Find your perfect player 2: These are the best dating sites for gamers

This new star picks up where Cuddli left off and fills the void left by the agonizingly-early-2000s gamer dating sites that still pop up. Kippo had been relatively quiet until quarantine kicked up a rise in popularity. In May 2020, when it was announced that the app raised $2 million. People were sold. By collaborating with women gamers (including Twitch stars like Plushys), founders ensured that the app would be a cool-yet-safe extension of the culture.

Profiles are colorful, graphics-heavy, and feature a space dedicated to displaying favorite video games. Other highlighted cards include factors that matter to this crowd, like their star sign and favorite Animal Crossing character, plus a fun “This or That” section. Inspired by Fortnite, users can even unlock achievements and badges.

The opportunity to form platonic bonds adds to Kippo's inviting energy. According to VentureBeat, 93 percent of users play together before meeting — a low-pressure setup for friends and a way for potential love interests to experience their crush’s voice and sense of humor. 

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

Read our full review of match.

Most games have some sort of end goal or final challenge (unless it's Animal Crossing, I guess). Finding the person who makes you want to delete all of your dating profiles is like defeating the final boss of dating. If that's the stage you're ready for, match is waiting to introduce you to someone who's just as serious. 

One of match's shining points of consistency over the years is its well-populated but balanced user base. There's a near-even split between men and women, users who don't have kids and users who do have kids, and a pretty stacked feed of people to match with even if you're looking for love in a less-populated area. Whether your love for gaming stems from Space Invaders or Overwatch, finding someone with the same preferences shouldn't take long.

match (minus the ".com") has totally reconstructed its questionnaire to be less of a monotonous interrogation and more of a conversational hypothetical of how you'd react to realistic situations — both with a partner and, say, a neighbor who needs help at 3. a.m. The probe into your daily habits and values (plus the ability to mark traits that are deal breakers) ensures that match sets you up with someone whose ideal lifestyle matches yours. The meshing of playfulness and rational thinking downs the pressure of signing up for a paid dating site.

Is your worst nightmare going on a date with someone hot just to find out they don't care about women's issues? OkCupid is here to filter them out.

Users can illuminate the issues they hold dear and weed out people they'd want to argue with by answering deal-breakers like "Would you date someone who keeps a gun in the house?" or "Should the government require children be vaccinated for preventable diseases?" As one of the most inclusive dating sites on the market by far, OkCupid is known for its decision to let all users choose their pronouns. In June 2020, the site introduced the option to add a Black Lives Matter badge to your profile. It's that inclusive mindset that makes OkCupid such a home-run pick for gamers. 

A voter badge was also introduced in September ahead of the 2020 election — and per OkCupid's own findings, singles who marked an intention to vote were 63 percent more likely to get a match and 85 percent more likely to receive a message (compared to non-voters).

Of course, politics aren't the only determining factor in romance. OKCupid has in-depth user bios, but profile building isn't long or tedious at all. The questions are smart and dive into your dating style without being too mushy. You'll even get to see the percentage of how much you have in common with other daters based on the questions you both answer.

NUiT crosses two major complaints off the list: It nixes the need for the notorious "What time were you born?" question, and it won't force queer people to see straight people in their dating pool.

Remember when Bumble announced it would let users filter matches by their zodiac sign? NUiT is the better version of that. The creators at NUiT know that for many, birth charts can be a wildly helpful tool in maneuvering the dating world by predicting how well you'd mesh with someone in aspects like argument stye or the importance of sex. NUiT also accounts for the nuances in different combinations of placements outside of sun signs. It encourages daters to use astrological compatibility as insight to understand why a match might act the way they do, but does so while avoiding overly-simplistic "What fried food you are based on your zodiac sign" energy. People who study astrology will be the first to tell you that astrology might be a cosmic guide to behaviors, but it isn't a tell-all as to how good of a partner or friend someone will be.

Creators also recognized another thing that turns queer users off to heteronormative dating apps: They don't want to see or be seen by straight people. Sure, Tinder and OkCupid have their share of well-meaning allies — but the lack of shared experience as a queer person can make or break a relationship's dynamic. Such a feature has been a long time coming as dating apps increase focus on inclusivity, and people on Twitter are pretty psyched about it.

Read our comparison of EliteSingles vs. eharmony.

Though it'd be a dream to stream on Twitch for a living, many gamers have a separate professional life that's part of the equation, too. For those unwilling to budge when it comes to their partner's educational values and career goals, EliteSingles attempts to offer more specificity where eharmony and Match leave off.

EliteSingles loves to brag that 82% of their members are college grads, and with most of its members between 33-50 years old, we can pretty surely say you won't have to worry about accidentally coming across a fresh college graduate. College kids probably wouldn't be down to pay $30 to $70 a month on a dating site anyway, and that high subscription price is just another giveaway that EliteSingles is aimed at more established folks with a disposable income.

Getting started, you'll fill in your basic information and then take the new and improved personality questionnaire. EliteSingles attempts to match you through 29 algorithms and the Five Factor Personality Test, which looks at attachment style, selfishness, and more stuff that you should try to be honest about. 

Don't get too caught up on the salary and education questions — you'll still get to showcase the fun and quirky parts of yourself with different prompts that are displayed on your profile. This is where you can make mention of your favorite pastime — gaming. 

Feeling rusty? Coffee Meets Bagel has a way of encouraging meeting in real life — without the looming idea that someone is trying to make things official ASAP. It's actually one of the few dating apps that doesn't get completely roasted on Reddit, with promising success stories popping up in multiple threads.

Millions upon millions of active users is usually a plus. It is nice to know that your options are virtually limitless, but it can be jarring to have 20 new messages every time you sign on. This happens on eharmony and Tinder alike — people want connection, and they want it now. CMB's unhurried approach is great for singles who are rusty, introverted, or who simply don't feel like scrolling every time they have a free minute.

Every day, seven of your best matches (bagels) will be released, chosen by your answers to prompts, how you swiped on yesterday's batch, and who has already expressed interest in you, too. Bagels are limited regardless of whether you upgrade to a paid account.

CMB encourages users to get the ball rolling by only keeping your match for seven days. It's less pressure than Bumble's 24-hour time limit but still eliminates a list full of matches who don't care enough to respond or plan a meet-up. Plus, not being bombarded with available hotties 24/7 gives you time to contemplate whether you genuinely want to get to know them or if you're just bored.