Don't Make Love
Released Oct 2017
Assume the role of a praying mantis in a relationship dilemma. Torn between their mutual love and the instinct to have sex – which could lead to the male mantis’s death – the couple is on the verge of making a decision. Type anything you want in response to your partner during this life-changing conversation.
83% positive · 492 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to get it
Free on Steam
Evaluation
Don't Make Love launched on October 26, 2017. In May 2018, the development team explicitly stated that they consider the game finished, while noting they would address reported bugs. A small bug-fix patch followed on August 18, 2018, which was the last meaningful update to the game.
Tragically, on October 16, 2020, the remaining team members posted a memorial announcement revealing that Dario — the primary creator of the game — had passed away. In his memory, the game was made free to download. That post is the last communication from the developer and, by its nature, marks the end of any further development.
The game launched and was maintained as a self-contained, complete experience. No DLC was ever announced or listed, no roadmap with unshipped content exists, and the developer's own words in May 2018 confirmed the game was considered finished. The game is complete.
Evidence
Surviving team members posted a memorial for the game's creator Dario, who had passed away. The game was made free to download in his memory. This is the final communication from the developer.
Developer team explicitly stated 'we consider Don't Make Love to be finished,' while committing only to bug fixes
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Maggese
Achievements
42
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player
About this game
Will you make love and risk death?
Assume the role of a praying mantis in a relationship dilemma. Torn between their mutual love and the instinct to have sex – which could lead to the male mantis’s death – the couple is now on the verge of making a decision. Try to keep their relationship in balance by typing anything you want in response to your partner during this life-changing conversation. Do your best to convey your feelings in a situation without satisfying solution.
Feature list
- Type your responses without any restrictions and watch the conversation unfold
- A lively character that reacts to you in a meaningful way
- Play as either male or female
- Multiple endings and nonlinear playthroughs
- Hand-drawn art style with a cinematic feel
- Dynamic soundtrack that changes according to your partner’s mood
Games/Media that inspired us:
- Emily is Away
- Façade
- The Green Porno Series
- A Lover's Discourse: Fragments
FAQ
Can I really type anything?
Yes, you can, but the interaction depends on what you type. This game puts you in a specific situation: a conversation about a relationship in stalemate. If you don’t take on that role, the game will ignore most of what you type. If you try to “stick to the script” you’ll notice how the game can understand you and respond appropriately.
One playthrough is pretty short. Why shouldn’t I get a refund after I finish it?
How many times have you put a lot of effort into something but that effort wasn’t acknowledged? It’s often difficult to understand how much time and money goes into what we experience as entertainment, but we’re sure you can see where we’re coming from. That’s why we hope you’ll consider this a fair price for the kind of experience “Don’t Make Love” is.
Why is the game only available in English?
We would love to cover as many languages as possible but converting the system to support more languages would be a tremendous amount of work. Since we are only three people, it would be too much for us to take on. If the game proves successful, we’ll consider this possibility.
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 27, 2026
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