- Oct 15, 2021
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Do you prefer otome game with gameplay element or just text reading element only?
- Thread starter Artina
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- discussion otome game
- Nov 22, 2023
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Personally, I prefer otome games in a full visual novel format. That said, I don't mind if there's a simple gameplay element, like patting the love interests' heads, for example. I usually avoid games with stats or card battles, but I might play them occasionally.
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- Sep 17, 2025
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- Aug 6, 2022
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I don't mind small minigames (like the gameboard/chessboard on RBL, for example), or card battles in gacha (specially since most of them have an auto-function), but stat-raising stresses me out so I tend to avoid them (even though Dandelion have been on my backlog for a while)
- Apr 26, 2016
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I don't know if people still remember those music type mini game thingy in the uta no prince sama series. I have a love and hate relationship with that but it was fun nonetheless.
I don't mind both types, but if it has a gameplay element, it better be good (or better, the option to skip them). Some gameplay element that got me hooked was Kiniro no Corda and Tokimeki Memorial Girl Side series; both series somehow compel you to continue 1 more day/week (don't forget to savescum). Plus point for Tokimeki Memorial for skinship and fashion level system. Glass Heart Princess feels like a toned down version of Tokimeki Memorial. JackJeane was good too (I only know there is a skip option for all practice session after I cleared all routes LOL). Royal Alchemist and Long Live the Queen was also good, getting all the endings was quite fun. Kenka Bancho Otome has a fighting rhythm game that has a "pretend I won" option if you suck at this.
Games with gameplay elements that I do not like are Hime Hibi 1 & 2 and Kaerubatake de tsukamaete by Takuyo (unskippable, need luck and some skill to ace them). Also I love hate Utapri rhythm game section as I need to control how much to score to get different endings in one playthrough. Speaking of tedious, most of the QuinRose games like Alice series need a spreadsheet to keep track of how many times you visited someone. I got a bad ending because I did not visit the queen after a certain turn.
I remember other games that include short minigames like Moujutsukai to Oujisama where you get to pet the LIs in animal form or Klap!! ~Love and Punish~ where you get to disicpline the LIs. These were fun and interesting.
Games with gameplay elements that I do not like are Hime Hibi 1 & 2 and Kaerubatake de tsukamaete by Takuyo (unskippable, need luck and some skill to ace them). Also I love hate Utapri rhythm game section as I need to control how much to score to get different endings in one playthrough. Speaking of tedious, most of the QuinRose games like Alice series need a spreadsheet to keep track of how many times you visited someone. I got a bad ending because I did not visit the queen after a certain turn.
I remember other games that include short minigames like Moujutsukai to Oujisama where you get to pet the LIs in animal form or Klap!! ~Love and Punish~ where you get to disicpline the LIs. These were fun and interesting.
- Sep 14, 2022
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I think the first otome game I played with gameplay was Tokimeki Memorial 1, and I loved every bit of it until I was on like my eighth run through and was getting just tired to get to the content I wanted, to get to the dates I needed, all the while ignoring most of the gameplay. That is all my fault, however, for I didn't give myself any pacing and speedran the game. Lol.
The next game I really liked that wasn't a management game was Kanuchi (カヌチ), where MC is a blacksmith's daughter, and you play as that blacksmith. You gather material, you make stuff, and most of all, you manage your own blacksmith store with requests. It was so much fun, I enjoyed the gameplay as much as I enjoyed the story and romance.
The next game I really liked that wasn't a management game was Kanuchi (カヌチ), where MC is a blacksmith's daughter, and you play as that blacksmith. You gather material, you make stuff, and most of all, you manage your own blacksmith store with requests. It was so much fun, I enjoyed the gameplay as much as I enjoyed the story and romance.
- Jan 15, 2023
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I would probably prefer otome games with gameplay elements, but only if they were really well made and actually fun. Most of the gameplay elements that I've encountered in otome so far haven't been a good addition to the game.
Stat-raisers like those from Brothers Conflict tend to be a chore and mini-games like those in Amnesia has are just a bit too cheap and simple to be fun.
But honestly, most gameplay elements that I can think of that would be really fun would just be too expensive to develop. The cost would unfortunately not be justified by otome game companies.
Stat-raisers like those from Brothers Conflict tend to be a chore and mini-games like those in Amnesia has are just a bit too cheap and simple to be fun.
But honestly, most gameplay elements that I can think of that would be really fun would just be too expensive to develop. The cost would unfortunately not be justified by otome game companies.
- May 22, 2025
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what a good question! gameplay can really make or break an experience, but i personally like it. it adds a bit more liveliness to it, whether its going from point a to b or having to furiously click to raise a bar. as long as its not repeptitive or annoying, im on board with it.
- Feb 21, 2026
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I definitely prefer otome games with gameplay elements—they make me feel more immersed in the world and connected to the characters through my own try. It's so much more engaging when I'm not just reading, but actively shaping the story and building relationships along the way! 
I usually prefer otome games that only involve reading, but there are exceptions. For example, in Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly I liked the element where you have to shoot butterflies. However I don't like otome games where you have to accumulate stats to get someone's route or a good ending in general.
- Jun 7, 2025
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- Feb 7, 2018
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for me, interactive game play only works with stories with minimal to no branching plots (ex: in mobile otome like LADS or Tears of Themis). it will be really tedious for a completionist to replay a route + having to do the gameplay part--> if it's only optional maybe it could work?
one game that came to mind is urakata hakuoki. i remember there is a gameplay where i have to grind mobs and leveled up to beat the last boss. it was pain in the ahh when i go to other chara's route....
if you like branching stories, gameplay like that would only feel like a burden (at least from my experience) :)
one game that came to mind is urakata hakuoki. i remember there is a gameplay where i have to grind mobs and leveled up to beat the last boss. it was pain in the ahh when i go to other chara's route....
if you like branching stories, gameplay like that would only feel like a burden (at least from my experience) :)
- Feb 24, 2026
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Besides otome games, I really enjoy RPGs/JRPGs. I once played an otome game on a PSP emulator on my phone called Real Rode, and although I found the game excessively easy, especially with the system of carrying over your skills and levels to the next New Game+, I found it quite fun. I also really like the portable Persona 3 using Kotone, and since then I've felt a huge longing and desire to experience similar games, which is a shame since there aren't other games like that available for a female audience, especially localizated. I would much prefer if otome games started to incorporate some gameplay, even if it was in the style of Tokimeki, Brothers Conflict, or La Corda d'Oro, and if they added RPG elements that they at least create a cool and challenging system instead of something ridiculously easy. Personally, even Hana Awase gets boring quickly with the card games system because there's no real challenge and it's too easy to come in first place. On the other hand, if you play Yu-Gi-Oh and compare them you notice the difference in how much fun it really is because you really have to dedicate yourself to choosing a good deck and planning how to use them against your opponent's cards in advance, and even if you do that, you can still lose. It's more fun when there is a challenge and chances to lose.
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- May 27, 2014
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I like both. Variety is the spice of life. The only real negative is when it gets repetitive and grindy, but luckily that's not too common.
- Feb 25, 2026
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Honestly, as long as it's not a rhythm game, I'm good. I absolutely suck at rhythm games lol 
Like Uta no Prince-sama or Jack Jeanne — if the rhythm gameplay is mandatory for the routes, it honestly just stresses me out…
I'd much rather have stat-raising elements like Tokimeki Memorial or Love Revo!, or optional minigames like in Amnesia.
Like Uta no Prince-sama or Jack Jeanne — if the rhythm gameplay is mandatory for the routes, it honestly just stresses me out…I'd much rather have stat-raising elements like Tokimeki Memorial or Love Revo!, or optional minigames like in Amnesia.
- Mar 7, 2024
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In theory I prefer otome games with gameplay elements, especially when the plot is just the romance ( I prefer plot heavy VNs)
Unfortunately, the number of otome games that truly put effort into gameplay is so small that sometimes I wish they would just give up and focus on the VN aspect. I love status raising so much, I love having pre-requirements to do stuff and having to balance everything to not get a bad ending, but man, brother's conflict and Dandelion really tested that love
If only they could treat gameplay as an important part of the game instead of just Padding to artificially extend the playtime
Unfortunately, the number of otome games that truly put effort into gameplay is so small that sometimes I wish they would just give up and focus on the VN aspect. I love status raising so much, I love having pre-requirements to do stuff and having to balance everything to not get a bad ending, but man, brother's conflict and Dandelion really tested that love
If only they could treat gameplay as an important part of the game instead of just Padding to artificially extend the playtime
- Jun 30, 2021
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- Feb 7, 2026
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In some Chinese otome games, I often come across mini-games like match-3 games, Monopoly-style games, and decorating homes—I find this really fun! Pure text-based otome games are great as well, as they allow you to delve into the emotional nuances more delicately. Both have their own strengths.
- Feb 19, 2026
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I'm not picky so I like both! However, if I really had to choose, then I'd like it if there's more otome games with deduction gameplays like the ones in Ace Attorney... or combat gameplay like in P3P 
Reading only otome game is fun, but the ones with unique gameplay elements would be quite engaging
Reading only otome game is fun, but the ones with unique gameplay elements would be quite engaging