10 Cringey-But-Oh-So-Good Reality Dating Shows to Stream Just Because

(SPOT.ph) If you're like us and prefer to stay within your comfort zone, putting yourself out there and dating around can be quite the challenge. It's funny, though, because despite dating being a very personal activity, there are those who are willing to take it to the extreme and put their love lives on the small screen for all the world to see. Yup, we're talking about reality dating shows. Call it a guilty pleasure or whatever, but we all know we love a good drama-filled and raunchy show every now and then—especially when the premise is more on the "Huh?" side of the spectrum. So whether you're in need of some motivation, or less of a reason, to put yourself out there, or you just like the drama, we round up some of our favorite reality dating shows for you to binge-watch. 

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Here are 10 reality dating shows that could inspire you to go dating this Valentine's season:

Single's Inferno

Where to stream: Netflix

Single's Inferno is arguably one of the most popular reality shows today. This Korean dating show-meets-Survivor sees singles stranded on an island with nothing but the basics and with the sole purpose of getting to know each other. The catch is they can't ask for crucial details about the other person, like their age, profession, etc., while they're on the island. At the end of each episode, contestants anonymously choose who they would like to "escape" the island with for a date night in a luxury hotel. If two people choose each other, they win the night away and the chance to get to know each other better outside the island rules.

90-Day Fiance

Where to stream: discovery+

90-Day Fiance is an American reality series that follows couples who have applied for or received a K-1 visa, a type of visa available uniquely to foreign fiancés of U.S. citizens. The catch is once they've applied for this visa, they only have 90 days to marry each other. 

90- Day Fiance has spawned an entire universe of spin-offs, all playing with the idea of marrying or dating someone from another culture or country. Long-distance relationship issues,  language barriers, and cultural differences give this franchise life and trust us, there is no shortage of drama in this series.

Love Is Blind

Where to stream: Netflix

Love Is Blind takes blind dating to the extreme by having couples fall in love without ever seeing each other.  In this social experiment, single men and women hoping to make a connection date each other in super cozy rooms where they can only hear each other through speakers. If they are successful at 'falling in love,' then they must propose before they are allowed to meet in person. While we totally support not having looks as the catalyst to a relationship, we still find it a bit odd to get engaged to someone you've never ever seen. But hey, isn't this how dating during the pandemic played out sans the proposal, of course?

Too Hot to Handle

Where to stream: Netflix

What do you get when you take a group of hot, single, and uh, horny—er, sexually active individuals from all over the world and ban them from doing anything remotely spicy? Drama. Frustration. And a whole lot of temptation. In Too Hot to Handle, every kiss, make-out session, and good ol' sex will cost the players money because if they're successful in following the no-touch rule for the duration of their stay, they split a $100,000 prize for their efforts. 

Sexy Beasts

Where to stream: Netflix

Working on the same theory as Love Is Blind, Sexy Beasts also puts true blind date chemistry to the test this time by having cast members hide their faces behind ridiculous film-grade prosthetics before being sent out on their dates. Absolutely bonkers, right? Each episode stars a different single searching for true love who goes on a series of dates with three masked prospects. The episode's star must choose their preferred match once the dates are over. Only then will everyone’s real faces be revealed. 

The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On

Where to stream: Netflix

Have you ever been told what to do and, in an ultimate act of defiance, decided against it? Well, if you have, then you might have a penchant for this reality TV show. This self-proclaimed social experiment begs the question: will you marry someone just because they gave you an ultimatum?  Catch six couples on the verge of marriage explore if the grass is greener on the other side by entering trial marriages with other members of the group, followed by one with their OG partner. Will they finally tie the knot with their partner, or will this experiment end their relationship?

Beauty And The Geek Australia

Where to stream: discovery+

While it's not a dating show per se, Beauty and the Geek is on this list because, more often than not, love brews between the beauties and the geeks. An unconventional match, but hey, love is love. The show follows a group of "Beauties," i.e., women who rely on their attractiveness and outgoing personalities but typically lack dictionary-description intellect, and "Geeks", a.k.a. men who rely on intellect but typically lack social ability who pair up to compete in challenges that could ultimately make them U.S. $100,000 richer. 

Dated And Related

Where to stream: Netflix

Okay, it's not what it sounds like. Dated and Related features pairs of siblings or cousins who come to a villa together with the goal of helping their family member find someone to date. The premise rests on the fact that your relative would know you enough and would have your best interest at heart when finding a potential match. But things can get messy and awkward fast. We mean, could you imagine being on a date while your brother or sister was there watching? If you can get past that awkwardness, then you're good to go with this show. Not too mention, there are some pretty heartwarming moments here and there that might make you just hug your favorite relative after watching.

Are You The One?

Where to stream: Netflix

Are You The One? was originally released in 2014 on MTV. The show features a group of men and women who are paired into couples by the show’s producers via personality tests, professional matchmakers, and dating algorithms. Aside from finding love, contestants in this reality show can win U.S. $1 million if they can figure out who their perfect match is. 

Married By Mom and Dad

Where to stream: discovery+

Growing up, we were always told that our parents knew best and had our best interests at heart. Will this still hold true when finding your future spouse? In Married By Mom and Dad, parents of unlucky-in-love participants play matchmaker as they find their child's future Mr./Mrs. 

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