What would you think of otome games without the option to change the MC's name?

osanajimimi · 2026-07-21T12:06:22+0900

I don't know if there are any without that feature, but the question crossed my mind. In a hypothetical case, would it change your experience while playing?

In my case, not really, since I use the default name. But if a game happens to have that feature, to me it means that the MC is her own person.
Though recently, more of them have been getting additional details, such as birthdays, merch, and such.

I want to hear your thoughts!

orionsbestie · 2026-07-21T12:47:37+0900

easy for me, if there's no changing the default name, that's not an otome game lol

めいこ · 2026-07-21T12:51:45+0900

"My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!" is just like that—since it's adapted from the original novel, the heroine's name can't be changed, but that doesn't stop me from fully immersing myself in the game!

lorca · 2026-07-21T13:10:22+0900

I'm kind of all or nothing xD If I can rename her, I want to change both her first and last name. Otherwise, I'd rather just stick with default one.

If I named her something else it might feel a little weird in anime or manga adaptation since everyone starts calling her by the official name. It's easier for me to enjoy the story if I treat her as her own character from the start! (๑ ˙꒳ ˙)/\(˙˘˙๑ )

RedLipsSourApples · 2026-07-21T13:19:25+0900

I wouldn't mind since I just leave all names on default lol. But honestly I don't really see the point in not having it as an option unless the game is an adaptation of something.

藍色水珠 · 2026-07-21T15:05:03+0900

I'll change my name if I can; it makes playing otome games more immersive. Otherwise, watching the romance scenes feels like an outsider reading a novel. It's okay if I can't change my surname; it won't have a big impact.
The default name is just to make it easier for the character to say their full voice lines (so they don't mute when they encounter a name). Unless I like the default name, I won't change it.

能改名我會改，玩乙女遊戲才有代入感。不然看戀愛劇情，很像旁觀者讀小說。姓氏不能改沒關係，影響不大。
預設姓名，只是方便角色念完整語音（不會遇到名字就消音無聲）除非預設名好聽，我不更動

Eril $akurai · 2026-07-21T15:12:44+0900

It doesn't really matter to me because I always use the default name.

Hisami · 2026-07-21T15:14:41+0900

I would be fine with since I play with default name most of the time. Rather I would like the heroine to be called by name than always being called 'you' or 'hey'. So this might work for me and in cases where the MC's name is significant to the story. Though otome games allowing name change is one of its iconic features so I wouldn't want it to disappear.

nerim-w · 2026-07-21T15:49:54+0900

Im a shameless self inserter so I wouldn't be a fan unfortunately. I probably would still play it but it would feel more like reading a shoujo or manwha than playing an otome to satisfy my self inserting delusions. I dont mind not having voicelines for my name since I can still delude myself into thinking theyre talking to me. I cant gaslight myself into thinking that though when they explicitly call me by the canon name

Cinnamonrolls · 2026-07-21T15:51:38+0900

orionsbestie said:
easy for me, if there's no changing the default name, that's not an otome game lol

Agreee

Sirrenn · 2026-07-21T16:07:20+0900

I don't care. And I mostly go with the default name because I'm too lazy to think of one myself.

satory · 2026-07-21T16:11:18+0900

I never change default name because I can't stand being called "hey you" or "... (silence)", so if it's already decided, then it's better for me, as the probability of it being voiced will rise.

おしゃもじ · 2026-07-21T16:11:21+0900

Nice to meet you. I'm fine with the default surname, but I prefer to change my given name. The reason is that the default name makes it less immersive.(>_<)

rin1289 · 2026-07-21T16:38:33+0900

Personally, I'm completely fine with it! I feel like the game stays just as immersive even without the option to change the main character's name!
At the same time, I'd sometimes like to have the option to choose between different personalities and dialogue choices for the MC, just so I could play as someone who resembles me a bit more in that regard

usagii · 2026-07-21T17:04:18+0900

i like changing the name to something else other than the default

i have come across some games where u can't change the last name which is usually fine since i tend to leave that anyway but it does get to me most of the time when the first name isnt changeable. i think the recent one i played like that was charade maniacs (might be wrong) and when i couldnt change the name it really had me upset for a little until the common route started and i just dealt with it. i never really care for the default name so thats why i always like to change it

Erille · 2026-07-21T17:13:00+0900

I think it's better if the game have option to change the name, so the player can feel more personal and immerse in the story.

Hayate Sasa · 2026-07-21T17:13:31+0900

satory said:
I never change default name because I can't stand being called "hey you" or "... (silence)", so if it's already decided, then it's better for me, as the probability of it being voiced will rise.

I agree.
For me, the MC's name doesn't matter whether I can empathize with her.
Also, it feels somewhat unnatural that LI doesn't call the heroine by her name.

Yara010 · 2026-07-21T17:40:24+0900

I don't change MC name because she's always her own person for me so don't care about it
+ LIs' screaming her name always hits hard

ninnikuryona · 2026-07-21T17:53:50+0900

i usually leave default name on and just replace it with my own in my mind lol. but i will change it if the game is unvoiced, therefore im not gonna lose anything (like voicelines) by leaving the default name. ultimately i agree with orionsbestie, if a game doesnt let you change the name of your heroine, then its not otome but just a romance vn with a female protagonist in my eyes. otome as a genre heavily relies on selfinserting, so removing the main element of the selfinsert (renaming) defeats the whole purpose
(also i feel very uneasy when heroines have official birthdays.. unless its for lore purposes, i dont see any reason for this other than trying to attract the opposite audiences, which i hate. and pushing heroines merch is not always a good thing, as rejet already demonstrated lolol)

heishoumao · 2026-07-21T19:14:00+0900

I don't mind at all, even though I normally change her name... I guess i'm the minority. If the game would rather I didn't, I don't mind. I do wish the ones with voiced names would mention it, though, so I'd know not to change the name before doing a full playthrough (jack jeanne...

)

ninnikuryona · 2026-07-21T19:46:59+0900

heishoumao said:
(jack jeanne...)

lol reminds me of that girl from twitter who read jj with her own custom name first then went to read other characters' routes and didnt change the name and her skipping stopped at every single line with lis mentioning kisa by name

stellarblue · 2026-07-21T20:06:41+0900

Not really an issue as far as I'm concerned.
Any coding knowledge allows you to rip the script, change names if you wanted, and reinsert it.
So "this game doesn't let you change the name!" -> "this game doesn't allow you to change the name" :chuuni_worldismine:

chvrry · 2026-07-21T20:21:21+0900

i have no problem with that i usually tend to pick the original name anyways as they also voice that part

oandcksfb · 2026-07-21T21:40:51+0900

I use the default names too, so I don't mind at all.

Candythief1 · 2026-07-21T22:11:46+0900

I don't mind personally since I always use the default name anyways. Plus it also saves me from trying to think of a name to use that matches the vibes of the game since I don't self-insert and am horrible at picking out names.

What would you think of otome games without the option to change the MC's name?

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