If I am not familiar with the game, the first route is very important to me because it creates the first impression. Therefore, if the first route is boring or uninteresting, I may put game aside, because I`ve lost interest. Does it work the same way for you? (I`m sorry for my English, it isn`t my native language)
Is the first route important for your overall perception of the otome?
- Thread starter MarietaStay
- Start date
-
- Tags
- otome
- Feb 19, 2026
- 20
- 33
The first route is very important to me, especially because some otome force you into certain routes first. If I'm not clicking with it, it will be hard for me to continue. Like I almost didn't finish verche because of this.
- Feb 25, 2026
- 69
- 70
I always start with the character who seems the least like my type.
My logic is kind of funny — if I finish that first route and feel disappointed, then I can just say, "Okay, guess he just wasn't my type."
But if I actually enjoy it? Then I start thinking, "Wait… if this was the one I was least interested in, how good are the others going to be?" lol. It makes the whole experience feel like it can only go up from there.
My logic is kind of funny — if I finish that first route and feel disappointed, then I can just say, "Okay, guess he just wasn't my type."
But if I actually enjoy it? Then I start thinking, "Wait… if this was the one I was least interested in, how good are the others going to be?" lol. It makes the whole experience feel like it can only go up from there.
- Nov 7, 2025
- 56
- 44
I often put my type of character in the middle or the end and go for one two routes at random, which is often makes me play for two-three routes at least. If i dislike the first route, then i just put my type of character next in order. I still can drop some games midway first route, if i understand that i don't like MC and the story overall.
- Feb 19, 2026
- 78
- 72
Kinda important for me too, yeah! If the first route is boring or has elements that I don't like, I'm putting it down 
I'm playing the game to kick back and relax, so I'm not going to force myself to consume media that I don't vibe with
I'm playing the game to kick back and relax, so I'm not going to force myself to consume media that I don't vibe with
- Oct 12, 2019
- 65
- 35
Lately I'm trying to go with the recommended flow of otome games on the walkthrough sites, but nil admirari no tenbin was postponed because of Ukai Shougo but I'm planning to get back at it sometime!
- Jun 3, 2025
- 23
- 13
It is pretty important! I would say I'm more interested in the worldbuilding, and the story writing rather than the LI here tho. I usually like to play from least interested in- to most interested in ^^ Kinda like with food 
This way I kind of have a goal to work towards. But if I dont like the vibes/story at all, then I will drop the game
This way I kind of have a goal to work towards. But if I dont like the vibes/story at all, then I will drop the game
- Feb 24, 2026
- 585
- 590
More than starting a first LI route, I think the common route is more important because that's where I can better understand the setting of that universe, what's happening, and how it affects the MC, as well as get a better glimpse of the LIs! Generally, if the story doesn't captivate me on the common route, I'm already hesitant (as was the case with Sympathy Kiss), but I might still end up giving the game a chance, because what if I like someone? In the case of Sympathy Kiss, I only managed to like Yofi lol, and he was the fourth route I played before I decided that I wasn't vibing with the game and dropping it. So, in my case, I think the first route doesn't have as much impact on me as the common route!
- Jul 31, 2024
- 43
- 55
Definitely. In Kyokai to Shirayuki, I started playing Sensei and was so happy that I wanted to continue with the others, but I ended up quitting. On the other hand, in Reine des Fleurs, I finished Orpheus but was so disappointed that I couldn't continue.
- Feb 5, 2026
- 61
- 70
I do agree with the op. A common route is good for establishing the love interests as characters and the world at large, but your first route is important in establishing how the romance is written, which I don't feel like I have to say is important for an otome game.
- Feb 21, 2026
- 71
- 32
- Jan 19, 2026
- 59
- 31
If the first route has a well-designed plot and engaging character interactions, it will create positive expectations for the entire game and make me willing to explore other routes. However, if the first route is a poor experience, I will lose interest and may not even want to try the subsequent content.
Last edited:
- Jun 7, 2022
- 373
- 375
Very important. I usually play my favorite route first and dislike locked routes. I couldn't finish Black Wolves Saga coz my fav route was locked and i should play cats first. But i hated them and droped whole game.
It's torture to go through routes i don't like.
It's torture to go through routes i don't like.
- Mar 7, 2026
- 45
- 33
I typically follow guides, including any recommended play order. In the recommended play order, the first route is often the "gentle intro" with as little of the deep lore and secrets on display as they can get away with, so they can slowly pace out all the reveals. But I tend to like the secrets and reveals the most, so if anything, this makes me expect to enjoy the first route quite a lot less than I will the rest of the game, and I've never not stuck through into the second and third route.
This has backfired a few times: by the time I realize I'm actively disliking a story not because it's being coy, but because it's really not to my tastes overall, I'm more than halfway through and may as well finish it for the closure.
This has backfired a few times: by the time I realize I'm actively disliking a story not because it's being coy, but because it's really not to my tastes overall, I'm more than halfway through and may as well finish it for the closure.
- Sep 9, 2024
- 141
- 136
I usually base my anticipation on the base plot itself. Whenever the plot is uninteresting for me I would usually just drop it.
- Aug 31, 2014
- 51
- 51
It depends for me! I'm a religious walkthrough user who prioritizes routes based on the level of overall plot reveals, so sometimes I can understand when the "first" route of a game feels a bit blander or less high-stakes since it's meant to be the "introductory" character. Mineo from CxM was my first route from that game as it's the least spoilery in terms of plot content, and while it didn't grip me the way some later routes did, it was a sweet route with a good amount of hints for the darkness to come in other routes. I think as long as the expectation is set for me from the beginning that the route will be less dramatic than others, I can enjoy it without getting bored. Plus, sometimes the "1st route" character gets a great follow-up after all the plot reveals in FDs, as Mineo's FD route is perfect start to finish for me!
- Mar 7, 2026
- 45
- 33
It's funny that you bring up Mineo for this; I still think about that route years later for its brilliant red herring in that I felt one side character was pinging my suspicion radar in a way I couldn't put my finger on. But then that character went and got himself seriously injured protecting the teens on that route, so I was like, oh okay, guess I was wrong. And then I was so disappointed when the main plot just unceremoniously fizzled out with no clear resolution at the end -- I played Mineo second I think? So I had expectations from the previous route(s). Did not connect the two at all. As a writer I can usually see narrative hints and put things together pretty early, so I really appreciate when something bamboozles me in a satisfying way. Its lack of spoilers turned out, in hindsight, to have been the biggest spoiler.
- Mar 20, 2014
- 53
- 22
If a game can hold on to at least one complete route, it is decently made, but there are many times when character routes' qualities are not balanced. If playing only for voice actors though, it is less important, will just skip to the meat.
- Jun 18, 2022
- 71
- 55
Not really in the sense of if I like it or not, but it can change how I perceive the tone of the game. My first Hatoful Boyfriend route was the heaviest one so I didn't have the same experience of "haha cute silly game" that a lot of people had depending on their first endings. Cupid Parasite is another example of games that the tone of the story varies heavily depending on the route.
But the first route is important to me because I always have a certain fondness for the first LI that I romanced, I think it's cute to think about them in a different way, sort of like a first love or first boyfriend lmao
But the first route is important to me because I always have a certain fondness for the first LI that I romanced, I think it's cute to think about them in a different way, sort of like a first love or first boyfriend lmao
- Jun 18, 2022
- 71
- 55
I'm the exact same way! When the game has a recommended route order to avoid spoilers I always follow it! If it happens to be one with a character that I'm interested in then great, but if not it's also great hahaha and I don't pick for certain who are my favorites until I complete the whole game and every route even if I usually gravitate towards a specific LI based on appearance and first impressions (when I played Hakuoki I was interested the most in Hijikata and was really excited to play his route, but after I finished playing the game I knew that I was so wrong lmaoo my favorites to this day are Okita, Harada and Shinpachi LMAO the vibe is completely different)
- Jul 24, 2025
- 65
- 38
I like following the recommended route order if a game has it so the first route wouldn't impact my judgment much. There's a few games I've played where my first impressions were kinda meh and ended up really enjoying it by the end.
- Oct 20, 2025
- 40
- 12
- Mar 11, 2026
- 118
- 78
I think the first character represents the world view of the game to some extent. I usually play in the order of recommended targeting. If the first character is too bad, I might give up the game.
