Different Cultures: How Do Players View the MC's Submissive Attitude in Otome Games?

[sophiamolin]

I often find myself contemplating this after completing a game. Most of the time, I cannot self-insert into the MC of Japanese otome games, especially older titles where the MC needs to cook daily, do housework, sacrifice her individuality, and some sub-characters even sexually harass the heroine — who usually doesn't resist, only screaming and running away or waiting for the male lead to save her. Meanwhile, the capture target only needs the trait of being "gentle" to be desirable.

Today, while chatting with a friend about Mistonia's Hope (ミストニアの翅望), she told me that in some routes, the MC retaliates against the male lead by attempting suicide in front of him, or deliberately engaging in relationships with various men, destroying and degrading herself. In the early characterization, this MC was portrayed as someone filled with vengeance and unwavering determination. I find it difficult to understand why, after developing feelings for her revenge target, she would exhibit such weak behavior contrary to her personality — during the romance, she reverts to the traditional Japanese otome game MC archetype: devoted, conflicted, and submissive.

I'm very curious what otome players from different cultures think about MC characterization. Do you find it novel, or is it something you can accept?

The above thoughts are by no means intended to criticize any culture; they are solely for discussing game narratives. I used translation software and hope my ideas are conveyed accurately.

 

[luvsubaru]

i don't remember any otome game mcs like that, but i do remember some shoujo anime characters who are like that, unfortunately

i don't think that is exacly the point of your post, but one thing that really bothered me was in hakuoki SSL... the maid cafe part where chizuru was practically coerced into accepting being the maid, and not only that, she was working there "alone" just because she's the "female maid" and no man there could've at least helped her serve the costumers?

"hey!! she's the only girl in the school!! let's make her the maid!! everyone will want to see her!!"

i like the game, but i hated that part quite a bit. and it's not even thaaaaat big of a deal, but i really didn't like how things were worded.

 

[angelnextdoor]

I hadn't considered it this way before but now that you've mentioned it, I also just realised I can't really self insert in *most* japanese VNs. It's also why I currently mostly play indie romance games on platforms like itchio, i just feel like in a lot of the older japanese otomes (that ive played at least), MCs are the whole "cardboard submissive kyaa blushing and always needs to be rescued" stereotype that now that i'm older i just... can't really relate to or enjoy at all. and that's not to say that i don't like a soft and cute protagonist once in a while because i do! but it depends a lot on the execution, the story and the LI and most of the time it falls a bit flat to me personally:(

 

[blackflag]

I never really self insert a lot, but for me the submissiveness can bother me. Some MCs do bother me but I'm usually not there to deal with her overall, and all my favorite games have strong willed MCs or quite active MCs


@angelnextdoor I think you'd enjoy even if tempest. That mc does not fuck around.

 

[koko36]

As a self-insert otome player, I think it really depends on culture and expectations


In Japanese otome games, the MC being soft, polite, or emotionally gentle isn't meant to be weak — it's often about kindness, patience, and building trust. That kind of MC can feel comforting and romantic.


For Western players (especially self-insert ones), it can feel frustrating if the MC seems too submissive or doesn't react the way you would. When I'm self-inserting, I still want her to have feelings, boundaries, and growth.


Basically, a gentle MC is fine — but she needs agency. Soft doesn't mean silent

 

[Xyer]

I wrote something to about the cultural differences between the Japanese otomege audience vs the International one in this corner of the forum just few days ago, but since @koko36 summarized it better than I could have rn, I'll just repost the relevant part:

In Japanese otome games, the MC being soft, polite, or emotionally gentle isn't meant to be weak — it's often about kindness, patience, and building trust. That kind of MC can feel comforting and romantic.


For Western players (especially self-insert ones), it can feel frustrating if the MC seems too submissive or doesn't react the way you would.

So I'll respond by saying how I deal with it: by looking at the funny/absurdist side. Sometimes the situations presented are so over-the-top abusive and the heroine just puts up with them (looking at you, DiaLovers) rather than trying something clever, that I end up lol'ing.

I think it is a rather cathartic in some ways.

DiaLovers is still one of the otome series that I'm most fond of, and probably tackling the parts that I find absurd this way helped with this.

Ofc, there where few times were the FMC's submissiveness or lack of spine bothered me so much that I ended up dropping the vn, like in Princess Britannia (where the MC is supposedly some kind of badass lady-knight, but her actions show the contrary), but overall I can accept (let slide) most things before they spoil my enjoyment of the medium.

 

[angelnextdoor]

@angelnextdoor I think you'd enjoy even if tempest. That mc does not fuck around.

just googled it really quick and i loved the art! i hadn't heard of it before but will def check it out now, thank you sm for the recommendation

 

[junjonn]

In my case, the funny thing about self-inserting is that i don't need the mc to act or be a certain way to project myself. Sometimes i like to insert myself in meeker characters even if i wouldn't be half that patient irl and just think 'yeah, this time maybe i just don't want to fight back, let me kyaaa my way into this'. The only thing a mc could do that can piss me off is stupidly bring herself unnecessary trouble when she was already neck deep in it and making it worse for the other characters too.

 

[mizumachi]

i think context surrounding heroines are very important. i remember seeing people complain about liliana (heroine from piofiore) being very submissive and "weak" and it's just... she's literally a normal, christian girl that lives in church - she isn't going to act like this big girlboss. if anything, she actually holds her own surprisingly well, especially in yang's route.

on the other hand you have rin from tengoku struggle, SO much of the prologue is about how she's this man-hating woman who's super strong and badass, only for her to basically never fight and cry whenever one of boys says something mean to her. i still like her, but i honestly was expecting MUCH more out of her than i got

 

[ozkun]

I didn't pay much attention to this before, but lately, it's been really bothering me. For example in Cupid Parasite, there's a route where the MC is harassed, which made me so angry. I half-self-insert when I play, so those scenes felt disgusting and infuriating. It's frustrating because the MC doesn't try to avoid it, even though she clearly feels uncomfortable. I was desperately hoping for a choice to push him away or yell at him, but there was absolutely nothing. I've run into similar situations in several other games, too.

I mean, developers can write whatever they want, but please give the MC some personality! I get so annoyed in situations where the MC is forced into something by a guy and there's no option to resist. I know that resisting often leads to a bad end, so what I mean is more of a counterattack, let her stand her ground first, even if she eventually has to go along with him.

 

[sophiamolin]

i don't remember any otome game mcs like that, but i do remember some shoujo anime characters who are like that, unfortunately

i don't think that is exacly the point of your post, but one thing that really bothered me was in hakuoki SSL... the maid cafe part where chizuru was practically coerced into accepting being the maid, and not only that, she was working there "alone" just because she's the "female maid" and no man there could've at least helped her serve the costumers?

"hey!! she's the only girl in the school!! let's make her the maid!! everyone will want to see her!!"

i like the game, but i hated that part quite a bit. and it's not even thaaaaat big of a deal, but i really didn't like how things were worded.

Your thoughts absolutely capture what I wanted to express! Chizuru from the Hakuoki series is a typical example of the devoted, submissive MC archetype. However, because this game is grounded in a historical setting, her characterization reflects how women in that era's patriarchal Japanese society would have behaved. But in Hakuoki SSL, which is set in a school environment, this becomes clearly problematic.
Moreover, this phenomenon remains prevalent in many works — women are expected to comply with the expectations of the majority of men, regardless of their own feelings.

I hadn't considered it this way before but now that you've mentioned it, I also just realised I can't really self insert in *most* japanese VNs. It's also why I currently mostly play indie romance games on platforms like itchio, i just feel like in a lot of the older japanese otomes (that ive played at least), MCs are the whole "cardboard submissive kyaa blushing and always needs to be rescued" stereotype that now that i'm older i just... can't really relate to or enjoy at all. and that's not to say that i don't like a soft and cute protagonist once in a while because i do! but it depends a lot on the execution, the story and the LI and most of the time it falls a bit flat to me personally:(

In fact, modern writers want the MC to have an independent, strong personality, yet still give her submissive, "needs to be rescued" traits in romantic scenarios. A truly strong person wouldn't become weak when falling in love, and this kind of characterization is equally unrelatable to me. Compared to older games, the MC isn't portrayed as such a stereotypical image anymore, but fundamentally, nothing has changed despite the passage of time.

 

[sophiamolin]

In my case, the funny thing about self-inserting is that i don't need the mc to act or be a certain way to project myself. Sometimes i like to insert myself in meeker characters even if i wouldn't be half that patient irl and just think 'yeah, this time maybe i just don't want to fight back, let me kyaaa my way into this'. The only thing a mc could do that can piss me off is stupidly bring herself unnecessary trouble when she was already neck deep in it and making it worse for the other characters too.

A very interesting perspective — a way to enjoy stories even when the MC's personality is the opposite of your own.

i think context surrounding heroines are very important. i remember seeing people complain about liliana (heroine from piofiore) being very submissive and "weak" and it's just... she's literally a normal, christian girl that lives in church - she isn't going to act like this big girlboss. if anything, she actually holds her own surprisingly well, especially in yang's route.

on the other hand you have rin from tengoku struggle, SO much of the prologue is about how she's this man-hating woman who's super strong and badass, only for her to basically never fight and cry whenever one of boys says something mean to her. i still like her, but i honestly was expecting MUCH more out of her than i got

So a well-written game script, regardless of whether players self-insert or not, needs to have basic contextual logic. This is also why I'm more forgiving of some historical settings or works with rigorous worldbuilding — the MC's upbringing, family background, and social class determine her foundational character. However, I still have expectations for her growth, hoping she can become stronger and develop throughout the story.
The writer of Tengoku Struggle originally wrote galgames, and her setting actually contains many invisible elements that deviate from otome conventions (settings that serve male interests). Because of this, many female players have complaints about it. I think you must be a tolerant and kind person — even when characters have shortcomings, you still embrace them.

I didn't pay much attention to this before, but lately, it's been really bothering me. For example in Cupid Parasite, there's a route where the MC is harassed, which made me so angry. I half-self-insert when I play, so those scenes felt disgusting and infuriating. It's frustrating because the MC doesn't try to avoid it, even though she clearly feels uncomfortable. I was desperately hoping for a choice to push him away or yell at him, but there was absolutely nothing. I've run into similar situations in several other games, too.

I mean, developers can write whatever they want, but please give the MC some personality! I get so annoyed in situations where the MC is forced into something by a guy and there's no option to resist. I know that resisting often leads to a bad end, so what I mean is more of a counterattack, let her stand her ground first, even if she eventually has to go along with him.

I completely understand. Some options are judged by writers as "radical" or "unfriendly," but those are indeed choices we would make in our daily lives.
I played a game called Kinkon Kon (Imprisoned Marriage), where the male lead kidnaps and rapes the MC. Choosing more submissive options during the game leads to a happy ending. But I would rather choose fierce resistance and reach a bad ending than compromise because of that. Of course, some players can enjoy this game (after all, preferences determine the market), but when I played, I only felt that the MC was pitiful and wanted to save her.

 

[fr4pp3cinn]

I'm quite tolerant of meek, submissive MCs, as long as it makes sense for the setting of the game. One thing that matters to me is if the MCs personality complements the overall story of the game (in historical contexts, for example).
If the MC is submissive, but still sticks to her ideals, it won't really bother me (in my opinion, in Amnesia, although the Heroine is a "blank slate" early in the game, she focuses on her objective and regains her original personality by the end). However, if she sacrifices her personality to please a LI, such as stop being caring towards other and only worry about him, that will put me off.
I also dislike when a LI dismisses a gentle MC, bullying her and insulting her worldview because he views her as "weak". It's better when her kindness influences him to become a better person.
I hope this makes sense, haha

 

[otofr3ak]

It really depends for me. If I find it makes sense for the MC as a character, then I'm all for it! But sometimes MCs are basically beaten into submission by the Love Interests (take this as literally or metaphorically as you please), and that just makes me upset a lot of the time! ｡:ﾟ(;´∩`;)ﾟ:｡

 

[Pastels]

When I was first getting into otomes, I was ok with having a meek protagonist, but after playing through multiple games with the same archetype MC I'm kinda tired of it. I'm ok with protagonists having a submissive personality if it relates back to the plot, but if the MC is just a doormat the whole entire time, I just start getting frustrated. I know for some games, I would avoid routes with meaner Lis since I know the MC's interactions with them would piss me off. I'm a somewhat confrontational person IRL, so seeing the MC bullied and forced into submission isn't enjoyable. It's even worse if a character commits a totally unforgivable act and the MC forgives them. That's another thing I don't like about the standard otome protagonist arch-type: they are always forgiving people that don't deserve to be forgiven. I think playing submissive MCs would be more enjoyable for me if the LIs actually treat the MC well.

 

[Pastels]

I played a game called Kinkon Kon (Imprisoned Marriage), where the male lead kidnaps and rapes the MC. Choosing more submissive options during the game leads to a happy ending. But I would rather choose fierce resistance and reach a bad ending than compromise because of that. Of course, some players can enjoy this game (after all, preferences determine the market), but when I played, I only felt that the MC was pitiful and wanted to save her.

OMG yes! The fact that in some stories the MC has to lower herself to get a happy ending grinds my gears . I would also happily get the bad ending rather than compromise.

 

[iris426]

For a genre of games that are supposedly made "for women," it's crazy how many instances there are of MCs being treated like children, servants, or objects by the men who are supposed to be in love/falling in love with them. It takes a lot for me to clock out of a game that isn't super boring, but this is one of the things that pmo the most

 

[sophiamolin]

I'm quite tolerant of meek, submissive MCs, as long as it makes sense for the setting of the game. One thing that matters to me is if the MCs personality complements the overall story of the game (in historical contexts, for example).
If the MC is submissive, but still sticks to her ideals, it won't really bother me (in my opinion, in Amnesia, although the Heroine is a "blank slate" early in the game, she focuses on her objective and regains her original personality by the end). However, if she sacrifices her personality to please a LI, such as stop being caring towards other and only worry about him, that will put me off.
I also dislike when a LI dismisses a gentle MC, bullying her and insulting her worldview because he views her as "weak". It's better when her kindness influences him to become a better person.
I hope this makes sense, haha

Amnesia is definitely an excellent otome game. Since the MC isn't given a set name, it's very convenient for players to self-insert. The MC is not only cute and outstanding, but also maintains a positive and optimistic attitude in the face of her amnesia.
I'm currently playing Riddle Garden, where one of the capture targets initially has a resistant and contemptuous attitude toward the MC. The MC herself is a sheltered, kind-hearted noblewoman, and through gradual contact, she eventually reaches a good ending with the male lead. However, in their relationship before achieving happiness, the MC suffers a great deal — the male lead clearly looks down on her. Stories like this also make me feel the MC isn't valued; the male lead's transformation shouldn't come at her expense. I am very tolerant of MCs with such gentle personalities.

they are always forgiving people that don't deserve to be forgiven.

Well said! In Japanese culture, there is a concept of "forgiveness" (許し/yurushi), which roughly means letting go of hatred and reconciling with oneself. I personally strongly disagree with this approach. Therefore, for some capture targets, if it were me doing the route, I might shoot them dead and then turn them into a beehive of bullet holes. I would never forgive any act that severely harmed me. With this personality of mine, I could never become an MC in any otome game, could I? (laughs)

For a genre of games that are supposedly made "for women," it's crazy how many instances there are of MCs being treated like children, servants, or objects by the men who are supposed to be in love/falling in love with them. It takes a lot for me to clock out of a game that isn't super boring, but this is one of the things that pmo the most

The foundation of love should first and foremost be respect. I believe the fundamental reason is that these male characters do not respect the MC as an equal woman.

 

[pepology]

I don't usually feel frustrated by submissive characters, and from a cultural perspective I can notice the difference, since here women tend to be more upfront. In my case, I try to be calmer, though maybe I have a strong personality

I'm glad it doesn't affect my experience with the story. I think I can learn a lot from the different portrayals of MCs, and I like thinking about what would happen if they chose different options

 

[badpun4you]

It doesn't really impact my enjoyment

 

[araaach]

fortunately, i never view an mc as a person inside of me, so I'd just expect how they react based on the personality that I've already figured it out for the past chapter i read

but sometimes some of them respond not how exactly a certain person would react based on my expectations.

it's based on my expectations actually, if the personality given was a sweet, kind, a pushover mc, i think it was to be expected that mc will be submissive, but honestly sometimes the sign is too obvious but they just decided to play dumb, that's what i hated sm

 

[thesunkissed]

for the most part, i stick with westernized otomes because the MCs can be humorous and have a a bit more of a backbone, which I appreciate. if the MC is the "g-gomenasai! waaaah someone save me >O<" type, it immediately makes me want to drop the entire story - not because i self insert, but because its just genuinely so insufferable.

 

[ninnikuryona]

im totally cool with them!!!!! they kinda make me feel like a doting mother ww;;, and even though i dont selfinsert, i know for a fact that i would act even meeker/more submissive than them if i was in their shoes because im deathly afraid of people, especially if theyre men LOL. so i guess i totally understand them? even relate to them a little bit? i mean, sometimes mcs make decisions so egregious i cant help but feel annoyed, but im mostly forgiving towards them

i guess the fact that i mostly dislike the "girlbossy" types plays a big role in my opinion on the matter, but i know that its only because i havent encountered the one who would suit my preferences haha. i do realize that theres a difference in mindsets as well! guess i just happen to be on a more flexible side. im still a firm believer that all heroines matter, submissive or not!

 

[ninnikuryona]

I played a game called Kinkon Kon (Imprisoned Marriage),

can you please share the name in its original language? i cant seem to find it;A;

 

[neroro]

can you please share the name in its original language? i cant seem to find it;A;

監禁婚～選択の日々 凍時編～