Photos and Dating
Do Exciting Dates Make Him Like You More? What an October 2026 Study Found (and Date Ideas to Try)
Do exciting dates make someone more attracted to you? A study reported by PsyPost on October 1, 2026 found that after playing a fast virtual reality game, men were nearly three times as likely to approve dating profiles as men who watched a calm forest scene. Women's choices barely changed. [1] So yes, a little thrill may help, especially with men, but it is not magic.
Short answer
- The study: 130 students, three minutes of an intense VR game or a calm scene, then eight mock dating profiles.
- Men: approval rose from 11.3% to 31.4%.
- Women: about the same (23.3% vs 20.5%).
- Takeaway: an active, slightly exciting date can boost the mood, but your connection still matters most.
What the study did
Researchers at Leuphana University Lüneburg had 130 people on a campus (average age about 23) spend three minutes either playing Beat Saber, a fast rhythm game, or looking at a peaceful forest in VR. Then they rated eight fake dating profiles and chose to approve or reject each one, like swiping. [1]
Overall, the excited group approved 24.9% of profiles vs 17.4% for the calm group. They also rated profiles as more attractive, more similar to them, and more likely to like them back. [1] The only measure that did not clearly change was how likely they said they would be to actually go on a date. [1]
The gender gap
For men, the effect was big: 31.4% approval after the game vs 11.3% after the forest. For women, there was almost no effect. [1] The researchers pointed to a theory that men rely more on body signals to judge their feelings, while women pay more attention to context. [1]
The limits
- It was a small group of students.
- They rated fake profiles, not real people.
- The effect was on swiping, not on actual dates or relationships.
So do not plan your love life around it. But it lines up with older research showing that excitement can spill over into attraction.
Exciting date ideas that are still easy to talk on (original)
The sweet spot is something that gets your heart going a bit, but still lets you chat.
- Arcade or VR bar. The closest thing to the study.
- Climbing or bouldering gym. Lots of cheering each other on.
- Go karts or mini golf. Light competition.
- A comedy show. Laughing together counts as excitement.
- A run club or dance class. Tinder's new Events tab in the UK lists things like DJ nights and speed dating. [2]
- A scary movie or escape room. Shared nerves, then lots to talk about.
How to use it well (original)
- Do the exciting part first, then get food or a drink. The talking part comes when you are both still buzzing.
- Keep it short. Ninety minutes of activity is plenty for an early date.
- Pick something you both can do. Being much better or worse than him can feel awkward.
- Do not use risky "thrills." Fast driving, drinking games or anything unsafe is not a smart test.
What does not change
Excitement can make a first impression warmer. It cannot fix a bad match. Watch for the same things on any date:
- Does he ask about you?
- Is he kind to staff and strangers?
- Do you feel relaxed or on edge?
If you are the nervous one
Being a little nervous before a date is normal arousal, the same kind of body buzz the study used. Doing something active can turn nerves into fun energy instead of awkward silence.
Budget friendly exciting dates (original)
| Idea | Cost | Why it works | |---|---|---| | Night hike or sunset walk up a hill | Free | Physical effort plus a view | | Free outdoor concert | Free | Music and crowd energy | | Ice skating or roller rink | Low | Laughing at falling | | Board game cafe with a fast game | Low | Friendly competition | | Trampoline park, adult night | Medium | Pure silliness |
A sample "exciting" first date plan
- Meet at a bouldering gym for a 45 minute intro session.
- Walk to a nearby cafe.
- Talk about the climb: who was scared, who was good, what you would try next time.
- End within two hours, while it is still fun.
The shared story ("you made it to the top!") gives you an easy reason to see each other again.
Quick takeaway
In a 2026 study, a fast VR game made men nearly three times as likely to approve dating profiles.
Women's choices did not change much.
Try an active date first, then food after.
Excitement helps the first impression. It does not replace real compatibility.