- Aug 11, 2026
- 45
- 33
I've been playing some older PC otome games recently (Chou no Doku fandisc & Under the Moon) and they've really charmed me - I love the older anime art style (my fave anime & manga tend to be older ones too) and I find the square aspect ratio nostalgic.
I think I honestly prefer older otome games compared to modern ones. The otome games I enjoy most are old PC games, PSP, PS2 and DS games (so around 2000-2008).
When I got into otome games (around 2017), the PS Vita was considered the best platform for them, and so I do associate a lot of fond otome memories with my Vita. But I still find older titles more engaging and fun.
One reason for this is that I feel like at a certain point otome games kind of all became purely visual novels. Maybe due to the huge popularity in Otomate titles like Hiiro no Kakera and Hakuoki? Also probably because they're cheaper to make.
It's a shame because I love gameplay elements in otome games, like dancing in Princess Debut, stat raising in Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side, rhythm gameplay in UtaPri, or even the whipping and clapping in KLAP!! Kind Love and Punishment lmao. Two of my favorite games ever are Rune Factory 4 and Persona 3 Portable for the same reason. The first otome game, Angelique, also had strategy gameplay.
I love visual novels too, but I wish we had more options for otome games with gameplay like we used to. Dating sim games for men still have a huge variety in gameplay, while otome games don't (we didn't even get Kotone again in Persona 3 Reload).
We also used to get more otome games based on existing shoujo anime like Skip Beat!, Vampire Knight, Ouran Highschool Host Club, Kimi ni Todoke, etc. which is something I miss.
What is your favorite era/platform for otome games? Why?
I think I honestly prefer older otome games compared to modern ones. The otome games I enjoy most are old PC games, PSP, PS2 and DS games (so around 2000-2008).
When I got into otome games (around 2017), the PS Vita was considered the best platform for them, and so I do associate a lot of fond otome memories with my Vita. But I still find older titles more engaging and fun.
One reason for this is that I feel like at a certain point otome games kind of all became purely visual novels. Maybe due to the huge popularity in Otomate titles like Hiiro no Kakera and Hakuoki? Also probably because they're cheaper to make.
It's a shame because I love gameplay elements in otome games, like dancing in Princess Debut, stat raising in Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side, rhythm gameplay in UtaPri, or even the whipping and clapping in KLAP!! Kind Love and Punishment lmao. Two of my favorite games ever are Rune Factory 4 and Persona 3 Portable for the same reason. The first otome game, Angelique, also had strategy gameplay.
I love visual novels too, but I wish we had more options for otome games with gameplay like we used to. Dating sim games for men still have a huge variety in gameplay, while otome games don't (we didn't even get Kotone again in Persona 3 Reload).
We also used to get more otome games based on existing shoujo anime like Skip Beat!, Vampire Knight, Ouran Highschool Host Club, Kimi ni Todoke, etc. which is something I miss.
What is your favorite era/platform for otome games? Why?