List of otome games that do not run on emulators

I thought it might be helpful to have a list for those who want to prioritise clearing the games that don't run on emulators first before their actual console(s) die, so here we go. Listed below are the games I tested personally to know to have working issues (at the point in time of my testing).

Feel free to correct or add on to the list, I'd amend this post if there's information to be corrected.

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NDS

Should generally all run on emulators like MelonDS

3DS
Should generally all run on emulators like Azahar, but you would need to decrypt the game files first for the emulator to recognise the game as legal dumps.

PS2

Should generally all run on emulators like PCSX2 but take note of the following:

- Under the Moon ~Crescent~ : Does not run in latest PCSX2 for me but does run on older versions like PCSX2 1.7
- Hisui no Shizuku: Hiiro no Kakera 2: Reported not to run on emulator, so it's recommended to play the latest DS port or the PSP port

PSP
Should generally all run on emulators like PPSSPP but take note of the following:

- D.C. Girl's Symphony Pocket~ (Chinese): The Chinese fan-patched version does not run on emulator so you'd have to play it on an actual PSP or PSV (Adrenaline)
- Gakuen Hetalia Portable: ISO. format copies of the game is reported to get stuck around day 2 or 3 but CHD format is fully playable


PSV

Should mostly run on emulators like VITA3K but note that the compatibility list on the site is not fully reliable (wrongly stating some games as playable) and the following games have issues:

Latest emulator as of time of writing: ver0.2.1 4056

- Bara ni Kakusareshi Verite: stuck at loading screen
- Crank In: Requires "disable surface sync" to be unchecked in GPU setting for text to display, but you should use an older emulator version as the latest emulator will display in low resolution with said option unchecked (see compatibility thread for a version that is proven to work)
- Geten no Hana with Yume Akari - Aizouban: does not boot, but can boot without audio in latest emulator if "enable ngs support" is unchecked)
- Harukanaru Toki no Naka De Series: does not boot, but can boot without audio in latest emulator if "enable ngs support" is unchecked)
- Heiligenstadt no Uta: Technically playable, but needs older version of the emulator and other settings (check compatibility thread for information)
- I Doll U: Game runs but the character sprites do not show up
- Kaleidoeve: Reported to be not working and therefore I'll recommend playing the PSP version instead
- Kiniro no Corda Series (except Octave): does not boot, but can boot without audio in latest emulator if "enable ngs support" is unchecked)
- Norn9 Act Tune: The issue is not as severe as in older versions but occasionally the character sprites will glitch in latest emulator
- Orfleurs: Game gets stuck at character naming screen
- Prince of Stride: Does not seem to allow past name selection screen in newer version, but the game seems to run using an older version of the emulator and other settings (check compatibility thread for information)
- SA7: Text does not display in latest emulator unless "disable surface sync" is unchecked in GPU setting, but there will still be some text issue with the name. The text does display fine in an older version though (see compatibility thread for a version that is proven to work)
- Sweet Clown: Black screens after clicking "start game" (but switch port should run so it's recommended to just go play that instead)
- Tokimeki Restaurant: does not boot, but can boot without audio in latest emulator if "enable ngs support" is unchecked)
- Tsumikui ~Sen no Noroi, Sen no Inori~ for V: In latest emulator, there is some screen flickering in Vulkan, but it seems fine with OpenGL

NS

Should mostly run on emulators like Ryujinx / Ryubing (* Games with issues in Yuzu forks that work in Ryu emulator and are not listed):

- Clock Zero Devote: For Ryu emulator, select setting -> system -> check "ignore missing services" for the game to run.
- Senjou no Waltz: For Ryu emulator, select setting -> system -> check "ignore missing services" for the game to run.
- Shinigami to Shoujo: For Yuzu emulator (and its forks), adjust settings (i.e. disable the asynchronous GPU emulation) for the game text to display properly. Display is not working in other emulators like Ryubing.

Thank you everyone for the input!
I'll update the list and for streamlining, only include the games that do not run on latest emulator!

Will also check out Prince of Stride and see whether it can go past the prologue in an older version.

satory said:

I remember playing it on ppsspp and game had no issues. Maybe older on newer versions of emulator work better.

Adding:

PSV - Prince of Stride (stuck on title screen)

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Hmm, for Prince of Stride, another user reported in the compatibility thread that they'd get stuck in prologue but I got past it so I think it might be playable after all, albeit with custom settings? I've updated the Vita3k compatibility thread with more information.

No promises though because I only tested till a little into chapter one on all skip. (Can't believe I have to hold down a button to skip in this age. )

margaret07 said:

I can't play "Crank In" on my Vita3K. The text doesn't display.
Has anyone else been able to play it?

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Thanks for checking!
I did get it working last time but I'll check again on latest emulator when I'm off work. It might only run on older emulator like some other listed titles.

blackflag said:

bad Apple wars doesnt work on any version of the emulator, It gets to map selection after the first race and goes black.

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Yup, it's a known issue and already listed

margaret07 said:

I can't play "Crank In" on my Vita3K. The text doesn't display.
Has anyone else been able to play it?

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I went back to the compatibility thread to see the version I got it working and...when I tried it the text didn't show up :x
I figured it's probably setting related and played around with the GPU setting until till the text finally works in the older emulator. Please try unchecking "disable surface sync" in an older emulator version.

The text shows up too if you uncheck "disable surface sync" in the latest emulator, but unlike older version, the graphics also becomes very...low resolution. It might improve with more tinkering, but for now I'm satisfied with being able to play the game on an older version so I shan't experiment further.
Will also update top post with more information. Thanks for bringing this game to my attention!

See below for comparison.


Older version:


Newer version (yikes):

enren said:

Jack Jeanne - crashes on Yuzu and all of its forks around 3 minutes mark into the game.

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Thanks for the info! It should work smoothly in Ryujinx, I played both Japanese and English in Ryujinx

margaret07 said:

Wow! I was able to play using the version and settings you told me about.
Thank you so much for researching the gameplay method in such detail.
I'm so happy because I've wanted to play the game.

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I'm most happy to help and I hope you enjoy the game!
I recall enjoying the game when I played it a long time ago (before Vita emulation was even a thing) and it's great knowing I can replay the game one day even without a functional console. (My Vita is prone to dying so I hope one day all otome games can be emulated...)

Lukeo said:

Can you send me the chinese patch for d.c @icterine? I might take a look.

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Thank you for kindly offering!
However, the fan patch is by a group that prohibits redistribution outside of its own community so I'm not able to send the file to others. :')