Sex that looks as good as it does in the real world—or maybe even better.

Before we journey into the hot and steamy world of realistic sex games, we should first visit the rather unnerving uncanny valley.

First conceived by professor Masahiro Mori back in 1970, it wasn’t until 1978 that the term first appeared in print, in Jasia Reichardt’s book Robots: Fact, Fiction, and Prediction.

The uncanny valley is a theory that the closer computer-generated imagery (CGI) or robots resemble real human beings—the more realistic or lifelike they attempt—the more likely they will provoke feelings of unease or disgust.

In the last few years, however, a better understanding of the phenomenon, as well as more advanced technologies, have allowed developers to create better and more realistic sex games without provoking this disquieting response.

You can find perfect examples here in our list of the most realistic sex games. These titles work hard to get close to an illusion of erotic reality without steering players into the eerie uncanny valley.

Cumming to America

In pursuit of realism, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of cheating—not in a sexual sense but rather by using flesh-and-blood people instead of CGI models.

A good example is Life Selector’s catalog [NSFW] of interactive sex games. These sex games, or “shows” as they’re called, are choose-your-own-action flash sex games featuring real adult performers. You can direct the course of the story, and most importantly, the action.

Life Selector’s most popular title is currently Cumming To America [NSFW], where you are “interviewing” a young woman for US citizenship. While not the deepest of storylines, it perfectly showcases the mechanism incorporating real people into interactive sex games.

3DXChat

We’ve talked many times about 3DXChat [NSFW]—including on our Best Sex Games for Women list, The Best VR Sex Games for 2018, and Foot Fetish Games That Will Knock Your Socks Off (to name just three)—but always for really good reasons: it’s just that good.

The reason it’s made our list of the most realistic sex games is that its graphics are some of the best, if not the very best, for a massively multiplayer online sex game. It also deftly avoids the icy wastes of the uncanny valley by skillfully balancing a borderline-cartoonish style with realistic avatar modeling and physics.

There’s also the fact that 3DXChat [NSFW]is an immense playground open to almost infinite possibilities. Players can appear as realistic, or fantastic, as they choose. Not only can they customize how their avatars look, they can also d build public or private locations and special hookup spots.

3D SexVilla 2

Another great example of how sophisticated graphics have become is 3D SexVilla 2 [NSFW]—though great is perhaps an understatement as this title boasts levels of realism that simply have to be seen, or played, to be believed.

Unlike 3DXChat, which is an online game, 3D SexVilla 2 is designed to be primarily a single-player experience.But users can share content with other players in the popular Thrixxx social network.

3D SexVilla 2 boasts that its motion graphics simulate realistic physics. The game also allows players to create just about any sexual fantasy. Combined, these features make 3D SexVilla 2 one of the most realistic sex games available. Alas, though, it is only available for PC users.

xStoryPlayer

Similar to 3D SexVilla 2, XStoryPlayer [NSFW] (from X Moon Productions) is an off-line experience. And like 3DXChat, it supports virtual reality headgear for an immersive and lifelike experience. It cements a place on our most realistic sex games list by focusing on high-resolution graphics and eye-popping physics.

As for gameplay, it doesn’t just jump into sex but rather asks users to create a relationship with one of the characters—but once that’s done you can do pretty much whatever you want.

The game is PC only and supports HTC Vive and Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets.

Adult World 3D

Here’s a game that says it right on their site: “The Most Realistic 3D Sex!” Surprisingly, Adult World 3D [NSFW] lives up to this claim with high-definition graphics, a wide range of erotic activities, and multiple characters.

Adult World 3D also scores points for being as lifelike a possible for a CGI title.

According to the game site: “Some of the finest game designers and computer graphics artists in the world have put their skills to the fore in delivering a game of the most outstanding quality. Each and every fair vixen in the game is rendered with stunning clarity and detail, and it is almost as if you could reach out and touch them.”

While yet again for Windows computers only, Adult World 3D [NSFW]  might be alluring enough for Apple users to switch—or borrow a very good friend’s PC to try it out.

Hurt Me Plenty

On the surface this game is simple: you spank a sexy, beefy fellow. But there is more—so much more—to Hurt Me Plenty [NSFW], and this more is why it definitely deserves a place on our most realistic sex games list.

You see, this a game doesn’t only strive to be an accurate depiction of the reality of BDSM, but it also guides the player in proper and responsible play.

It all begins with negotiation, agreeing to a safeword and the like—and then comes the spanking action. But if you continue after the other character calls out the safeword, the action will abruptly stop and you’ll be presented with the following message: “Your partner is still recovering from the previous player’s abuse and violation of boundaries.” The game will then lock you out of any further action—sometimes for a matter of days.

While it may not be lifelike in its graphics, Hurt Me Plenty’s lesson of the real importance of responsible and consensual BDSM play is one that we desperately need to be seeing more of.

One Night Stand

Here’s a question: what exactly is a realistic sex game? Graphics can be part of it, trying to avoid that uncanny valley another, but what about the story?

That’s why we’re including One Night Stand [NSFW] by Lucy Blundell on our list of the most realistic sex games. Instead of focusing on sex as pure fantasy, this title plays a mystery game that begins with you waking up next to a stranger after a titular one night stand.

Through a series of on-screen choices, you—as the male protagonist—work to figure out who the woman is and what happened the previous evening. This leads to one of 12 different endings: some good, some not-so-good.

While maybe not a steamy exercise, it’s still recommended for its elegant art style and unique approach to the realities of sex: the morning after.

A time for reality, a time for fantasy

While we are rapidly approaching a time when graphics will be indistinguishable from reality—especially in erotic games—it’s important to call out another form of the uncanny valley: that it’s time for games to try and approach the less-than-visual realities of sex.

Not that fantasy should be avoided. However, when too many people are engaging in physical pleasure without a clear idea of the emotional, social, and physical realities of what can come with it, developers need to take responsibility to become part of the solution and not the problem.

Hopefully, because of public demand as well as game designers understanding their responsibilities, we’ll be seeing titles that aren’t just pretty to look at but will provide a deeper, more nuanced, and even educational approach to the realities of sex.

What do you think of our list of the most realistic sex games? Did we miss any great realistic titles? Let us know in the comments.

Image sources: 3DXChat [NSFW], Hurt Me Plenty [NSFW]