/dateable. There are more music tracks, specifically ones that play during longer conversations. You now gain popularity levels, which change how some characters treat you. The goals and perks screens have been improved, with filters and titles. More costumes are available on the perks screen. More goals, too. New/improved/more sound effects have been added, as well as little UI animations when you give a gift or buy something at the store. Aaaaand the game's price will be going up to $9.99 to reflect its improved size and quality. Expect more updates regularly as we move forward, and thanks for reading!
- A Quick Update - 8 November 2023
Polished the UI and improved a few graphics. Tinkered with the store page. Added the option to randomize your character if you choose the quickstart ("skip intro") after your first playthrough. Now you can jump right back in for another run.
- The Carrie Update - 31 October 2023
This month brings an entire new friendship/romance option. That's Carrie Farr, your popularity-obsessed classmate and local donut clerk. Also, bugs have been fixed, artwork tweaked, and more variant lines added. Stay tuned for the next big updates, which should add another couple characters. In the future, there'll also be male options, making Loser's Romance officially an otome game. (Look it up, non-weebs.) Thanks, all!
- QoL and a Pigeon Costume - 7 September 2023
Seeing as it looks like Steam is cracking down on AI stuff, I've removed the AI art rewards from Loser's Romance's gallery. I don't want to suddenly see the game delisted, so this seems like the right way to go. Tonight's update also adds more sound effects and indicators, plus Yang's pigeon costume as an unlockable in the perks menu. This is of course in tribute to pioneering weird dating sim Hatoful Boyfriend. I just got COVID for the first time, and I'm only now recovering. It sucks. Don't get COVID. Stay in and play Loser's Romance. Thanks for reading!
- New Select Screens & Costumes - 26 August 2023
Today brings a new "Girl News" graphic and fanfare to announce progress updates at the start of each month, plus new gender and difficulty select screens and new costumes to unlock. I've also fixed a save bug which was graciously pointed out by user Salvor. Thanks, Salvor!
- QoL Improvements - 14 August 2023
Animated indicators have been added for when you achieve a goal and gain metacurrency or unlock artwork. This should give a bigger dopamine hit than the text box that previously informed you of this stuff. Meanwhile, work continues on a much larger update...
- Latest Update: QoL Additions, Variant Lines - 6 August 2023
Today, Loser's Romance gets "resistance bars." These are drained as you break down a new friend's defenses. As a quality of life update, they'll make it easier to gauge your progress. (They're basically health bars, but I don't want to make it sound like you're beating your new friends' asses.) Also added are more variant lines at the grocery store-- the stuff gamers crave.
- Loser's Romance, Now With Character Classes - 2 August 2023
That's right, Loser's Romance now includes character classes. New games begin with you picking your two worst traits, which determine your dialogue options. These traits: CREEPER: Your vibe is "lives in a bus station bathroom and has non-fatally stabbed four people." DIM: You're dangerously stupid, my good Beavis. Realistically, you'll age out of high school before you graduate. FEDORA: You've brought chivalry into the twenty-first century by calling girls "milady" and giving inappropriately intimate gift baskets. NECKBEARD: You know a ton of book and computer stuff, and it doesn't matter because everyone thinks you're a rude dick. RANDO: LOL, you're so random. Bacon biscuits! Weasel cum! Please end my life! This also means a bunch of new dialogue options are available.
- The "What an Update!" Update - 8 April 2023
Hello again, Fake High Schoolers (still the official name for Loser's Romance players until someone- quite reasonably- objects). With tonight's unprecedented update, Loser's Romance is no longer just an elevated dating sim with light puzzle elements, but the world's best (only) roguelike high school sim with elevated dating and puzzle elements. This update adds: ...the ability to earn scholar dollars (your school's fakey, neon reward money) for accomplishing certain tricky goals. Trade scholar dollars in to unlock a bevy of gameplay enhancements, fun cosmetics including goth costumes, and secrets. "Recoveries" to protect you from social gaffes. They're also needed to unlock... Best friendship endings. Instead of becoming a boyfriend/girlfriend/themfriend, become someone's best friend by sticking with and supporting them. Marriage endings. Achieve the best outcome on the hardest difficul…
- Coming Soon: The "What an Update!" Update - 10 March 2023
Greetings Fake High Schoolers! (That's the new Official name for Loser's Romance players. Or not.) I've been working day in and out to add several huge new features and story paths: As of next update, you'll be able to earn scholar dollars (your school's fakey, neon reward money) for accomplishing certain goals. Trade scholar dollars in to unlock a bevy of gameplay enhancements, fun cosmetics, and secrets. You'll be able to get recoveries, which protect you from social gaffes. They'll also be needed to unlock... Best friendship endings. Instead of becoming a boyfriend/girlfriend/themfriend, you'll soon be able to become someone's best friend by sticking with and supporting them. Easy/normal difficulty will offer a "boring normie" answer to certain choices. It's low risk, but low reward. I'm tweaking the UI visuals, once again refining the entire script, and improving a few sprites. With…
- Regular Update - Winter Holiday Week - 22 December 2022
The store page for Loser's Romance has been updated with all new screenshots reflecting the new and improved backgrounds. As for the IN-GAME grocery store, it's stocking a new holiday item: a menorah, AKA the Jewish candle holder famously associated with Hanukkah. As always, everyone you can gift it to has a unique reaction. With the winter sale coming up tomorrow, this is the perfect time to purchase and try out Loser's Romance if you haven't yet. Happy holidays, everyone!
- Regular Update: Portraits and a New Mechanic - 9 December 2022
The senior portraits unlocked through each character's best ending have been touched up to look extra nice. A new mechanic now allows players to explore/date around more and still get a decent ending. If you reach one of the romantic interests' endgame (Character A), if another one (Character B) knows and likes you, you can now transfer over some of that affection. That is, if Character A gives a crap about the opinion of Character B. This mechanic encourages exploration whereas it was previously punished by opportunity loss, and should make the game that much more fun and welcoming.
- Regular Update #4 - 27 November 2022
All backgrounds have been polished and refinished as line art, improving their look. A new, animated main menu has replaced the old, static one. More soon to come!
- Try (Watching) Before You Buy / Another Regular Update - 22 November 2022
Wow! These characters I drew for self-promotion are SO excited to deliver some cool news. https://i.ibb.co/pzwNZNv/update-art.png Hiko, an awesome Vtuber, has done a playthrough of Loser's Romance. If you're on the fence about buying LR, definitely check it out to see if the game clicks with your sense of humor: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1658949027?t=00h08m26s (Link expires in two weeks) Today also brings a small update: Loren, Jr., has a new shirt design so you can tell right away he's a proud(?) Panel Galaxy employee. The end-of-date, September, and October choices now describe what happens when you choose them. These are points where the player should be making decisions, not guesses. Additional notes may now show up during the "finding a note in the trash" event. The new notes, from a friendly dimbulb, help you cheat on the quizzes. Thanks for reading! More is always on the way.
- Regular Update #3b - 18 November 2022
Now once you beat the game, you'll unlock a "skip intro" option. "Skip intro" mode cuts to the essential choice points during the first in-game month, which will fly by while still making sense narratively. With this quick way to jump in, replaying the game should feel a lot better. An optional hard difficulty has been added if you really want a challenge.
- Regular Update #3 - 16 November 2022
A number of backgrounds have been enhanced and improved. More to come!
- Regular Update #2b - 11 November 2022
This mini-update adds an optional easier difficulty and improves controller support. As well as planning bigger content for the future, I'm currently working on implementing a fast forward mode, which will unlock once you beat the game once.
- Regular Update #2 - 9 November 2022
This week, we're adding: An animated background for the name entry and menu screens. Spruced up "student ID" and "Carrie" sprites. A couple new locations where you might see an event at school. Three new items in the store. Stay tuned for the next regular update as Loser's Romance continues to expand.
- Regular Update #1 - 2 November 2022
Five new items have appeared at Cruller's Grocery. They'll enter the random rotation of purchasable items whenever you visit the store. As always, each item has a unique reaction from every character.
