- Sep 1, 2025
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Otome Recommendation megathread
- Thread starter blackflag
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- discussion otome otome game
- Jan 19, 2019
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The characters in Desert Kingdom look a bit too young but Musketeer seems cool (plenty of guys with long hair lol) thanks! Have you played either?
- Sep 1, 2025
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- Dec 5, 2025
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- Dec 5, 2025
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- Apr 12, 2026
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Looking for: Games with manipulative love interests. Untranslated is fine!
Characters I enjoyed/examples with that trope are: Sannan (Hakuouki), Saint-Germain (Code:Realize), Minami (9 R.I.P.), Juzo (Homura: The Crimson Warriors)
Things I dont like: s*xual assault or blood related incest. situations like brothers conflict are acceptable but not preferred.
Thanks!
Characters I enjoyed/examples with that trope are: Sannan (Hakuouki), Saint-Germain (Code:Realize), Minami (9 R.I.P.), Juzo (Homura: The Crimson Warriors)
Things I dont like: s*xual assault or blood related incest. situations like brothers conflict are acceptable but not preferred.
Thanks!
- Apr 15, 2026
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I'm looking to get into otome games~ (currently only reading BL VNs) I'm okay with Eng and JP. Computer would be better than other platforms but I can try emulators.
My main issue with otome games is I'm very particular about the MC. I don't like passive MCs with low agency, who get saved again and again by the LIs. Even worse if they're pure and innocent. And I don't like the yumejoshi type of story either. Ofc there's nothing inherently wrong with any of this, I just don't like it
So I'm looking for otome VNs that have a MC with a different characterisation. My favourite MC from a romance VN is Michael from Shingakkou, and in general I like horror stories, but anything goes if you think it's well written. Thank you!
My main issue with otome games is I'm very particular about the MC. I don't like passive MCs with low agency, who get saved again and again by the LIs. Even worse if they're pure and innocent. And I don't like the yumejoshi type of story either. Ofc there's nothing inherently wrong with any of this, I just don't like it
So I'm looking for otome VNs that have a MC with a different characterisation. My favourite MC from a romance VN is Michael from Shingakkou, and in general I like horror stories, but anything goes if you think it's well written. Thank you!
- Mar 2, 2021
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I personally would recommend any QuinRose game in this case; their protagonists tend to be quite cool within a certain context. I find their Alice game quite different, but I don't know if it will appeal to you since most of their games are based on fairy tales or literary worksI'm looking to get into otome games~ (currently only reading BL VNs) I'm okay with Eng and JP. Computer would be better than other platforms but I can try emulators.
My main issue with otome games is I'm very particular about the MC. I don't like passive MCs with low agency, who get saved again and again by the LIs. Even worse if they're pure and innocent. And I don't like the yumejoshi type of story either. Ofc there's nothing inherently wrong with any of this, I just don't like it
So I'm looking for otome VNs that have a MC with a different characterisation. My favourite MC from a romance VN is Michael from Shingakkou, and in general I like horror stories, but anything goes if you think it's well written. Thank you!
- Oct 27, 2019
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- Apr 15, 2026
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I know people are critical of "rape for love", toxic behaviour framed as romantic and similar unfortunate narration in VNs. Sometimes I spend hours reading a VN in Japanese, putting in a lot of time and effort, only to later discover all the romance are super controversial and not to my liking T.T I thought it would be great to have a list of VNs/routes that avoid such old-fashioned tropes, both for otome and BL.
Please try to be as spoiler free as possible (or spoiler tag if needed).
A grey-area option is if toxic love is correctly recognized as such, e.g. in a psychological horror story. The narration in that case isn't controversial, but I'd still like to keep the focus on "positive romance".
Please try to be as spoiler free as possible (or spoiler tag if needed).
A grey-area option is if toxic love is correctly recognized as such, e.g. in a psychological horror story. The narration in that case isn't controversial, but I'd still like to keep the focus on "positive romance".
- Oct 27, 2019
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I would recomend Gensou Kissa Enchante - every LI is absolutely nice and does zero questionable things to MC in romantic episodes. But the game is quite long and touches heavy themes in general, just not in romantic department. Also Jack Jeanne - this game's main focus is not romance, so there were little time for toxic love. Although beware Neji-sempai and Souichiro's routes.
And it's really hard to find a BL game without at least some toxic elements, it's like a "must have" for some reason. Maybe the main couple from Ouji-sama lv1 games, but sub-couples there should be avoided at any cost (at the cost of not installing 18+ patch or turning it off), so I would recomend PS1 version (and MC is voiced by Park Romi, so it was a bonus point for me)
And it's really hard to find a BL game without at least some toxic elements, it's like a "must have" for some reason. Maybe the main couple from Ouji-sama lv1 games, but sub-couples there should be avoided at any cost (at the cost of not installing 18+ patch or turning it off), so I would recomend PS1 version (and MC is voiced by Park Romi, so it was a bonus point for me)
- Feb 27, 2026
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Psychedlica of the Ashen Hawk
Code Realize. Saint Germain's route might be the grey area.
Do you just play English games or Japanese too?
If so, I also recommend Natsuzora no Monologue. By the same team as Gensou Kiss Enchante (Cafe Enchante) and Code Realize. Unlike Cafe Enchante and Code Realize, Natsuzora is even more wholesome and has no grey areas.
His stuff are usually pretty wholesome (although plot can get heavy and angsty).
Code Realize. Saint Germain's route might be the grey area.
Do you just play English games or Japanese too?
If so, I also recommend Natsuzora no Monologue. By the same team as Gensou Kiss Enchante (Cafe Enchante) and Code Realize. Unlike Cafe Enchante and Code Realize, Natsuzora is even more wholesome and has no grey areas.
His stuff are usually pretty wholesome (although plot can get heavy and angsty).
- Mar 20, 2014
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Well, I enjoy controversial topics as long as they're handeled in an interesting and realistic way, for example, the situation is not desirable in real-life, but it serves as emotional devices well, and it actually happens in real-life, just in a less beautified way; or, while the situaiton itself would hardly happen in real-life with one specific person, it's toally possible when combining all different persons' features into one character. Rgarding more "wholesome" ones, probably Jack Jeanne when the protagonist is quite mature in personality, so even with intense situation it doesn't feel unhealthy but natural.
tamidapigu
New member
- Apr 17, 2026
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如果你指的是那种主动性很强的女主，乙女游戏《大正×爱丽丝》就是一个很好的例子。在这款游戏中，女主对每一位男主角都非常积极主动。一旦她们意识到自己喜欢某人，就会主动追求，而不是被动等待。我想开始玩乙女游戏啦～（目前只看BL向的视觉小说）英语和日语我都能接受。电脑平台当然比其他平台好，不过模拟器也可以试试。
我对乙女游戏最大的不满就是我对女主的要求很高。我不喜欢那种被动、缺乏自主性的女主，总是被攻略对象救。如果她们天真无邪，那就更让我反感了。我也不喜欢那种以梦女为主角的故事。当然，这些题材本身并没有什么错，只是我个人不喜欢而已。
所以我想找一些主角性格比较独特的乙女向视觉小说。我最喜欢的恋爱向视觉小说主角是《新学园》里的迈克尔，而且我一般都喜欢恐怖故事，不过只要剧情写得好，什么题材都可以。谢谢！
- Mar 2, 2021
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I feel a little strange saying this, but I really put my head to work on it. I'm the type of person who prefers to delve into the character's psyche; I not only consume games with this theme, but I also read a lot of books about it, so I absorb everything in a healthier way? I think I can put that in perspective. Older games have a lot of this aspect, especially BL, they tend to have more freedom than even Otome games. Koezaru wa Akai Hana, which is one of my favorite games, has a very intense beginning, for example. I really like the story, but there are some parts that go quite far. If you want to try it, I recommend it, but there are some parts that get a little heavy.
- Jun 16, 2021
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Looking for games with supernatural/not human LIs like Dairoku, Yukar from the Abyss. Preferably something not too dark/angsty, but if it fits I can suffer a bit. Games I tried or know about: DL (vampires), BWS (animals), Cafe Enchante (heard it gets very dark), Ozmafia (kinda?), Hatoful Boyfriend (would prefer something more human actually), the bees game (forgot what it's called).
edit: remembered a few other games if anyone else is interested: ayakashi romance reborn and ephemeral. they are on the shorter side, but still pretty nice overall. Homicipher, not an otome, but also great.
edit: remembered a few other games if anyone else is interested: ayakashi romance reborn and ephemeral. they are on the shorter side, but still pretty nice overall. Homicipher, not an otome, but also great.
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- Apr 15, 2026
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Thank you everyone for the recs!
Btw, just clarifying this: while toxic behaviour/straight out assault framed as romantic or positive is generally not to my liking, I don't think it is always, automatically bad, offensive or wrong. Sorry if my post was not clear about this and came off as judgy. I realize that, especially in the past, female sexuality couldn't be straight-forward and direct, and there might be a variety of interpretations about why "controversial narration" existed and still exists today.
This is definitely an interesting topic, but with this post I simply wanted to have a collection of "safe" VNs/routes, for me and others hopefully.
Btw, just clarifying this: while toxic behaviour/straight out assault framed as romantic or positive is generally not to my liking, I don't think it is always, automatically bad, offensive or wrong. Sorry if my post was not clear about this and came off as judgy. I realize that, especially in the past, female sexuality couldn't be straight-forward and direct, and there might be a variety of interpretations about why "controversial narration" existed and still exists today.
This is definitely an interesting topic, but with this post I simply wanted to have a collection of "safe" VNs/routes, for me and others hopefully.
- Apr 15, 2026
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I hope someone else can benefit from this post so feel free to rec anything that comes to mind.
Anyway I'm okay with Japanese too (:
You might enjoy Ayakashi Gohan if you haven't played it yet! It doesn't get really dark IIRC, but it's certainly a tearjerker.
- Feb 27, 2026
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Awesome. If Japanese is ok, I'll also add that Ayakashi Gohan, Byakko, Trouble Magia, and Starry Sky in spring/in winter are also rly safe choices
- Feb 27, 2026
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Towaトワ
New member
- Nov 4, 2025
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Hi, I'm looking for games that are dark and have a good plot, I'm a fan of dubious games like nitro+chiral games and Club Suicide/Saya no Uta
Games I enjoyed: Virche Evermore, 9 rip, Club Suicide, all games from Nitro+Chiral and Saya no Uta
Things I dont like: bad plot, the main reason I play otome games is for the story, it needs to be interesting and engaging so the game doesn't feel too slow to play.
Hope you guys can help me :') ty
Games I enjoyed: Virche Evermore, 9 rip, Club Suicide, all games from Nitro+Chiral and Saya no Uta
Things I dont like: bad plot, the main reason I play otome games is for the story, it needs to be interesting and engaging so the game doesn't feel too slow to play.
Hope you guys can help me :') ty
- Sep 1, 2025
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Hmm probably not as 'dark' but
Zettai Kaikyuu gakuen (JP) has some interesting themes that are considered a little dark.
Ashen Hawk / Black Butterfly
7's Scarlet
Fata Morgana (Not Otome, but has such virche gothic vibes).