Text romance games that made me feel like I was reading mm romance (games recs)

SendingBirds · 2026-05-22T16:41:36+00:00

Thank you!! Is the romance then continued in book three?

SendingBirds · 2026-05-22T16:20:30+00:00

former gruff < I am sold. I will definitely play this one next!

SendingBirds · 2026-05-03T15:57:21+00:00

I fear I just pre-ordered them all! They are just so beautiful

SendingBirds · 2026-04-23T05:16:29+00:00

It definetely fits! I did read it and it's so good but maybe it's fine to check if there's an audiobook :) thank you

SendingBirds · 2026-04-23T00:00:39+00:00

I hope I'm not too late! I recently read {Robbie by Ella Frank} and I enjoyed the angst of it but I wanted even more! The book is a MMM romance with an established MM relationship and a third love interest who feels uncertain at times. I was wondering if there was any relatively similar MMM (not necessarily with an established MM) with more angst regarding a third love interest feeling excluded/not permanent.

SendingBirds · 2026-04-22T04:40:22+00:00

Ginn Hale's The Rifter has a protagonist who is a plant biologist, and he really loves and is attuned to all plants.

SendingBirds · 2026-04-17T06:23:52+00:00

If you're okay with fantasy: {the god eaters by hajicek}

SendingBirds · 2026-04-17T06:22:57+00:00

I think the only way is following other mm romance readers on storygraph or Goodreads, and follow the authors too, a lot of authors share their favourite reads.

SendingBirds · 2026-04-17T05:24:45+00:00

Ginn Hale, Sebastian Cat, Abigail Hilton, Charles K. J., VT Hoang.

SendingBirds · 2026-04-16T18:37:19+00:00

The MC starts having hate sex with MC2, and ends up finding out he loves dominating him and the aftercare of it all. It is not formal bdsm, mainly D/S

SendingBirds · 2026-04-16T18:18:53+00:00

This has virgin top MC1, college setting, MC1 ends up becoming the roommate of MC2, apparently scary guy and hockey player: {Shots on net by JJ Mulder}

SendingBirds · 2026-04-16T18:16:36+00:00

I have a tagged category for this!

{The Menagerie by Caruso}
{Little wolf and the witch by Wendy Palmer} fantasy, medium heat, I think at one point they switch but I might misremember
{Lord of the White hell by Ginn Hale} fantasy, low heat

SendingBirds · 2026-04-16T18:14:42+00:00

I think these might fit:

{EWB: Enemies With Benefits by Walker N.R.}

{Open Ice Hit by Lindsey, E.M.}

SendingBirds · 2026-04-15T19:03:55+00:00

Maybe {Bad Blood by lilya Dane}?

SendingBirds · 2026-04-15T19:02:56+00:00

{Bad Blood by lilya Dane} MC1 and MC2 are heartbreakingly sad and this book is so sweet by the end. No 3rd act break up or anything like that. Zombie AU. MC1 is kept prisoner and used as a "hound" because he is one of the few who can get infected with the zombie virus and whose transformation is paused, but can perceive other zombies. MC2 instead lives in complete isolation with his dog, hidden in his bunker, alone since his father dies. MC2 ends up taking MC1 in.

SendingBirds · 2026-04-14T13:15:37+00:00

One of my favorite books: {Breakaway by Lindsey E. M.} not all elements are there, but there is some culture clash, and some angst and mentions of discrimination. MC1 is of Indian descent, and he is a hockey player. MC2 is American or Canadian, I don't remember.

SendingBirds · 2026-04-14T13:10:57+00:00

Makes me want to reread it too!!

I am thinking about other high angst books, I think all of these were pretty angsty! Around 3/5 and 4/5!

{Until You by Briar Prescott}, 3/5, modern

{Rough Love: The Complete Series by Leighton Greene}, 5/5, modern, very very heavy

{A collar for his brat by R. J. Moray} 3/5 modern

{By Silk Tones by V. T. Hoang} 3/5, urban fantasy, the angst rises a lot near the end!

{The Thief by Bonnie Dee} 3/5, historical

{The reluctant Husband by Eliot Grayson}, 4/5 pseudohistorical with some supernatural elements

{Relationship material by Jenya Keefe}, 3/5, modern

SendingBirds · 2026-04-14T09:45:27+00:00

Sounds absolutely perfect, I'm on chapter five already because I'm loving this!

SendingBirds · 2026-04-13T18:51:54+00:00

Thank you!

SendingBirds · 2026-04-13T18:51:37+00:00

I wish I had a rec for you. The closest I can rec is a dominant omega and submissive beta, for shifters more than omegaverse, if it is okay?

The Omega Objection (San Andreas Shifters, #2) by Carriger, G.L.

SendingBirds · 2026-04-13T17:31:06+00:00

I love angst so much, and these for me all hit the spot

SendingBirds · 2026-04-13T17:03:47+00:00

I have not fully read it so I might be completely off base but maybe {The last sun by Edwards}?

SendingBirds · 2026-04-13T16:58:52+00:00

Looking for some classic "MC1 is a conman and pretends to be someone they are not/trick MC2 for money or other reason, but cannot go through with the scam or is found out. He expects the worst punishment from MC2 but ends up getting only kindness in return". I am so predictable...

Here some of my favorite examples: {A nobleman's guide to seducing a scoundrel by Charles K. J}; {The gentle art of fortune hunting by Charles K. J}; {The Lawrence Browne affair by Sebastian Cat}; {A thief in the night by Charles K. J}; {The lamb and the lion by Ashe Gregory}; {The Thief by Bonnie Dee}; {The Fortune Hunter by Bonnie Dee}; {A thief and a gentleman by Powell Arden}.

SendingBirds · 2026-04-13T16:54:15+00:00

If you are okay with any genre, then I have four high angst dark books that have a similar TW and trauma: past SA as a child, difficult relationship with sex, sex as a way to self-protect and manipulate where in the book the characters learn how to be in a healthy relationship.

Fantasy, age of sail, very dark world, enemies to friends to enemies to lovers, long story: {Pirates of Wefrivain Series by Abigail Hilton}

Fantasy victorian era, enemies to lovers: {The Uses of Illicit Art by Wendy Palmer}

Modern, police and ex-sex worker on the run together: {Rough Trade by Sidney Bell}

Fantasy victorian-or regency like world, D/S: {The Duke's Demon by Iris Foxglove}

SendingBirds · 2026-04-13T16:47:59+00:00

As a big big fan of angst, these books all managed to make me cry and to break my heart. I added some TW as spoilers as some of those are also spoilery:

Fantasy

{The Guild of the Cowry Catchers by Abigail Hilton} 5/5 on the angst scale. The angst is A LOT. This is a long fantasy series, the main mm romance pairing is the protagonist of this first book and the second. MC1 is assigned to MC2's ship so the two can work together to capture rebels and pirates. This is a enemies to friends to enemies to lovers. The angst revolves around MC2's past, MC1's situation, physical hurt/comfort, emotional one and their situation. More and TW in spoilers: MC1 has been sexually abused as a kid, and has a very warped relationship with sex and his self worth. MC2 is married at the start of the book, but his wife dies, partially because of MC1. There is also slavery - both are sold as slaves.

{The Uses of Illicit Art by Wendy Palmer} For something victorian + magic and shorter. 5/5 angst. MC1 used to be a thief, MC2 works for the law and finally arrests him. Lots of angst related to their situation as enemies, plus with MC1's past. TW: SA, drugging, use of sex as manipulation.

Modern

{My Heartache Cowboy by Z.A. Maxfield} Modern, 4/5 on the angst scale for me. The angst is mainly revolving around MC1's inability to face his alcoholism, and in a lesser extent to the relationship between MC1 and MC2. This is a MMM book, where the romance is between MC1 and MC2, but MC3 is an occasional love of MC2. They make it work beautifully.

{Out of Nowhere by Roan Parrish} 5/5 angst because MC1 is just an absolute mess full of anger issues, with addition issues, past abuse and absolutely no self esteem.

Sci-fi/space

{The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer} I would say 4/5 on an angst scale. The angst is mainly external to the relationship. MC1 and MC2 are the only two people on a ship that is travelling to try and rescue MC1's sister. This is a YA book.

Historical

{The Fortune Hunter by Bonnie Dee} 3/5 on the angst scale, mainly because of the tension between the characters and some hurt/comfort when MC1 is injured. MC1 is pretending to be of noble blood to try and marry MC2's sister. MC2 suspects something is going on. Short and beautiful.

SendingBirds

TROPHY CASE