Coming Out on Top
A gay dating sim with explicit imagery and a fish romance.
Coming Out on Top is a gay-themed dating sim interactive novel released in 2015, developed by Obscura of Obscurasoft. The story follows college student Mark Matthews (a name the player can change) as he comes out to his roommates Penny and Ian at the start of his final year, then navigates relationships with various men based on player choices. Mark also has a pet fish, which becomes a confidant if he isolates himself. The game includes explicit or censored erotic images (depending on the version) that unlock during each plotline. Players begin by flirting with multiple guys, but midway through, all other interactions drop away as one relationship is pursued to completion. The game ends when Mark, Penny, and Ian graduate.
The main dates include Alex, Mark’s anatomy professor and potential racquetball partner seeking tenure; Amos, an older man into wrestling, classic films, and Walt Whitman; Brad, a slacker football player Mark tutors; Ian, Mark’s recently single roommate; Jed, the straight-edge lead singer of a punk band living upstairs; and Phil, Penny’s cousin just back from Marine Corps boot camp while his father runs for senate. Bonus dates accessed through the “Brofinder” app are shorter, unlocking only two or three gallery images each, and feature characters like Cesar, a narcotics officer on a sting; Donovan, a divorced father; Frank, a stripper posing as a wealthy investor; Jake, a foodie trapped with Mark in an elevator; Luke, an Irish rugby player; Oz and Pete, a couple seeking a threesome; Terry, a closeted pop star; Theo, a game developer needing a date for his reunion; and Tommy, a lawyer whose past mistake leads to a hostage situation.
Gameplay follows the interactive novel format: players tap or click to advance the story and make choices at key moments. Beyond choosing which man to date, players can improve Mark’s relationships with Penny and Ian, or boost his academics by studying and earning money. Unlocked erotic images are stored in a gallery for later viewing. Players can also customize each man’s beard and body hair to personal taste.
The game originated from a successful Kickstarter campaign. Obscura released test builds for forum feedback. Initially conceived as a Western counterpart to anime-influenced yaoi, bara, and slash fiction games, it was built with
- Release Year
- 2015
- Developer
- Obscura (Obscurasoft)
- Genre
- Gay-themed dating sim interactive novel
- Engine
- Ren'Py
- Platform
- Initially not on Steam; released on Steam in 2017 after Greenlight approval
- Known For
- Explicit/censored erotic images; Brofinder bonus dates
Lore & Background
The game follows protagonist Mark Matthews (name changeable) as he comes out to his roommates Penny and Ian before his final year of college. Players make choices that determine which men enter his life, including his anatomy professor Alex, older man Amos, frat bro Brad, roommate Ian, punk singer Jed, and Marine cousin Phil. The game also features nine shorter bonus dates accessed via the Brofinder app, including a narcotics officer, a stripper, a foodie, an Irish rugby player, a couple seeking a threesome, a closeted pop star, a video game developer, and a lawyer involved in a hostage situation.
Reader's Guide
Coming Out on Top is significant as an early Western gay-themed dating sim that successfully crowdfunded via Kickstarter and was built with community feedback during beta testing. Its explicit or censored erotic images, customizable beard and body hair options, and inclusion of a human-fish sexual relationship garnered critical attention. Reviewers from Gaming Revolution, Rock Paper Shotgun, and Paste Magazine offered mixed assessments: some praised its humor and romcom script, while others criticized it for reinforcing existing LGBTQ+ representations rather than expanding them. Obscura addressed initial skepticism from the gay community about a heterosexual woman writing gay male experiences, noting that criticism faded after players tried the demo. She also acknowledged over-representation of her preferred body type but emphasized the importance of fully fleshed-out Asian and African-American storylines. The game's obscurity before its 2017 Steam release and its positive reception among gay male players highlight its role in diversifying the dating sim market.
Did You Know?
- The game was made using the free game engine Ren'Py.
- One plot concludes with the protagonist being sexually mounted by his pet fish.
- The Brofinder bonus dates include a narcotics officer on a sting operation and a closeted pop star.
- Obscura did all character art, writing, and some programming; Doubleleaf did scene art, Badriel did backgrounds, and Saguaro did programming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Coming Out on Top and who developed it?
It is a gay-themed dating-sim interactive novel created by Obscura under the Obscurasoft banner and first released in 2015. The game runs on the Ren'Py visual-novel engine and follows a college student through his final year of self-discovery and romance.
Who is the main character in Coming Out on Top?
The player controls Mark Matthews (a name you can change), a college senior who comes out to his roommates Penny and Ian early in the story. From there, the narrative branches based on which male love interests the player pursues.
What is the pet fish in Coming Out on Top?
Mark keeps a fish that acts as a silent confidant, particularly in playthroughs where he withdraws from his social circle. The fish has become one of the most frequently memed and referenced details in the fan community.
How do the explicit scenes unlock in Coming Out on Top?
Erotic images—either fully explicit or censored, depending on which version you bought—appear as you advance through each character's individual plotline. The game also includes bonus Brofinder-style dates as extra content.
When did Coming Out on Top become available on Steam?
The title originally launched in 2015 outside of Steam and only arrived on the platform in 2017 after passing the Greenlight approval process. That Steam release significantly broadened its discoverability beyond the initial audience.
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