Thoughts on non-romantic/platonic routes in otome games?

[pawyk]

I'm curious to hear what people have to say about platonic/friendship/family routes in otome games? I can't think of one family-centered route like Finis from Code Realize (that was personally lowkey life changing for me) but I wonder what everyone else thinks about them?

 

[藍色水珠]

I think the family/friendship routes are meant to supplement the story and character development, unravel more mysteries, and depict the characters' untold experiences and emotional changes.

In *Code Realize*, Finis makes it clear to the player that he's not simply hindering or opposing the female protagonist; there are underlying reasons. He desperately craves fatherly love, but his father treats him as a replaceable substitute and uses him. The fact that he and the female protagonist are twins is a plot point only found in individual routes. His feelings for her are somewhat conflicted, unlike those of typical family members, and both are androids. I consider his route as supplementary explanation, a purely family-oriented route, not a romantic one.

我覺得家族/友誼路線是為了補充故事和角色設定，解開更多謎團，描寫人物不爲人知的經歷、感情變化。
《Code Realize》中的Finis讓玩家明白：他不是單純阻礙女主角、與她作對，背後都有原因。他非常渴望父愛，但父親當他是隨時能取代的替換品、利用他。他和女主角是雙胞胎，也是個人路線才有的線索。他對女主角的情感有點矛盾，不像平常家人，而且都是人造人。我把他的路線當作是補充說明，非談戀愛路線，純粹家人路線：眨眼：

 

[myfrral]

Basically, every otome game has a non love storyline, such as the truth storyline, the female lead's personal storyline, and so on. I hardly play these plotlines, and sometimes I play them because I need to perfectly gather all CG images (basically fast forward and skip, haha). I play otome games mainly because I can experience dating beautiful men and feel the love and life of another world, so I am not interested in non love plotlines. Sometimes, if there are very few love plotlines in otome games, I basically don't play this game

 

[AyaAyaya]

I am okay with it. It sometimes be even better-written than the romantic route~

 

[nerim-w]

I dont have any interest in them tbh. For me, the point of otome is to romance fictional guys and have fluffy and cute moments together!! It feels like going into a chinese restaurant and unexpectedly getting served italian food. Good food but still not what i wanted

 

[O cha]

I'd honestly have to think about it, because I can't really remember playing a route that's primarily about family or friendship (though maybe I have and it's just slipping my mind ). That said, I think I'd actually enjoy something like that.

Even without kissing, physical intimacy, or overtly romantic moments, I'd love a route where the MC and LI truly cherish each other, build a deep emotional bond over the course of the story, and become the one person they couldn't imagine their life without—even if their relationship isn't romantic.

It may not be romance, but I'd still consider that a form of love, and I think it can be just as meaningful.

 

[RailPassingBy]

I really really loooveee platonic/non-romantic routes especially when it comes from family—like siblings, oh and I also like friendship routes~