Otome fam, we asked, and they answered! Publishers PQube just announced that they will officially localize MintLip’s otome game Him, the Smile, & Bloom, bringing the title to the West on Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam)!
Him, The Smile, & Bloom was originally released and published by MintLip and Edia Team Entertainment Inc. on August 8, 2024, in Japan, with an added English language option. While the game was accessible language-wise to English-speaking players, it was only available physically in Japan and digitally on the Japanese eShop, as no full localization or logistical process was undertaken. You can read more details about this on my game review here. Just jump to the ‘Localization’ section of the article.
This time, with PQube publishing the game, it will finally be available in western eShops, allowing all western otome players to access it digitally without the hassle of creating Nintendo accounts for other regions.
Him, The Smile, & Bloom will be available physically on Nintendo Switch and digitally on both Steam and Nintendo Switch platforms. Its release date will be announced in Q1 of 2025!
ABOUT THE GAME
Step into a world of romance and flowers in this refreshingly mature otome that charts the relationships of four couples, all connected by a special, a local flower shop.
‘Him, the Smile & bloom’ is a unique exploration of the flourishing relationship between two adults and the highs and lows of their budding romance in a modern world.
From the initial spark of attraction to the struggles of maintaining a relationship and navigating life’s choppy waters – Him the Smile & bloom, deftly weaves heart-warming – and heart-breaking – narrative threads for an genuinely distinct and memorable otome experience!
KEY FEATURES
- Say it with flowers!: Him, the Smile & bloom charts four whirlwind romances – from the tender love of youth, to thorny, tumultuous and steamy. There are four distinct love matches to explore.
- Couple up!: Rather than one protagonist with a selection of bachelors, Him the Smile & bloom instead focuses on the relationship with four love interests: Wataru, Ginnosuke, Hokuto and Tenya.
- Twelve distinct endings: Each couple has three endings to explore. However! Rather than traditional ‘good’ or ‘bad’ endings, each of the couple’s potential futures are poignant and offer something worthwhile to enjoy, regardless of the romantic (or not!) outcome.
- A refreshingly adult approach to otome romance: By focusing on the growing relationship between four couples. Him, the Smile & bloom brings a unique maturity to the exploration of love and life in these four stories.
- Gorgeous production values: Wonderful character artwork and vibrant and detailed game world, combine with expressive voice work to really enhance the tenderness and emotion of each of the romances.
- Additional side stories: Completing the ‘Glow’ or ‘best’ ending to each couples’ story unlocks additional side stories to enjoy – breathing further life into these unforgettable characters.
OFFICIAL ENGLISH TRAILER
FAQ:
Q: “Will the English translations be updated in this version?”
A: With the game receiving a full localization this time, the English translations will be ‘updated’ by the publishers, PQube. Although the original release included an English language option, no ‘true localization’ process was undertaken back then.
Q: “What is the difference between the game I have imported from Japan from the one PQube is releasing?”
A: The one you have imported from Japan is the original Japanese release of the game (with both Japanese and English language option available). The upcoming one (for 2025) published by PQube is the official western release of the game. Unlike the Japanese release, PQube’s version will be available in western eShops and will primarily be in English (voice acting will remain in Japanese).
Q: “Will the updated English translations be available in the Japanese game I imported?“
A: No, the updated translations will only be available in the PQube official release.
If you want to read more about the game’s initial translations, as well as my overall review and impressions of it, you can check out my Him, The Smile, and The Bloom review here.
Otome Kitten 
Umm kinda confused. What do you think this means for us who bought the game earlier this year? I imported the Physical copy, but I’m guessing that the disc won’t work with PQube’s re-release right…?
LikeLike
It’s basically the same game content (as far as stories, UI, etc.) but different publishers. The one you imported was the original Japanese release. The one coming to 2025 is the official western release from PQube. Thanks for this question though! I’ve added this to the FAQ section of this article incase anyone else is confused and curious.
LikeLike
Kinda weird, honestly. I wouldn’t call the original translation perfect by any means, but it does its job well enough? I wonder why they’d pick this rather than a game that has NO translation to speak of yet?
LikeLike
I wonder if it’s possible if the localization can be added to the original physical of the Japanese one like they did with Taisho×Alice. I just want the DLC since I’m too lazy to do a JPN switch account. If I have to pay the small minimum, it’s fine. I sorta regret wasting my coins on T×A’s translation. I paid over year after I bought it and then they gave it out for free. 😢
Then again, iirc, T×A translation was done in house, so that’s probably why it was so easy to do it without a JPN account.
Still, of they ever release a limited edition and is drastically different, I may double dip and give the localization version to my cousin.
LikeLike