How important is the MC in your opinion?

[O cha]

I completely agree!! I don't think an MC needs to be fully voiced or have an especially beautiful design either. Of course, full voice acting can make it easier to follow the story compared to just reading text, but to me, that's just a nice bonus. An MC's design feels more like a secondary element.

I really agree with what you said about how she's the one we see the world through. That's exactly why I think an MC's way of thinking is so important. Players need to be able to understand why she thinks and acts the way she does. Her decisions and actions should feel believable and make sense within the story.

The LI is definitely important too, but since we're experiencing everything from the MC's perspective, I think the MC is just as important. A well-written MC can really shape the entire experience.

 

[Sphyixz]

Almost as much as the LIs, honestly.

I have to be able to see things from her perspective and empathize with her. Even if I don't agree with every decision she makes, I want to understand why she's making it. As long as her motivations make sense to me, I'm usually on board.

If I can't connect with the MC at all, it becomes a lot harder for me to get invested in the romance because we're with her for the entire game.

 

[puffuxy]

I wont get into a game strictly because of the MC but I might drop a game because of it. I mean we spend more time with the MC then with all the LNs, so having a likeable MC is really important. Honestly tho Im not super picky about MCs, just no Mary Sue (sometimes its fine) very baby like, I cant do anything MCs...

 

[muragaki]

I personally don't even bother with faceless MCs or neutral/generic ones, save for some exceptions here and there. They don't need to be voiced or appear all the time visually, but they at least need to have a good character arc or just something to attach to in order to be able to see the plot through their eyes and thoughts.

a badly developed MC with a "difficult" personality makes me want to rip my hairs out.

 

[LSY]

I totally agree with you! I'm also a semi-self-insert player. If the MC has no mind of her own, I honestly can't bring myself to keep playing the game. So for me, the MC is extremely important. She shouldn't just be an empty 'tool' with zero thoughts of her own.

 

[shunira]

As someone who does not self insert in games, the MAIN CHARACTER should be compelling for you to follow along so i prefer them having a personality of their own that is NOT dependent on which route they are on(many times it flip flops) and for the story not be able to exist without them, because sometimes you get games you could remove mc from the plot and it would carry the same, i understand it is easier to write a blank slate mc, but if i do not like the mc i stop playing since it is their head i will be in.

 

[gaysian]

I believe there was a poll in japanese twitter about how people play otome visual novels. And the two ways that are self-insert and angel-watching-over-the-shoulder are very close in popularity. There was a third one or something but I don't remember.

Personally I don't feel self-insert a lot.

 

[VoltageIncEnthusiast]

(Please excuse my English, it's not my first language.)

The MC is one of the most (or the most) important things in an otome game for me xD

Same for me too. I self-insert in games, and I love it when the MC plays a big part in the story. Not necessarily having the plot revolve around them, I don't even mind them being a side character of sorts. What I mean is that I like it when the MC can affect people's lives or opinions. I like it when my choices positively or negatively impact characters, and when characters remember something my MC did that shapes their opinion of them. I really love that! Makes it feel like my MC has a purpose in the world/ is an actual person in the world, and isn't just cruising along, watching other people do their thing and occasionally saying things that get brushed off throughout the story.

 

[Yumehara_raito]

The female lead is really important—if you really dislike her, how can you keep playing? If she has no charm, how could the male characters fall for her? She should at least have some likable qualities. Plus, I think voice acting would really help bring the mc's personality to life; I'd love to hear more of her voice.

 

[SmallEagle]

I think the MC is what can truly make or break a game. They must be likable so that a player can, at least, tolerate them. And if you don't like the MC, then chances are you will drop the game, no matter how good everything else is. Even a self-insert will have some part of their personality set, because it is the only way for the story to advance. Also, even if a LI is incredible, if they do not have chemistry with the MC, they will feel flat and the same with the story. So, I think it is one, if not, the most important part of the game.

 

[lunitawish]

The MC is the core of the game—if you can't stand her, how do you even keep playing? The romance only works if the other characters have a reason to fall for her, so she needs to have some charm.
ヽ(*ﾟｰﾟ*)ﾉ

 

[weteria]

If I don't like the protagonist I won't like the game so they are super important. I think there have been a few games where I couldn't finish the game solely because I couldn't stand the player character.

 

[30-END]

I think the protagonist is important in game, especially when protagonist isn't a self-insert one and a choice is impactful to themselves and love interests in game. And I won't play a game if I don't like a protagonist, too.