What do you think of female routes in otome games?

[ruuuiii]

I usually love them, because the girls in otoge are so cute and designed well >< but only if there's 1-2 girls. if it's more of a half-female half-male li group, I'm not a big fan.

I also prefer their routes to be romance rather than friendship,,

 

[zapp]

As a bisexual person I couldn't love it more, wish there where more game like that

 

[Podm953]

Hard agree. Female routes are rarely done well—they just feel like friendship DLC lol. I'm the same, I only clear them for 100% CG completion and move on.

 

[藍色水珠]

I can accept endings with female characters having friendship storylines. Some characters are even better written than the male lead, with personalities that rival the male protagonist's—independent, passionate, outspoken, understanding, and supportive of the female lead, offering advice, seeking justice, and even helping her teach bad guys a lesson. Some even have androgynous styles and are just as handsome as the male lead (beautiful women in men's clothing). In the past, almost every Quinrose production had a female supporting character's friendship storyline, which I found quite acceptable.

我可以接受有女角友情路線結局.有些角色寫得比男主角路線好,性格不輸男生,獨立自主,敢愛敢恨,有話直說,能理解並陪伴女主角,給她建議或是討回公道,甚至一起教訓壞人.有些打扮中性,帥氣度不輸男主角(男裝麗人)
以前Quinrose公司作品,每部幾乎都有女配角友情路線,我覺得還可以.

 

[washandwash]

I don't mind. As long as the route is reasonably planned and there's a complete shift in mindset, I can accept it.

 

[xavvkm]

I don't care about female route in a game, but I also agree many female routes are written less interestingly.

 

[yumi1]

I like yuri works, and I especially like yuri between the main character and another girl, so I welcome female routes.
However, a game with only yuri routes feels a bit lacking, so I'd like to play a game that has a few female routes alongside multiple male routes.
A relationship based purely on friendship is fine, but I'm not really into routes where the main character doesn't date anyone and the relationship is just friendship.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

 

[cookii]

i need more….. i honestly love it so much when this happens and wish it would appear more often!!
first time I had an end like that was playing the Hamefura game, which has a girl's end where you just stay with ur girlfriends forever, not necessarily romantic (unfortunately) but i remember being SO excited over it!!! I think girl pairings in otome (though not necessarily the point of the genre) bring up the value a lot though, since the MC having at least one other girl 'friend' brings out more of her character that you otherwise dont really get with regular male LIs, so if its a GxG route, I find it that much more engrossing!!

 

[marzipan]

I understand why they exist; shoujo manga does pretty frequently take its time to develop the bond between the protagonist and her girlies to depths other romance-centric works don't bother with normally, or even, rivals to friends plotlines? So I appreciate them for what they are if they're mostly friendship focused, it's the way the genre is set up after all, and I do like stories about platonic bonds just as much as romance personally!

But also, I'm a level 100 bisexual so when these routes toes the line or just go directly into romantic territory, I can't help but feel a little extra giddy. I apply the same approach to galge when there's the rare guy route though, like, yay, I love variety!

 

[osanajimimi]

Simply, i don't like it. i think "a route of friendship" can be shown alongside the common route or during part of the LIs' routes. Now, as a love interest, i don't like it either. Call me old school, but it's simply not my scope.

 

[Rosellia]

I don't like it and if a game includes it, I simply skip it. When I play a otome game, I expect to romance male LI since that is what the genre usually implies, so personally female LI feels like trying to mix genres

 

[plipplopcountess]

It really depends on the execution and how well the characters are written.

For friendship routes, I feel like Cancel a Format is superb; it does a better job of providing appealing platonic routes than most studio games. (Probably because they were already unique and developed characters beforehand) Belarus, Hungary and Liechtenstein are all individuals with unique personalities and don't feel the same as "generic token female friend"

However, as others have mentioned, a badly written friendship route feels token and bland, and not as appealing as a male love interest. While understandable and maybe even somewhat forgivable for a side route, if they are a main character, they should be treated as such and given as much of a story as a male character is usually given. Otherwise, they should just be a sub-character without a route.

What I feel like isn't really understood is that a friendship route can be "intimate" too, but not in a romantic or sexual way. Familial, if that makes sense. The relationship between Sho and Marjoram in Striga comes to mind in this regard.

Spoiler: Example, spoilers for Striga

After going through hell and back, Sho realizes that her innocence has been completely(?) shattered and her optimism gone(?) completely. She feels she has to pretend to be the same cheerful girl she once was... except when she is reunited with her dearest friend Marjoram. She then realizes he is the only person who would ever truly understand what she feels and the two have a painful but cathartic heart-to-heart and she makes Marjoram promise to never leave her side.

That's what I mean by intimate.
Otome games are about developing intimate relationships, usually with men. If a female route is present, the relationship should be just as deep if they are a main character. If it is brief and shallow, it should be an optional sub-character. Friendships can be just as deep as romance, and while a generic "teehee female friendship" can actually be appealing if done right as an optional thing if it is far from the main focus (XOXO Droplets) if it is a main focus it should be given the same amount of care as a male character's route to avoid it being hollow.

 

[O cha]

I like female routes, but I personally prefer them when they're more friendship-focused. To me, the core appeal of otome games has always been the MC and her male LIs, so I'd rather female routes not become too romance-heavy or have the same level of focus as the male LI routes.

I especially like it when they're treated as one of the normal endings after you don't end up with any of the male LIs, where the MC grows closer to the female character as friends, or there's just a subtle hint of romantic tension between them.

If I'm in the mood for a full-on romance with a female LI, I'd probably just play a yuri game instead.

 

[fraizumin]

I wish there were more female routes in otome. I feel like adding female in usual MC "harem" group (especially if there is a long common route) makes dynamic between characters more interesting (like in Mystic Messenger).

I personally prefer romantic routes with female characters, since I alsio like to read yuri, but friendship is good too :)

 

[myakutan]

Obviously not all otome is like this, but for the VN romance genre in general, the MC's life sort of revolves around the LIs, which makes sense since you're reading it for the romance. But I kind of like female routes in otome because you get to see a new side of the protagonist and her life outside of just romance
Though I am also a yuri enjoyer, so a romance female route is welcome too :p

 

[loves_cookierun]

I'm talking about routes where, instead of a male lead, there's a female lead (of any kind). Examples include Pashet from Ozmafia, Vivaldi from Heart no Kuni no Alice, and Jaehee from Mystic Messenger.
I know there are very few, but honestly, I feel like the vast majority are boring and focus mostly on friendship—something that many otome games include without needing to create a special route for it. Plus, I just don't like female routes. When I know there's one like this, I prefer to skip everything to collect the CGs and finish the game that way.

Tbh in all the games i played so far there wasn't a female route but if its gonna be just a silly lil friendship in an otome game its just seems like a dumb idea, i would love to have a game where the love interests are female and you play as female

 

[Lilia]

Personally really like female LIs in otome. While I never expect them and do feel male LIs should be the main focus, it's always a pleasant surprise for me to see developers interested in bisexual/lesbian romance in otome.

She's not popular at all but I was disappointed Kyoko came short in Chou no Doku, Hana no Kusari. She was something different.

 

[Liiiii]

I am not interestet in girls, so I am not really a fan. It is alright if the route is platonic, but I wont play it otherwise. Otome games are supposed to be Female x Male anyway. Games with both Male and Female LIs are Amare games.

 

[RedLipsSourApples]

Would love to see more of it honestly! I was really disappointed to find out there was no routes for the girls in the bakarina game. I'm bisexual so I don't really care about the Ll gender ratio. What's most important to me is having a female protagonist.

 

[koko36]

I'd honestly love that, especially if it's with a female MC. While I mostly play otome games for the male love interests, I'd definitely be interested in having well-written female romance options too. I think it would add more variety and make the game feel even more complete without taking anything away from the existing routes.

As long as it's optional, I don't see any downside. Players who prefer the male routes can still enjoy those, while people who want to explore female romance options have that opportunity as well. If the romances are given the same level of care and depth as the others, I'd absolutely be happy to play them.