Do you prefer a "no personality" MC or a "set personality" one?

[NiyteShaeyde]

For me, it just depends. I can enjoy both an insert and set personality MC under the right circumstances :) what I have trouble with is MC's that differ so much from me that I just dislike them or dislike playing as them. I also like MC's with more personality in general and dislike ones that have little to nothing in that department. I would actually love if more MC's were voice acted tbh, I love that but it's so rare.

 

[sunfrvr]

Set personality all the way! Not really a big fan of self-insert MCs.

 

[Xyer]

Like most people here, I don't self-insert so I prefer FMCs with a set story and personality. I wouldn't turn away from playing an otomege if the MC has the personality of a doormat (can it can also turn funny in a way), but the LIs have to make up for it, otherwise it's not worth playing imo.

Yet, the majority of FMCs in otomege have little to no personality, with truly thrilling traits such as "good at cleaning and cooking".

I think there's a world of difference between what the JP audience wants VS what the international one wants, so there's why in English-speaking spaces there's more desire for heroines with actual personality and agency. From what I know from browsing Japanese-speaking spaces, fans prefer plain heroines to easily self-insert as them or have them not outshine the boys. Not too far from those harem isekai MCs from danseimuke media, that appear plain and usually have generic personality traits - except since they appeal to men, they're actually secret badasses, while in media that appeals to women FMCs usually take a backseat and have some powers but mostly rely on the men in their story.

One FMC that I ended up liking more than the LIs was Tomoe from 参千世界遊戯 ~MultiUniverse Myself~. She was a nice change of pace from what Otomate proposes lol

 

[chardobre]

Vastly prefer heroines with a personality, and having an in-game portrait is an even bigger plus. I prefer reading otome VNs like stories so the heroine is just as much a character as the LIs. I just wish for more proactive ones in the future!

 

[baggytea07]

I don't really mind either one, but I'm always actively looking for VNs with MC's with trauma/mental health issues. Not a throwaway line, but where the route focuses on it. Shinigami to Shoujo and to a lesser extent, Blackish House- Side B lives rent free in my head.

 

[Wretchedd]

i prefer no personality, though i don't hate set personality mcs, and then you're given choices to how you want to act. however i really have a problem with some stuff i've played where i pick a choice, and it goes 0 to 100 on personality despite showing zero signs.

 

[orionsbestie]

I appreciate both <3 I self-insert too, but in a way that I tend to still see the MC as her own character at the same time as I see her as myself in that game. Even when she has a strong personality (like Lynette in Cupid Parasite) or is lowkey annoying (like Hiyori in Charade Maniacs) I can enjoy the vibe and self insert, or imagine a new story where my personality opens new possibilities for different scenarios too! It's super fun haha. Though I'd really love to see more MCs with gloomier or more grounded personalities. Not many of those in localized games as far as I know.

 

[Koori]

While I find nothing wrong with the former, personal preference deffinetely leans towards a set personality so they can have their own narrative going on alongside the story

 

[Altorese]

i don't really self insert so i prefer mcs with set personalities

 

[badpun4you]

I prefer MCs with personality

 

[anna001]

I prefer MCs with set personality and voiced lines~

 

[osanajimimi]

Maybe it's a mixed opinion. If they have personality, that's great. I like to build what you could call an alternative version in my head without overshadowing the MC, so it's kind of self-insert when it's convenient lmao

 

[MarietaStay]

I prefer the MC to have personality. I understand that it should be easier for us to relate to a MC without personality, but I am more likely to believe that LI`s fall in love with a character who has personality than one who does not.

 

[lam1305]

I like both as I may self-insert sometimes but I mostly prefer set-personality as I enjoy the interaction between mc and the characters. Some mobile games have no-personality mc and less interaction with mc which I think it is difficult for me to self-insert.

 

[crescentfeather223]

Set personality. The interactions with the characters feel so one side and the choices feel very generic if the MC is a self interest. Also a set personality makes the dialogue and story more fun.

 

[sum]

For me, having the heroine have a personality and portrait is part of the fun; it helps me escape my own life a little bit to experience hers, in a way. What I don't like so much is when the MC has a voice, although I do like it in some games like Jack Jeanne.

 

[Jinnxdk]

I used to consume a lot of self-insert MCs, but lately I love MCs with personality. So, MCs with personality>>>>

 

[あ～ん]

I like set personality, even if this personality is not strong-willed or something! I don't like to self insert because I already have husband, so I treat otome games more like novel book with pictures and voice acting. I don't know why (like in game Honey vibes) there is no portrait of heroine a little left from text box, like why make cute heroine with blond hair and green eyes (which differs from typical japanese woman) and not insert her face expressions when she's saying something. Just because of this I can't bring myself to start this game...

 

[あ～ん]

О русский человек!! Больше озвучки для героинь!

Я думаю, что героиня с характером лучше. Наблюдать за развитием любовных линий с человеком, обладающим характером, гораздо интереснее, чем с какой-то безликой куклой. Ещё одно замечательное преимущество – озвучка героини, но, увы, это случается очень редко.

Didn't know there were russian people like me)

 

[voIuvreles]

I don't mind either way, but MC with submissive/weak personality icks me like girll grow a spine!

 

[Midnight_5]

О русский человек!! Больше озвучки для героинь!

Didn't know there were russian people like me)

Ахаха, а ведь когда я натыкалась на твои ответы, то почувствовала какой-то русский вайб, правда ник на япе глушанул эти интуитивные думы. Не против пообщаться в тгшке или вкашке?

I think there are enough russian speakers here, because the largest english-speaking platform with vn's

 

[m000000]

I prefer when the MC has a strong personality.
I don't really self-insert when I play — I don't see the MC as "me," but as her own separate character. For me, it's more like watching (or guiding) someone else's story rather than projecting myself into it.
Because of that, I actually enjoy it more when the MC has clear traits, opinions, and emotional reactions instead of being a blank slate. It makes the dynamics feel more believable, and the romance feels more earned when both sides have distinct personalities.

 

[あ～ん]

Ахаха, а ведь когда я натыкалась на твои ответы, то почувствовала какой-то русский вайб, правда ник на япе глушанул эти интуитивные думы. Не против пообщаться в тгшке или вкашке?

I think there are enough russian speakers here, because the largest english-speaking platform with vn's

I send you a dm with my nickname! A-s nickname is really old though it's because my name is Anna and my nickname is A-n

 

[kjdsh]

Both are fine for me as long as the plot is good but I prefer it a bit more when the MCs have a set personality

 

[afreysia]

a set personality, i am personally repulsed by self-inserting which may raise the question of why do i hold interest in otome games then? it was more of a recent realization, hence why i am more into more broader joseimuke than just otome now. though i love jack jeanne's protagonist kisa <3