What‘s your thoughts on love interests having had past relationships with each other?

[xyssxyss]

I once played dating games where the love interests were former partners.To be honest, I wouldn't mind if it added a bit more complexity to the plot.But I can't accept that they'll get back together if I don't choose to date one of them.It makes me feel like I'm just a tool for them to get back together QAQ

 

[Yuki3548]

As long as they stay faithful after meeting the heroine, I don't really care what their private life was like before. But like you said, if the heroine doesn't choose them and they just go back to their ex, that kind of plot would make me kick them to the curb, And go off about how garbage the plot is. (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

 

[ninnikuryona]

instant no for me. i dont think ive ever seen it in otome, and hopefully i never will, but i wish it stays in amare only, because im not interested in this genre in the slightest. if i saw two lis in otome that had feelings for each other, id immediately drop it and rate it 1. i dont want any more bl in my otome, it just goes against the entire genre

 

[Yuki3548]

instant no for me. i dont think ive ever seen it in otome, and hopefully i never will, but i wish it stays in amare only, because im not interested in this genre in the slightest. if i saw two lis in otome that had feelings for each other, id immediately drop it and rate it 1. i dont want any more bl in my otome, it just goes against the entire genre

∑(;°Д°) I only realized from what you said that he was describing the love interests as exes with each other, I automatically assumed their exes were all women...... Now that I know, this crosses my line even more, I'm honestly disgusted by BL content being added into otome, Even if they're not the main characters, it's still not okay! There shouldn't be any BL elements in otome at all.
I feel like I could start a separate post to talk about this, We shouldn't be discussing it in the replies of someone else's unrelated post ()

 

[ninnikuryona]

∑(;°Д°) I only realized from what you said that he was describing the love interests as exes with each other, I automatically assumed their exes were all women...... Now that I know, this crosses my line even more, I'm honestly disgusted by BL content being added into otome, Even if they're not the main characters, it's still not okay! There shouldn't be any BL elements in otome at all.
I feel like I could start a separate post to talk about this, We shouldn't be discussing it in the replies of someone else's unrelated post ()

maybe i also misunderstood the question, but since the original poster used "with each other", i assumed they were talking about "love interest x love interest"..
but i agree with your message a lot!! its one thing to have some shitty "jokes" about bl or a whole npc who simps for your man, but if two lis dated in the past, how am i supposed to think romantically about either of them..;w;
(i agree btw this is a very hot topic but it wouldnt be nice to hijack the entire thread LOL)

 

[xyssxyss]

I didn't explain my question very clearly. It's because the specific game I'm thinking of is a bit confusing. As I recall, the characters already had a good relationship beforehand, and it wasn't explicitly stated that they were exes. But once the main character confirms a romantic relationship (and it's not with one of them), they end up together. If I'm misremembering, it's probably because the game was so confusing—but I'm certain I'm not mistaken about the fact that they end up together.

 

[nyao]

This is an immediate no for me. If they at least warn about it, I can avoid those LIs to pursue other ones that interest me—if any. However, if the past relationship only comes to light later… Electric chair.

I've played a game where you'll think you're doing well, only for that LI to leave you for another LI in one of his endings—it left me so shocked. Nowadays I'd never play a game where LIs have predetermined relationships if you don't go for them, but at the time I was like, "Well, whatever, I'll just avoid those ones."

 

[RERUNRE]

only games like this that come to mind are bl games and unless it's marketed as a feature of the game I avoid it entirely. There's at least one bl game where u can mix and match pairings so otherwise no.

 

[nyao]

only games like this that come to mind are bl games and unless it's marketed as a feature of the game I avoid it entirely. There's at least one bl game where u can mix and match pairings so otherwise no.

It's unfortunately something that tends to happen in a lot of amare games. Some LIs will outright act vile towards you for pursuing the LI they are interested in and then in their route, you are seen almost as a rebound/second choice (°ー°〃)

 

[RERUNRE]

It's unfortunately something that tends to happen in a lot of amare games. Some LIs will outright act vile towards you for pursuing the LI they are interested in and then in their route, you are seen almost as a rebound/second choice (°ー°〃)

Ohhh that makes sense. Even reading this irked me lol that angle makes it really hard to see how anyone could enjoy the character/route even if it's done for realism(?) or conflict(?). The price of having more options it seems

 

[nyao]

Ohhh that makes sense. Even reading this irked me lol that angle makes it really hard to see how anyone could enjoy the character/route even if it's done for realism(?) or conflict(?). The price of having more options it seems

Yeah, and if we're talking about realism… I've had enough of "incestuous" friend groups in real life that if I knew LIs had a past with each other, I'd run for the hills.

Especially with the original poster's example of being blindsided with the LIs getting back together if you choose someone else. I'm not playing these games to see relationships that aren't solely between MC and an LI… I'm not interested in side pairings either, but that's at least passable compared to this.

 

[RERUNRE]

Yeah, and if we're talking about realism… I've had enough of "incestuous" friend groups in real life that if I knew LIs had a past with each other, I'd run for the hills.

Especially with the original poster's example of being blindsided with the LIs getting back together if you choose someone else. I'm not playing these games to see relationships that aren't solely between MC and an LI… I'm not interested in side pairings either, but that's at least passable compared to this.

I was abt to say the whole appeal of these games is developing relationships as the mc with the desired LIs it probably doesn't appeal to like 90% of the ppl playing when they start dating eachother there is literally one reason why someone would be playing these games + the self insert aspects of it. crazy writing choice like atp you can have them

 

[Arisara]

I will skip such routes and help them be together agn. I dislike ex routes or already in relationsp. Like when i played When the Night Comes i finished only one route.

 

[superfriedchicken]

Nope, I usually avoid romancing LIs like this. Idk it makes me feel weird, worse when you can tell there's still some affection between them. Like the MC is the second choice and is just getting in the way of their love story.

 

[totallyamanda]

Yeah, I'm not really into the characters having prior romantic relationships with any of its main or secondary characters. A brief encounter with a character who's in and out of the story just for conflict is...a tentative fine. Although, I don't want the feeling of third-wheeling when it comes to a love-interest and a character that appears for majority of the story. ᕦ⁠(⁠ò⁠_⁠ó⁠ˇ⁠)⁠ᕤ

But, that's because I'm a big baby and can get my feelings hurt easily or overanalyze something. (⁠.⁠ ⁠❛⁠ ⁠ᴗ⁠ ⁠❛⁠.⁠)

 

[dungans]

I'd rather the love interests not have any significant romantic history.
It's fine if the game vaguely implies they might have some past experience — as long as it never comes up again or affects how they treat the heroine.
I'm here for the romance between the heroine and the character, not for his memories with someone else.

 

[blackflag]

Kai was my favorite route in UnLogical and he was the Main characters Ex and then they move beyond it.

I dont mind the love interests having past relationships before MC, its more realistic. Its more annoying when MC has like 0 relationship experience overall and acts clueless over every little thing..

 

[marchlion]

I think it might feel a bit awkward. While the fact that they had a relationship in the past can be accepted as part of the character's history, seeing them still harboring lingering feelings would make me feel conflicted. In particular, I think a plotline where they get back together could create a bit of distance between the audience and those characters, depending on how it's portrayed.

 

[Akizuki]

Hard no. I never witness this but there's one BL game I played where one of the LIs is being actively pursued by a side character and implied that they're having a sexual relationship with each other DURING the story and I lose interest. I never get to his route because I don't want my MC to be a third wheel or a second choice.