Otome Games: Dating Sims for Women

What the report says

🔖 4 min readImagine playing out the perfect scenario where you fall in love with the man of your dreams. Now imagine doing that twice or three times, each time with a different ending. Then, imagine doing it all over again with a different guy of your choosing.This is the main concept behind dating simulators. Such games are commonly catered to a male audience, but what if I tell you there is a particular genre of games like this dedicated to women? Enter, otome games.Otome games (乙女ゲーム) are narrative-driven romance video games specifically designed for women.

These usually feature female protagonists as the player character. Since it’s narrative-based, it usually has a story goal that the player has to fulfil. Aside from that, players are also expected to romance one of the love interests, who are usually male. Romancing different characters is often intertwined with different parts of the story. In hindsight, these games are closer to visual novels than actual dating simulators.The gameplay is usually simple. Players read through the story accompanied by visuals, usually sprites of the characters and backgrounds to set scenes. Players would then be presented with choices during different key moments in the game.

The choices usually dictate how the story would go and which ending they would get.One otome game in particular has been making waves online – Love and Deepspace, or LADS for short. In the game, the player navigates through a futuristic world where society has explored the universe in pursuit of discovering unknown civilizations. This resulted in creatures called Wanderers appearing and attacking humans. The story is deeply intertwined with five characters the player can romance. Its success in the market lends to a greater visibility for similar games.Sound interesting enough? Truth is, Japan has been in it for quite some time when it comes to women-targeted games.

Key details

Here are some big titles from Japan you can check out.Hakuoki SeriesIf we’re talking about Japanese otome games, the Hakuoki series might be one of the first in mind for avid fans. Set in the Bakumatsu of the Edo Period, the game follows Chizuru Yukimura as she travels to Kyoto in search of her father. There are six plot points for the player to experience, all connected to each of the romanceable characters in the game. Idea Factory first developed the game for PlayStation 2, which was later ported to PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS.

The franchise has left an indelible mark on the industry. It was adapted into an anime series in 2010 and was remade in 2017.If you’re a fan of historical romances, this game might just be for you.Amnesia: MemoriesAnother iconic title from Idea Factory, Amnesia: Memories, is also a staple in the otome scene. It was released in 2011 for PlayStation Portable. In the game, the player wakes up in a space between dimensions where she meets Orion, an entity who revealed that he attempted to cross over to her world, but made the mistake of colliding with her mind.

Because of this, he accidentally erased her memories. This premise makes the player experience the story with limited context, which elevates the intrigue that comes with each of the five love interests.The game has also been adapted into an anime series.Code: Realize ~Guardian of Rebirth~The next game on the list has also earned its spot on the list of otome games with anime adaptations. Code: Realize came out in 2014, developed by Otomate, a subsidiary of Idea Factory, for PS Vita. The player follows Cardia, a girl whose body carries a deadly poison that melts anything her skin touches.

More from the announcement

Players who enjoy tension and bittersweet romance may find this game endearing. It also touches on angst and grittier themes like death.The game is set in 19th-century England reimagined into Victorian steampunk. It features five love interests, all of whom are named after historical figures. The love interests’ storylines revolve around the cure of Cardia’s poison, each offering a different weight of their own – narrative-wise and emotion-wise.Collar x MaliceAdding to Idea Factory’s roster of genre-defining games, Collar x Malice is another one worth checking out. Released under Otomate in 2016, the game takes a darker turn than most of its predecessors.

Players follow Ichika Hoshino, a police officer from Shinjuku, Tokyo. She becomes a victim of an anonymous attacker who puts a collar filled with poison around her neck, while also becoming involved with a string of mysterious murders. The story revolves around Ichika investigating the murders alongside a group of former officers – all while dealing with the threat of death. Fans of mystery and thriller will surely find this game intriguing.