In both reality TV series, a group of strangers move in together and find friendship and love, with entertaining commentary by a group of panelists. Terrace House is more loosely structured and relaxed, while Heart Signal involves a game that makes the residents' stay interesting. Heart Signal is generally more light-hearted than Terrace House; Terrace House tends to focus more on drama and deeper topics.

Both dramas take place in a university setting and have a slice-of-life feeling. Although Age of Youth follows the everyday lives of a group of girls, one of the main girls resembles the female lead in Cheese in the Trap (in terms of being timid but not weak).