Games of love: The best shows to watch if you like Single’s Inferno

Eugene Bozhenko

Eugene Bozhenko

They are like tournaments with a variety of emotional challenges. The reward is love or just a pile of cash.

Single’s Inferno has many great features. It combines the humble nature of Korean culture, tough physical games, and a deep dive into romantic relationships. Somehow, the mix of this dating show clicks for many people. After experiencing everything its four seasons have to offer, you may get interested in other wonders of the genre. This article can direct you to the next show to watch.

Be cautious, though. Labeling dating shows the best doesn’t mean they are everyone’s cup of tea. Some of them go too far away from the formula of Single’s Inferno. And that's the main point of this list — to highlight many aspects of the wild world of love-themed reality shows.

Love Deadline

  • Netflix
  • 1 season

This Japanese dating show is pretty similar to Single’s Inferno in terms of spirit. The participants seem to be honest about their intention to find love. It’s just a pleasure to watch their gentle interactions in pretty harsh circumstances.

What's going on?

Things are whirling around women here. The female contestants have the right to choose a partner and propose to them. Men, on the other hand, may leave at any moment: their time on Love Deadline is very limited. However, if they reject a proposal, the woman must leave the show.

The participants travel across beautiful places, starting from Okinawa, Japan. It’s a 30-day trip, if they "survive" here. The competition is about dating and communication only.

Idea

The show takes the mission of connecting romantic couples very seriously. Women here are up to marriage, not just dating and having fun. Men are looking for this as well, but their role is suddenly secondary. This feels almost extraordinary for Japanese society.

Why watch?

Love Deadline has so many unique elements, but the atmosphere and people here bring the same vibes as Single’s Inferno. Watch it if you don’t really like the strictly entertaining ideas of many Western shows. In general. Love Deadline is sweet and interesting.

Too Hot to Handle

  • Netflix
  • 6 seasons
  • International versions: Brazil, Germany, Mexico 

In a way, this show is not like Single’s Inferno: it’s drastically different. People come to it to earn the prize money and, probably, to show off their gorgeous bodies. No humble romance is in sight.

What’s going on?

Ten men and women are placed in an isolated location. All of them are somewhat crazy about sex and physical attraction. However, they cannot have that on the show — not because of some moral restrictions. Even kisses decrease the final cash reward. This creates interesting tension.

Idea

Too Hot to Handle has a very good idea. It takes people who are obsessed with the physical aspects of love and tries to teach them deeper layers of romantic relationships. Participants go through creative workshops to learn how to channel their internal energy. 

The show fails to fully deliver this idea, though. Most guys and girls choose to be naughty. But maybe the viewers can get the point?

Why watch?

It’s difficult not to notice an elephant in this room. Attractive people and open contacts make the show exciting. Still, it has more to offer. Too Hot to Handle is somewhat closer to real life than Single’s Inferno. The dating show is based on one of the strongest sides of human nature.

Also, the emotions here are super strong. The participants are ready to get ignited: for love and for anger. Breakups are dramatic here. And losing money because others can’t behave can unleash beasts.

Love is Blind

  • Netflix
  • 8 seasons
  • International versions: Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, UAE, U.K.

It’s the best dating show for those who want to go deeper than just physical attraction. The whole formula is kind of revolutionary, but Love is Blind still has many traditional aspects, like emotional breakups, conflicts, and sweet moments.

If you want something closer to Single’s Inferno, pay attention to the Japanese version. The culture of interactions differs in the U.S. and regional variants.

The newest Season 8 of Love is Blind is out on Feb. 14.

What’s going on?

Men and women live for 10 days in separate buildings. They interact only in special cabins: no one sees who they are talking with. After a series of those “voice chats,” a marriage proposal may happen. If it’s accepted the couple meet, spend a week at a resort, live for three weeks together, and then they get married — or not.

Idea

The deep idea behind this show immediately made it popular. Love is Blind throws away the modern formula of liking-ignoring photos on a mobile app. What about looking deep into the personality of your partner?

Eventually, the participants still meet each other and experience intimacy. But being attracted to the internal world may become a stronger base for long-term relationships.

Why watch?

The show has everything in good proportions. The participants express themselves without visual contact, and then they spend quite a lot of time together. This creates diverse entertainment for the viewers. You like those people, you support them, and you live through different stages with them.

The Boyfriend

  • Netflix
  • 1 season

There are no girls in this show: it’s same-sex romance. However, do not make up your mind about The Boyfriend too quickly, and it may be worth your attention. Guys participate in it to find love, learn how to express their feelings, and even reach a new level of accepting themselves. The Boyfriend is surprisingly deep.

What’s going on?

A few guys live in a big house and run a small business — a coffee shop trailer. Most days, two of them go for a job, and it’s also a date, with the process of selecting your partner and spending time with him. Sometimes, men go for real dates, but only if they manage to select each other.

There is no final goal, like naming a partner publicly. Still, some couples can leave that house together.

Idea

The Boyfriend is wrapped into the setting of other best dating shows. The idea is relatively the same: help people form couples and show their emotional journeys to the viewers. The personalities of those participants make the show unique. These guys are honest in their aspiration to find love.

Why watch?

People join this show for the exact reason it was created: to express themselves and connect with each other on an emotional level. It goes beyond the desire to boost the popularity of an Instagram account or build a model career — as it happens in other reality series. Witnessing this purity is a good reason to watch The Boyfriend.

It's a Japanese reality show, so the spirit is very similar to Single’s Inferno. The reaction of hosts to accompany the viewing experience is also here.

Love Island

  • Peacock (U.S.), ITV2 (U.K.)
  • 11 seasons of the original U.K. version, 5 seasons of the U.S. version
  • A variety of international shows: Sweden, Germany, Australia, and more

It's a classic of the dating show genre. Love Island is like an endless adventure for you to watch. Couples change each other, fun competitions happen regularly, and sweet kisses with heartbreaking moments are all over the place.

What’s going on?

A group of participants, men and women, live on an isolated island for a long time, while viewers watch them through many installed cameras. The islanders must find themselves a couple, otherwise they are out of the show. It is quite allowed to pair with a friend to survive on the Love Island, but the main point is to find your romance partner. The winning couple earns a lot of money — like $100,000 in the U.S. version.

Idea

Through difficulties and differences, guys and girls have to connect with someone and become a couple. The idea is more about an exciting and long-lasting reality show.

Why watch?

It’s pure entertainment. The other dating shows like Single’s Inferno “overthink” too much, and here, you expect hardly any seriousness. 

Also, Love Island is almost always here. The seasons last for 50 to 60 episodes, so you don’t reach the end when you are still want to cheer for that guy or hate this girl. Grab a pack of snacks, relax, and have fun watching it.

Love on the Spectrum

  • Netflix
  • 2 original Australian seasons, 2 U.S. seasons

The entire industry of dating shows has been put aside in Love on the Spectrum and reinvented for the specific needs of autistic participants. It’s not exactly a dating show like Single’s Inferno — we witness real people with their specific problems. With no wow effect of luxurious hotels or tension of emotional conflicts, Love on the Spectrum is so much closer to people’s lives than many other reality series.

What's going on?

The creators of Love on the Spectrum help people on the autism spectrum to express themselves in the romantic dimension and eventually find a partner. The participants do not travel to remote islands, and they are not limited to a specific time for making decisions. They date in real life, and viewers witness this deep experience.

Also, the show contains stories of already formed couples. They are quite inspirational.

Idea

Helping people find love is the main idea of Love on the Spectrum, and it was nicely implemented in the actual episodes. In fact, it feels like the show is an excuse to popularize and support this kind of assistance, not strictly entertaining material.

Why watch?

If you need something sweet and wholesome in your life, watch Love on the Spectrum. It’s one of the best dating shows ever created — beyond the settled stereotypes of the genre.

It's the best thing is that you’ll find the world beyond glamorous makeovers and muscled bodies. No scripted interactions or fake emotions are here. Love on the Spectrum is so real, and anyone can learn a lot about themselves from it.

Offline Love

  • Netflix
  • 1 season available on Feb. 18

This dating show may seem just cruel for gamers: they take all gadgets away from the contestants (yes, that also includes gaming devices). But seriously, Offline Love is an interesting take on the genre. Instead of isolating people, the creators send them to the vast world — to find love in real life.

What’s going on?

With no mobile phones and other gadgets, men and women travel to places all over the world. They should connect with romantic partners having no apps or even online communication on their side.

Idea

The modern world is a lot about the online dimension. Find love without a dating app? It’s quite a challenge! But with the skills you can earn through it, communication should reach a new level. This on-screen experience should teach viewers some good things about people's interactions.

Why watch?

Offline Love is a Japanese series, and if you are looking for the best dating shows like Single’s Inferno, you should put this one on your calendar.

For now, it’s an upcoming release. The idea sounds promising, but we can know the details only after Feb. 18.

That’s all about the best dating shows to watch if you like Single’s Inferno. For interesting entertainment information and news, stick around on esports.gg!