If you’re a fan of romantic comedy isekai anime, such as My Next Life as a Villainess, you might want to watch Trapped in a Dating Sim online.
We can help you find where to watch the series. This article will also explain how to use a good VPN, such as NordVPN, to watch this and other anime series.
But first, what is Trapped in a Dating Sim?
About the Series
Like My Next Life as a Villainess, Trapped in a Dating Sim is an isekai comedy series which features a person stuck in the world of an otome game. (Otome games are aimed at a female audience, and are typically romantic in nature.)
In both cases, the game world’s romantic plot gets seriously derailed by people who are self-aware that they don’t belong there. They can manipulate the situation because they understand the rules and pitfalls of the game.
However, in Trapped in a Dating Sim, the main protagonist, Leon, is not the main villain, hero, or a romantic “target.” He’s a “mob,” or background/ side character. (Mob Psycho 100 uses the term in much the same way.)
In addition, it turns out there’s more than one isekai victim from the real world wandering around, and making a mess of things. As an isekai, the series also deconstructs the whole “romantic dating simulator” concept, by showing what life would be like for an ordinary person inside one of those games.
Unlike many isekai series, which tend more toward “medieval fantasy” settings, this series features a surprising amount of giant robotic armor suits, and other science-fiction elements.
Series History
Trapped in a Dating Sim started out as a self-published web novel series by Yomu Mishima, which was picked up as a light novel series in Micro Magazine.
Season 1 of the anime came out in 2022. In December 2022, the creators announced that a second season would air.
The series’ full title is Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games Is Tough for Mobs, or Otomege Sekai wa Mobu ni Kibishii Sekai Desu in Japanese, or Mobuseka/ MobSeka for short.
List of Places to Watch Trapped in a Dating Sim
- Crunchyroll
- Apple TV
- Amazon Prime Video
- Microsoft
- Abema
Note: These are all legal, licensed places to watch anime. You will find no pirates here.
Where to Watch Trapped in a Dating Sim
1. Crunchyroll
For many people around the world, Crunchyroll will be their first choice for watching this series. The anime streaming service holds the license in many areas.
However, if you are having trouble with Crunchyroll, we have some helpful advice.
How to Watch Trapped in a Dating Sim on Crunchyroll if The App Isn’t Available in your Country
As of this article, Trapped in a Dating Sim is available on Crunchyroll in the United States. However, if Trapped in a Dating Sim is geo-locked in your area, a VPN can help.
The following method works on both desktop PCs and mobile phones or tablets:
- Purchase (or start a free trial) of a VPN. NordVPN works.
- In the settings, choose U.S. as your location.
- Fire up the VPN and wait.
- Once you’re connected, navigate to Crunchyroll (browser or app).
- Search “Trapped in a Dating Sim” in Crunchyroll and you should see Trapped in a Dating Sim pop up.
Enjoy! Please note that if Crunchyroll doesn’t update to reflect the country you selected in your VPN, you may have to clear the Crunchyroll cache and try again.
To do this on mobile, go to settings -> apps -> Crunchyroll -> clear cache. To do this on PC, you have to clear the cache in your browser.
Pros
- A large library of both classic anime and recent hits
- Good language options
Cons
- Geo-locked in some areas
Languages: Audio: Japanese, English, English (India), German, Latin American Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, and Hindi. Subtitles: English, German, Latin American Spanish, European Spanish, French, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic.
Price: Free, limited viewing is possible for some shows. $7.99 for “fan” level; $9.99 for “mega fan”; and $14.99 for “ultimate fan.”
Watch Trapped in a Dating Sim at Crunchyroll.
2. Apple TV
Apple TV has the first season of the series. You will be paying for episodes, rather than renting or getting a monthly subscription.
Pros
- A good selection of non-anime and anime content
Cons
- Buying episodes, rather than a subscription
Languages: Japanese with subtitles, or English dubbed
Price: $2.99 per episode, or $24.99 for a season.
Watch Trapped in a Dating Sim at Apple TV.
3. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video has the Original Japanese Version, and an English-dubbed version. (Unlike some anime shows, Amazon doesn’t call it a “simuldub,” but it is dubbed.)
You can find the Original Japanese Version here. If you prefer dubbed, you can get the English dubbed version here.
Note: A couple of reviews of the series reported that the Original Japanese Version had Japanese for the first episode, but English for the rest. The latest review was in August 2023, so it may have been fixed by now.
Pros
- A decent selection of anime and non-anime content
- HD and SD options
Cons
- Possible language problem (see above)
Languages: Japanese with English subtitles, or English dubbed
Prices: $1.99 for SD episodes; $2.99 for HD episodes. Season price is $16.99 for SD; $24.99 for HD.
Watch Trapped in a Dating Sim at Amazon Prime Video.
4. Microsoft
Microsoft offers the same deal as Amazon. Even the prices are the same. The only difference is that Microsoft’s version is designed specifically for Windows, or Xbox users.
Pros
- Same advantages as Amazon
Cons
- Not compatible with Apple
Languages: Japanese with English subtitles, or English dubbed
Prices: $1.99 for SD episodes; $2.99 for HD episodes. Season price is $16.99 for SD; $24.99 for HD.
Watch Trapped in a Dating Sim at Microsoft.
5. Abema
If you’re in Japan, or if you have a good VPN, you can watch episodes for free at Abema.
There are no subtitles or dubbing, and the whole website is designed for Japanese viewers. It’s also unclear if the episodes will remain free in the future.
Pros
- Free episodes
Cons
- No English translation
Languages: Japanese
Price: Free, for this series
Watch Trapped in a Dating Sim at Abema.
Conclusion: What About Netflix?
Using my VPN, I tried to find Trapped in a Dating Sim at Netflix U.S., Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea without any success.
Even without Netflix, these options should allow you to watch Trapped in a Dating Sim, no matter where you are.
