Cover Art by: @swonmmission
Hey everyone! It’s that time of year when gamers and the like share their 2024 all-year gaming recaps! I’ve played a ton of games this year, but this post will focus entirely on the titles I played in the otome category because… well... this blog is totally about FPS and survival horror games and not about otome! Nope, definitely not! (cackles)😝
My End-of-the-Year post will, once again, be split into two parts. The first part will be my personal “game awards” (a.k.a. the “Itabag Awards”), where I’ll awkwardly specially mention and give imaginary awards to the imaginary/fictional characters I’ve latched onto in games this year (lol). The second part will be an actual personal recap of my entire 2024, be it in the gaming sphere, or personal projects and plans (aka what’s in store for this blog in the future, if any).
Don’t worry, I am sober writing this! So unfortunately, this isn’t going to be as chaotic as the previous ones I’ve made (or so I think? lol) I still do hope, this is going to be a fun read for everyone though! So grab your peppermint snacks (if you like those), some eggnog, or just straight-up black coffee (helps when you catch yourself falling asleep or getting bored from this post ha!) and let the holiday shitposting *awardings* begin!
Games Completed, Reviewed, Dropped and Stalled
- Love and Deepspace 📱[Mobile] – (Gacha, Ongoing, Collected every card in the game, Reviewed)
- Light and Night 📱[Mobile] – (Gacha, Ongoing, Collected some cards)
- Sympathy Kiss 🎮[Switch] – (Completed, Reviewed)
- Blood Domination 💻 [PC] – (Stalled)
- Tengoku Struggle -strayside- 🎮[Switch] – (Completed, Reviewed)
- Lunar Maiden, River-side Angel Godlike Moment 💻 [PC] – (Dropped)
- Little Kitty, Big City 🎮[Switch] – (Stalled)
- Cupid Parasite Sweet and Spicy Darling 🎮[Switch] – (Completed, Reviewed)
- Radiant Tale Fanfare 🎮[Switch] – (Completed, Reviewed)
- A Date with Death 💻 [PC] – (Completed)
- B-PROJECT RYUSEI*FANTASIA 🎮[Switch] – (Completed, Reviewed)
- HAKUOKI: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom 🎮[Switch] – (Re-played)
- Him, The Smile & Bloom (Hanakare) 🎮[Switch] – (Completed, Reviewed)
- Hana Awase Karakurenai/Utsutsu Volume 🎮[Switch] – (Completed)
- Hana Awase Iroha Volume 🎮[Switch] – (Completed)
- The Hungry Lamb 💻 [PC] – (Stalled)
- The Villainess is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom 🎮[Switch] – (Dropped)
- Celestia Chain of Fate 🎮[Switch] – (Completed, Reviewed)
- LoZ Echoes of Wisdom 🎮[Switch] – (Stalled)
- 9 R.I.P. 🎮[Switch] – (Completed, Reviewed)
- I*CHU Chibi Edition 🎮[Switch] – (Stalled)
- Virche Evermore: Epic Lycoris 🎮[Switch] – (Completed, Reviewed)
- Homicipher 💻 [PC] – (Completed, Reviewed)
- 神舞幻想 Faith of Danschant 💻 [PC] – (Currently Playing)
- Infinity Nikki 💻 [PC] – (Gacha, Ongoing)
- Phantom of the Twilight 💻 [PC] – (Currently Playing)
Looking at the list above, it appears that I have significantly played a LOT of games this year, BUT have mostly stalled them! Oops.🥴 I have also completed 13 games! Unless you count all two volumes of Hana Awase as just one title, then it’s really just 12 games total. Which is basically the average count I could play and complete in a year. Completing a game to me, means finishing it 100% (for visual novels, this means unlocking all endings, and for RPGs, this means I have finished the story from beginning to end).
Out of the twenty-six games I played, five of them I have stalled, while there were two games I have completely dropped.
Dropped Games:
- Lunar Maiden, River-side Angel Godlike Moment – This was one of succulent‘s R18 games, that everyone (or at least the R18 enthusiasts) were anticipating this year, but the title was such a letdown due to the unplayable translations. This has completely soured my outlook on the game, and sadly, I won’t be returning to it, even if the publishers release a TL patch, which I highly doubt they will. This was also the reason I didn’t pick up their second title. Frankly speaking, I don’t think it’s worth the headache of going through the rough tls just to see pixelated 2diques.
- The Villainess is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom – I got this title the day it was released, but I sadly just could not get into it. Possibly due to the really awkward translations as well. While this one isn’t as bad as Lunar Maiden, some of the phrasings just kind of read like MTL which is again, another letdown. When you pay full price for a visual novel, the bare minimum expectation is that the translations should not give you a headache while playing, and this one did (to me at least). I’m not talking about typos; I can deal with typos any day. It’s the awkward wording and phrasing that always ends up ruining my enjoyment.
Games I Finished Last Year, But Reviewed This Year:
- Mashou Megane – This review was released because it won votes from this year’s “Motivation Corner” section of this blog. I have actually played the game back in 2022 and wrote half of the review back then but decided not to continue at the time because, well, I just didn’t feel like talking about it publicly! (cackles) I don’t exactly recommend this game either. It’s a kamige but a legit fun experience ngl. 😂 So, if you’re not planning to play this game and just want some funsies & laughs, feel free to check out my review, especially the spoiler section, cause that’s where all the juicy bits are! LOL
Speaking of “Motivation Corner”, I’ve temporarily removed it from the blog to replace it with my “End of Year” survey. Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill it out, btw! The Motivation Corner should be back by the first week of January 2025!
Itabag Awards: Best and Worst Of 2024
Welcome to Otome Kitten’s Itabag Awards, which pretty much doesnt really involve any “itabags” since I really only made one itabag this year, so I don’t even know why I keep calling it “itabag awards”, it’s catchy I guess! (cackling) Anyway, this year was another year packed with so many new otome releases, that it’d be an absolute waste not to give out the best and worst awards for this blog! As always I’ll be limiting entries to the new localized titles of the console/mobile games that were released this year. That means Hakuoki will not be included here, since that game was a port. Plus, it’s actually a good thing to disqualify this title, otherwise, the Shinsengumi boys would rightfully rake all the awards to themselves, ha!
🛑 Disclaimer: This is all in jest and for fun, please do not take this seriously.
Best Heroine Of 2024
Miku Yukihira (Him, the Smile & Bloom)
There were lots of amazing heroines this year but the one I personally thought about all year was Nandina MC in Hanakare, Miku. Her vulnerability, her initial issues and how she navigated through them just hits the right notes for me. Hanakare MCs pretty much, are all top tier though, so you can technically say the same thing for the other three if you jive with them more! Plus, slice-of-life MCs get little to no love in most otome games, as everyone seems to prefer the badass-karate-chop-combat-focused MCs, which tbh is also great but variety is important and non-fighting MCs like Miku are just as amazing and beautiful as the rest of the badass ladyboss in our otome titles!🙂↕️
Worst Heroine of 2024
Aria Silverwings (Celestia Chain of Fate) – I’m sorry, but three-timing heroines get the bottom pit for me. I know this isn’t totally Aria’s fault, but rather the game’s flawed structure. Still, ya gotta give the *worst* trophy to someone this year, and sadly, Aria was the least enjoyable heroine I experienced in 2024.
Best Tsundere of 2024
Yona (Tengoku Struggle)
Yona, to me, was an incredible tsundere because he single-handedly converted non-tsundere lovers into tsun-tsun enjoyers in Tengoku Struggle. Plus, he’s just so dumb and adorable! Wears his heart on his sleeve, and ugly cries over Sengoku dramas like a real man! I know TSS is kind of a polarizing game plot-wise, but damn, does this title gave us some peak likable LIs! Love Yona to bits!
Worst Tsundere of 2024
Val de Lucifer (Celestia Chain of Fate)
Is Val even a tsundere? He actually is, but not for the heroine. He’s more of a tsundere for Ash! LOL So idk if this even counts? (cackles)🤣🤣🤣
Best Kuudere of 2024
Zayne (Love and Deepspace)
Do I even need to spell out why Zayne is one of the most amazing kuudere characters in today’s modern-day otome games?
Worst Kuudere of 2024
Ash Winterlight (Celestia Chain of Fate)
See, I can’t exactly categorize Ash as a full-blown kuudere, tbh. I mentioned this in my review, but he does have those qualities: cold, distant, and aloof; though that was only at the beginning of the game. Honestly, I’m sad to give this award to him because I really liked Ash in the game. Funny enough, both he and Zayne have frost/ice abilities, which makes me wonder: are kuudere LIs stereotyped to have ice skills to match their “cold” outlook?🤔
Best Genki Of 2024
Liyan (Radiant Tale Fanfare)
There were so many great genkis this year, and honestly, I had such a hard time picking a winner for this one. But out of all the genkis that really delivered, Liyan’s route was the most memorable for me. I love how fluffy his route is that it had me kicking my feet so hard my faux furr slip ons launched straight onto our neighbor’s roof! 🤣
Worst Genki Of 2024
Mitsuki Saotome (Sympathy Kiss)
Mitsuki’s overbearing attitude scarily resembles guys irl who’ve actually made me cry at work lol, so this is actually a good thing for character writing as far as that goes. That said, his route just wasn’t it for me. Mitsuki’s plot was clunky as heck, plus his attitude wasn’t helping it, though he stood out in other routes than his own.
Best Himbo Of 2024
Raul (Cupid Parasite SSD) and Kureha (9RIP)
It’s a TIE! Two of my bestest bois! So yeah, this might be a very biased decision on my part. 🤭 These two, however, represent two sides of the himbo coin. One is pure himbo through and through: Raul Aconite is the textbook definition of a dumb blonde ikemen, and I adore/love him for it. Kureha, on the other hand, is a lowkey himbo. He’s such a sweet soul, and just wants to spend his spare time watching movies. 🥺 Just be sure it isnt horror!
Worst Himbo Of 2024
Not to be that person or anything, because I did enjoy Yukimaro as an LI in 9RIP. But the part I couldnt bear was his whiny, bratty and spoiled attitude which technically makes sense in the game being the guardian that he is, but the constant screaming and whining annoyed me so much that, unfortunately, it’s all I can remember from his route.
Best Cinamon Roll Of 2024
Another tie! Mathis (Virche: Epic Lycoris) and Hibiki (9RIP) deserves Best Cinamon roll for 2024. Though if there’s a *worst* cinnamon roll award, I’m sure both guys would tie as well in this category! (cackles) IYKYK! 🤭🤭🤭
Bias Wrecker Of 2024
If you’ve played Love and Deepspace, I think we can all collectively agree that Sylus was hands-down the bias-wrecker LI of the year. He also had such a heavy pull for a lot of people who are just discovering the otome genre for the first time, so I feel like he deserves this award!
Best Side Character Syndrome Of 2024
Robin Bulllet (Cupid Parasite SSD) was literally one of side characters that definitely stood out to me this year. And I would give anything for a side route with him and Claris! It would be so interesting to actually follow their love story!
Runner Up: Dr. Greyson from Love and Deepspace! Just cause….🤭🤭🤭
Best Route Of 2024
Tenya (Him, the Smile & Bloom)
Frankly, this was a tough pick since there were a lot of LI routes I enjoyed this year, but none of them made me actually brainrot for long periods of time. lmao I mean, sure, there was some brainrotting going on in every game I play, but it was pretty short-lived, if you catch my drift. Nandina’s route in Hanakare was perhaps the closest I’ve been to obsessing over a particular route, so I guess TenyaxMiku’s slice-of-life route wins this year in my book!
Worst Route Of 2024
I was very sad about this route. Peter (Cupid Parasite SSD) was one of my favorite characters from the first game, and for the FD to toss out all the relationship buildup between him and Lynette was such a disappointment. Peter, you’re wonderful but I’m so sorry, your FD route was sewage waste this year!
Best DILF LI Of 2024
This year was definitely blessed with a a couple of gorgeous DILF LIs in games (like finalfreakinly!!) so it would be criminal to skip this award no? For 2024, Higa (Sympathy Kiss) takes the win by a margin in my book with his very green flag, very original, and incredibly wholesome route!
Best DILF Side Character Of 2024
Daddy Enma (Tengoku Struggle) is king for a reason! and he made TSS even more hilarious with his wild, ridiculous, over the top antics and we love him for it! I love Enma to death (and hell)! He is legit, 2024’s best papa side character!
Oshi Of 2024
Xavier (Love and Deepspace)
I based this award on the amount of money I’ve actually spent on a particular LI this year, and with Xavier, I’ve burned about 3k dolladollabillsyall this year just from hoarding his merch alone. From his official merch to commissioned bags, I even bought two of his sweater/jackets. lmao I admit I have a hoarding problem, but this year was just extra crazy with Xavier! I almost did the same thing for Qi Sili from Light and Night, but since the game isn’t localized, I’ve excluded it from this year’s entries. Otherwise, it would’ve been a tie!😂
Please Wash your underwear Award
Nori (Sympathy Kiss)
I know, I know…he’s a pretty boy! But dayumcuzzz, he sleeps on the streets drunk, has cigarette burn holes in his clothes, carries a book bag with just 1-2 shirts he reuses over and over. Is his underwear even clean? What about his…. junk? Is it fully washed??? Akari was insane for letting this man in on her apartment. Aint no stinky ass sleeping on my sofa tonight!😤
“I Deserved Better, B*tches!” Award
Lucas (Virche: Epic Lycoris)
No, fr! pls give this man a break! 😭
I listen to My Chemical Romance Award
JacK (Tengoku Struggle)
Streamer, singer, songwriter. I think we can all agree that JacK is the most emo LI of 2024. I’m convinced he’s one of those people who writes tragic lyrics on their walls and posts anonymous heartbreak poems on MySpace! 😭🤣
Volcan in the streets, Klingon in the sheets Award
Kohei (Sympathy Kiss)
Damn, this man! What a man…………….in bed!!!🥵
He and the heroine practically went at it, til sunrise. How, where did he get all these stamina? And why is it always the silent types that’re always WILD in the bedroom?😏 Not that I’m complaining ofc!🤭
Best Soundtrack of 2024
Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling
There were plenty of otome games with amazing OSTs this year, but the sampled BGMs from CupiPara SSD and the Biscats OP and ED themes were my favs in 2024! I still catch myself humming Merenice’s theme in the shower sometimes!
Best Fandisk of 2024
Radiant Tale Fanfare
Because there were so many FDs released this year, I thought I should mention the one I exceptionally enjoyed, despite its flaws (it was too short). Quoting from my review:
“When you finish way too many games in a year, it’s easy to lose track of which titles stood out to you and why. So, when you revisit a series, it’s nice to be reminded of how much you loved it, its setting and lore, its characters, and to be flooded with the nostalgic fondness you felt when you first experienced the title. This is the exact sentiment I seek whenever I play an otome game FD, and Radiant Tale Fanfare delivered that beautifully.”
Plus this FD gave us Jinnia and Liyan’s route which were such delights!🥰
👜Itabags Made this Year👜
I only managed to make one itabag this year, and it was for Love and Deepspace Xavier during his birthday. I wish I had more time for itabagging, but alas, adult life wasn’t generous with ‘free time’ this year! Anyway, here’s a video of my simple Xavier itabag! 🥰
Favorite Ships 🚢
- Tenya and Miku (Him, the Smile & Bloom) – The only couple I’ve brainrotted over this year! Their story was just so wholesome, so cute, so fluffy and so real! Their chemistry was an absolute delight to witness as well. I love this pairing so much! and can’t wait to replay their routes next year with PQube’s re-release of the game. I’m also very much excited for Hanakare’s fandisk!
- Liyan and Tifalia (Radiant Tale Fanfare) – I kind of feel bad for saying this, knowing that last year I have listed down Paschalia x Tifalia as one of my fav ships in 2023. 😂 This year though, Liyan just nabbed the spot and rightfully so, because his route in RadiTale Fanfare gave me a few 1ups during and after I played it.
- Koyo and Misa (9RIP) – Koyo was such a wonderful boyfriend, friend, support to Misa. He was genuinely and selflessly kind to others, even to those who didn’t deserve his kindness. I still think about their first kiss and how absolutely adorable these two are!
OGOTY (Otome Game of The Year)
I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on this tbh, and even gave it a tumultuous amount of thought before making the call.(laughs)🤣
Love and Deepspace has a number of flaws, and I have many, many issues with it. And no, it’s not about the “gacha” mechanics! (something I believe is likely why “console-only” players are often hesitant to try it). As a gacha addict since Shining Live, rhythm game era, I really have no qualms in gacha to be honest with you! What bothers me more is how the game’s popularity has largely been fueled by fan service. Because let’s be honest, that’s what draws so many people in. For me, that’s a little kind of alienating as someone who fell in love with the game initially for its story, not because of the half-naked, gorgeous 3D men on my phone screen – which, by no means, is anything bad in the slightest because, heck, I enjoy that too!🤣 But what I really loved about the game was the depth of its lore and narrative, which I believe deserves far more attention than it gets. It’s frustrating to see it overshadowed by things like “uwu, let me sit on Sylus’ lap”.
This game is far from perfect. The writing, especially when it comes to the MC, leaves much to be desired in its execution. I’m genuinely not a fan of how Sylus’s MC is written, but that’s an essay for another day. Last year, I rated this game an 8.5/10, and I still stand by that rating after a year of playing it since Day 1. Looking back on all my game ratings this year, LaD still holds the highest score, considering the highest rating I gave any console game this year was an 8/10, which surprised me how there wasn’t much competition.
Love and Deepspace is also just very HIGH QUALITY. Like you can’t really deny that. So I think it’s only fair to give credit where it’s due. This game definitely revolutionized the 3D otome experience by a significant margin, and that’s a fact. Visually, it feels like playing a premium otome game, and it’s pretty wild that you can initially access it for free (before the gacha part kicks in, that is lol). All in all, LaD is definitely a strong contender for this year in my book. I may not scream about it all the time, and it may not be perfect from every angle, but the careful depictions of the game’s romance from the LIs and its in-depth lore are still the reasons I keep coming back to this title. Sure, it isn’t a masterpiece but its pretty up there!
I know my thoughts are a bit jumbled right now! (Oops, sorry, I’m typing this while working overtime on Christmas Day.)😵💫 In conclusion, if you strip away the inconsistent writing for the MC, the overwhelming fan service, and the petty whining from the toxic side of the fandom, Love and Deepspace has to be the most beautifully crafted localized otome game I’ve played this year. Hence, this decision, hence why I voted for it as OGOTY of 2024!
Personal Game Ramblings
Q: “After playing otome games for over a decade, have your taste changed over the years? As you’ve been exposed to more otome titles, do you think your tolerance for story elements being poorly done has gone down?”
Someone asked me this question in my 2023 end-of-year post, and it’s a question that has stuck with me ever since. Thank you, by the way, to the anonymous poster who brought it up!
Every time I finish a game and start going through my notes to evaluate it, I find myself looking at it from different perspectives. Like say, If I have an issue with a character or a certain plot point, I always ask myself: Would the version of me from twelve years ago have liked this plot direction? Would the old Chlo have loved this character more if I’d played this back in 20xx? I know this kind of introspection might seem unnecessary or perhaps even a little weird, cause after all, it’s just a game. At the end of the day, the most important thing is whether I enjoyed it in the present or not, which is still the mindset I go by.
But as an overthinker (lol),😂 questions like these keep popping into my head. And it actually helped me this year explore how my tastes and perspectives have evolved over time.
I think my answer to this is still similar to my answer a year ago. In that, my standards, expectations, and parameters when it comes to otoges or VNs, for that matter, have indeed greatly changed over time. This year has most definitely been an aberration from my usual enjoyment parameters, as I’ve noticed. For one, my tolerance for poorly executed story elements has plummeted to the point of dropping games. I also find it harder to get excited about a title if its themes don’t align with my interests or if the dev team has released titles prior that didn’t impress me. For example, I might be the only one not hyped for Uchronia, even though it’s one of the community’s most anticipated localization for 2025. That being said, I definitely do not want to rule out titles just because I’m uninterested in certain elements they possess. I think giving it a chance with dialed-down expectations is a good approach; that way, any surprises can be viewed in a positive light when you have no preconceived notions.
The responsibility of having a platform and an opinion…
I’d like to think that a key point in having an informed opinion about any type of media is experiencing it firsthand. Because without direct experience, how can you determine whether you like or dislike something? This gets trickier when lot of people look up to your opinions so they can make their own informed decisions. To me, this responsibility makes it crucial to approach every review or critique with care. I believe it does a lot of folks a favor when you thoroughly evaluate the merits and demerits of the media you’re discussing because, when you have some sort of platform, it’s no longer just about sharing your personal likes and dislikes; but also about providing thoughtful, balanced insights that your audience can rely on.
Personally, I take this mantra very seriously. lmao 🤣Idc if it’s “just blogging” or a “TikTok review”; or whatever you’re sharing online; your words are your responsibility. We live in a world right now where most people take internet information at face value, and I think that if people seek information and come to you for guidance, you owe it to them to be accountable for your own words. I know I sound like a preachy, uppity old lady living in the old times, lol. I’m well aware that there are tons of folks today, especially in the influencer space, who don’t really care if they’re spreading misinformation as long as they hit the numbers of likes they’re aiming for. And honestly, if that’s their hustle to achieve their goals, I have no right to oppose it. I will however, silently judge while I sip a glass of wine though! muahaha😝
Q: “How has your taste in otome games changed over time?”
I’m kind of just going over the questions I received this year that made me think the most. lol so I apologize if I go off on a lot of tangents! 😂
As far as taste goes, I feel like I’ve fully gravitated toward enjoying more slice-of-life otome titles. A few months ago, I was having lunch with a fellow otome gamer friend, and we happened to discuss how refreshing the game, Sympathy Kiss is. I still feel strongly about this! Sympathy Kiss is far from being a perfect game. Like there are definitely moments where the route direction can get pretty lulz. But the romance aspect, the MC and LI banter and character interactions really made me feel great. It’s hard to explain but it’s kind of one of those games that made me feel peaceful, if that makes sense?🥹 It was a much-needed, relaxing experience for a highly stressed adult like me. Ngl, if I’d played this game twelve years ago, I probably would’ve disliked it. But in the present time, I’d love to play more games like Sympathy Kiss. More grown-up, modern day slice of life stories please!
About the phrase “Show Don’t Tell”
I first heard of this phrase during my college days when I took a Director’s Notebook elective and was kind of bombarded with this concept repeatedly during lectures and evaluations. “Show your audience, don’t tell them,” my professor would always exclaim in his lofty, theatrical tone, and I would always roll my eyes. (cackles) While I understand and even agree with the sentiment, particularly in mediums like theater or film, where visual storytelling is crucial, I believe in game development, this advice can be a little risky when applied indiscriminately, especially to new indie devs who are on their first hand in crafting and creating visual novels. I’ve seen this going around in VN discussion spaces, and I just kind of disagree with how the phrase is being treated like near-gospel. While well-intentioned, I feel it’s an oversimplification that ignores the nuances of interactive storytelling.
What do I mean by this? let me play devil’s advocate here. In visual novels, too much “showing” without enough “telling” can disrupt the narrative’s pacing. I’ve been trying to rack my brain for examples in otome games, and the closest I can come up with is Tengoku Struggle, where the themes feel all over the place. The story shifts into slice-of-life mode, with everyone peacefully going about their day, and then it abruptly jumps to something more serious, only to return to a peaceful tone again. There was a lot of “showing” in this game, which isn’t entirely bad because it gave us a lot of character nuances (something I very much value in VNs). But the problem is that, by showing too much of the present narrative, the pacing ended up suffering.
On the flip side, too much “telling” without enough “showing” is just as problematic. A good example of this is Virche‘s time travel, where a character simply claimed TT without further explaining how. The fictional concept of time travel is a rather intricate subject, that even most media/games spend the entirety of their plot exploring it. For a medium to just mention it once and call it a day feels kind of insulting to the readers/players -or at least, that’s how I feel about it. (I can already see the Virche enjoyers’ pitchforks glaring at me, so I’ll stop here, lol). Furthermore, exposition dumps aren’t always as bad as they seem; they’re sometimes necessary when done in the right way, but not to the extreme level of Paradigm Paradox, where the entire plot felt like one giant exposition dump (oops).
In conclusion, an over-reliance on either “showing” or “telling” is not a good basis for effective writing, at least in my opinion. I feel like finding the right balance between the two and understanding when to show, & when to tell is the key to great storytelling.
Oh wow, there I go again with my tangents lol! Oops… 😂 It’s time to answer some questions!
If you are still reading this, congratulations! You have survived the first part of this post! 😂 I hope you had a lovely Christmas, and your holidays and holiday breaks have been blissful! The second part of my 2024 roundup will be posted before New Year’s! Thank you for your continued support for Otome Kitten!
The last part of this post will be the Q&A portion, where I’ll be answering some questions from my End of Year survey. If you have submitted a question, stick around for a bit! mwah!
Q&A
As promised in my end-of-the-year survey, I commit to answering all of your questions, no matter how random. 😂 The questions below are not in the order they were submitted. For similar questions, I’ll answer them collectively! There are also some questions that were repeated from last year’s Q&A, so my answers will be similar to those from 2023.
🙀THE QUESTIONS🙀
- What was your first otome game? What got you into otome games?
🔽Answer
This question was asked so many times this year, and was also asked last year.lol So I’ll be copy-pasting my answer from 2023:
Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden and Suzaku Ibun! I didn’t know these were called “otome game” at that time (2008-2009). All I know is that I’m playing a game adaptation of my fav mangas lol.
Pls excuse my dusty shelf.
- It’s a difficult choice, I know, but would you say, on the whole, you prefer to play slice-of-life otome games or the more action packed ones?
🔽Answer
Oh, most definitely SOL! Per my rambling above, right now, I am more excited to play slice of life games than the action packed ones. Not to say, I wont play the latter, because I do want variety! But if its like a gun-to-your-head kinda situation where I can only chose or prefer one, then yeah I’d prefer slice of life atm. LOL
- What’s your favorite otome game of all time?
🔽Answer
Oh lord, I dislike this question because I HAVE SO MANY FAVS LMAO. But for this answer, I’ll just pick the most recent one that I’ve rated a 10/10. And that’s Jack Jeanne!🥹
- Your favorite Stray Kids member?
🔽Answer
HAHAHAHAHA😂😂😂 ???? For the record I am not a STAY!😂 But If I have to choose, it would be Han.
- What made you get into Otome games? Is there one particular game that you would consider your gateway to the genre?
🔽Answer
This was also asked last year, and my answer is pretty much the same:
Fushigi Yuugi, Ayashi no Ceres mangas (and the anime) and all of Watase Yuu’s reverse harem creations were my bible! Their works have sparked my love for the reverse harem genre which eventually lead me to discovering otome games.
As for the game that I consider my gateway to the genre. It would be Hakuoki Demon of the Fleeting Blossom (PSP). I think this was the title that made me aware that the “otome” niche exists. And it kickstarted my journey to look for more otome titles to play. Crazy enough, while I was searching for more games to play after obsessing over Hakuoki, I discovered through internet recommendations that YoJinBo was also an otome game. It’s funny, because for most people, it should have been the other way around since the latter was released first. It really goes to show how poorly the genre was marketed before and how it has not reached a proper pool of target audience yet. It’s nice to reminisce on this timeline and think about how far it’s improved over the years!
- How do you find a way to power through games that you’ve bought (especially otomate localizations, they’re expensive!) that you don’t particularly find COMPLETELY interesting or like find all of the characters appealing? it’s hard but i want to find a way!!!
🔽Answer
I have OCD, and I NEED to finish what I’ve started otherwise I wont be able to sleep properly at night! Ofc there will be games I’ll drop if it’s completely unenjoyable for me (like BeniBana for instance).
- What’s your favorite otome boy trope?
🔽Answer
Tsunderes.🥺
- What would you say has been the biggest surprise this year, otome game wise? A ML who you ended up liking or a route you surprisingly enjoyed, something like that?
🔽Answer
I think it was secret route number 2 in Sympathy Kiss! 🥹
- What otome game has the most beautiful art in your opinion?
🔽Answer
Light and Night!
- Who are your favorite LIs of all time?
🔽Answer
I have a list of favorite LIs and otome game characters in my ABOUT ME PAGE. By the “OSHI” section! 🥰
- How do you usually keep up to date with your otome news? How do you like to de stress? Would you consider having a section on current sales on otome games and what prices are worth it?
🔽Answer
I’m subscribed to PR newsletters from otome game publishers and developers, and I follow their social media.
How do you like to de stress:
I rewatch a lot of my fav kpop content lmao and also binge korean and chinese reality shows!😂 I also started drawing this year and its pretty relaxing!
As for the section compiling current sales: Unfortunately, no. Keeping up with every single otome game sales every single time is a LOT of work and would need a LOT OF TIME to compile which I sadly do not have. DEKU DEALS is a good resource if you want to keep up with game sales (otome games included).As for whether the game is worth it for its price, my review’s “Overall Thoughts” section, would mostly mention that I believe.
- What upcoming game are you most looking forward to?
🔽Answer
I am 100% seated for WUCHANG!
- Do you play BL games? If yes do you have any favorites?
🔽Answer
I do, but I havent played in a while! Dmmd and Lamento BtV were my favs.
- Do you plan to do a review for the Hana Awase games? I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts, especially for the two I haven’t gotten to yet. Thanks for finishing the walkthroughs! 😀
🔽Answer
I was aiming to post my Hana Awase review by the end of 2024 but I’ve halted any content creation activities to kind of just relax for the holidays….🥹 so it’ll have to wait next year!
- What got you into otome in the first place, and what made you want to get into reviewing/making walkthroughs as well? 🙂
🔽Answer
Watase Yuu’s reverse harem creations got me into otome games. I started reviewing the games I play because I really just wanted somewhere to scream into the void about them. The nerdy gaming group I was part of back in the day, are male dominated spaces (mostly online forums and message boards), and no one has a single iota of what an otome game was. There was literally no one else to talk to about it because the otome community was almost non-existent. If it existed, you actually have to go thru heaps and lengths to find other players lol (it was dark times). The blogging part was kind of the only way for me to thought dump otherwise I’d lose it. Mind you, my blog (prior to Otome kitten) before was all over the place and wasnt as structured as it is now.😂
- What was your favorite game this year? (Otome or non otome!)
🔽Answer
For localized games, Infinity Nikki and Love and Deepspace
- If you could make one thing (or multiple things!) more common in otome games, what would it be? (ie a certain type of LI, setting, heroine trait, etc)
🔽Answer
STAT RAISERS! JK LOL PLS NO MORE STAT RAISERS!😭
I would like to have more games where the heroine can switch up personas and have different POVs accdg to this specific persona. Kind of similar to Jed in PotAH, where she switches up her gender and roam around town (she’ll get different interactions as boy Jed or girl Jed).
- Do you have any predictions for the future of otome? Either in the west or on the JP side.
🔽Answer
Sorry, I have none.😭 No one can accurately predict what the industry is cooking.
- Do you prefer romance stories that tend to be on the sweeter side, or ones that fall towards the “fxcked up” end of the spectrum?
🔽Answer
Before when I started playing otoges (and a lot younger), I am obsessed with exploring the fxxxd up side of the romance spectrum. But now, I’ve noticed that I’m more drawn to the sweet and fluffy stuff. Idk, I guess times have changed, and I just want a relaxing experience when it comes to romance right now.🥹
- Is Douma from Olympia Soriee your favorite character out of all the otome games you’ve played? I’ve noticed him in a few of your avatar’s pics. 🙂
🔽Answer
LOL I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT??? DOUMA??? WHO IS HE????😝😝😝😝
- Could you do some sort of q&a or small introduction in video format or post? I would like to know a bit more about you ^^
🔽Answer
Awwwww. Maybe, someday!🥹 My ABOUT ME PAGE will have to suffice for now!
- What was your favorite soundtrack in the last otome games you played?
🔽Answer
Per the *award* above, my fav otoge OST this year was Cupid Parasite SSD’s.
- What was your favourite route you played this year? What was the best good ending? What was the best bad ending? Best new LI of the year (LI you discovered this year but joined your favourite list)?
🔽Answer
- Do you have any otome games that you would recommend to a little bit older audience. I told my mom about otome games and she was interested but i feel like a lot of games are very immature and plot heavy.
🔽Answer
It depends on what she likes, or what she’s in the mood for. If your ma likes something that’s a bit of an easy-read (little to no angst, not plot heavy) they may like Lover Pretend, or Sympathy Kiss. Because both of those games are kind of watching a romance drama on TV, or somewhat has that vibe. I know my late mom would prob enjoy those two games too since she loves tv dramas.🥰 I also know a lot of moms (in all age spectrum) play love and deepspace but the gacha mechanics might be too overwhelming so just keep that in mind.
- I apologize if this question has been asked before! But sometimes, I see you post reviews days- even a week or more before the game is released. Is that just shipping being fast, or are you sponsored to receive them earlier?
🔽Answer
It’s all good, pls dont apologize! Publishers send their media partners game codes for review purposes prior to a game’s release date.
- Out of everything you did this year, what are you most proud of?
- If you had to describe 2024 otome in one word, which would it be?
- Out of all the amazing games announced for 2025, which one are you most excited for?
- And of course, lastly, please predict a game that is going to be localized in 2025! (No fandiscs :p)
🔽Answer
- Hi! I know it’s a long shot, but do you ever think Code Realize will ever see a comeback or has it really run its course for good? I miss my boy Lupin. 🥲
🔽Answer
Don’t quote me on this because I might be misremembering, lol, but wasn’t there an article years ago (either in Sweet Princess or BsLog) where Otom8 and CodeRea devs implied that the series had ended? Not explicitly, but more like hinting that they weren’t planning to make any more games for the series and were branching off into other projects instead???
- This is kind of not really on topic but any favorite Homicipher character besides mr crawling?
🔽Answer
Mr. Gap was best boi for me!
- Most anticipated 2025 localization/release(s)?
🔽Answer
If you meant otome games, then its Battlefield Waltz!
- How are you doing, really? I hope well! 💜
🔽Answer
Thank you for asking!🥺 I can’t say I am 100% doing well, but I am doing as alright as I can be, nothing exactly to worry about!🥹
- What is your process for creating walkthroughs?
🔽Answer
It’s easier than you think, especially if there’s a love-catch system. This year, I also discovered an app called Notion, which makes it so much easier to list branching paths!
- Are you feeling alright ? I know it was hard for you at the same period of time last year. Also will you review rpg games in the future? I would love to have your review on anything really !
🔽Answer
Aww, Thanks for asking, I can’t say I am tippy top 100% but I am managing as best as I can!🥹 I like playing rpg games but the most I can manage when it comes to reviewing them is just a small Steam review. lol
- How do you prevent burn out when you are reviewing an otome game?
🔽Answer
TAKE LOTS OF BREAK! Doing other hobbies other than gaming. I love watching asian dramas and idol reality shows so I turn to those whenever I hit a gaming burnout.
- What was your favorite otome game to play this year?
🔽Answer
Light and Night, Love and Deepspace.
- How are you doing? I’m serious, time and again i’m worried about you, if you’re doing ok *hug*
🔽Answer
Uuu.🥺 Thank you! I’m doing fine, really! 🫂🫂🫂 I hope you are too!
- I love otome, but I usually can only finish a few a year due to burnout. How do you find the time and motivation to keep playing them all year?
🔽Answer
I have a gaming schedule! LOL I do take a few breaks in between to recuperate from burnouts.
- If you could hang out with any otome character, who would you choose and why? (includes side characters etc.)
🔽Answer
- What Otome game are you hoping will get a localization in the future? What would be your all time favorite Otome if you had to choose out of every game you’ve played over the years?
🔽Answer
I’m still hoping that any titles from Ruby Party gets localized in the future.
I have a lot of ALL TIME favs, but just for the sake of answering this question atm, I’ll pick Jack Jeanne.
- Just curious, but is there a favourite LI or route that you constantly think about? Any particular reason why?
🔽Answer
There’s a lot… but as of recent, I think its Raul’s (Cupid Parasite) route. Probably because it personally hit home more than I expected lol
Also, Iba from Hakuoki hhhhhh – no particular reason, just regular Iba-brain-rotting! 🤭
- You said you watch kdrama in your last post like this, to combat otome gaming burnout. I am new to kdramas and I dont exactly know where to start and dont want to waste my time doing trial and error to guage if a series is worth it (i am an adult with 2 toddlers lol). But I want to watch a good series that will help me with my burn out. This might be asking much but can you recommend a series that you love. Im someone who likes angst but also really good romance and chemistry between ML and FL. I thought it would be worth asking you since we seem to like the same aspects in otome games haha!
🔽Answer
Crash Landing On You! 💯💯💯
(If you havent watched it yet, pls pls PLSSSS do it! You can thank me later!)
- How do you make time to play otome, make route walk throughs, and keep up with your blog and have a job and social life?
- What do you think in the latest releases and future announced releases in localized otomes? Do you see any type of trends in whats getting brought over?
- Do you see any hope for any older otomes like Brothers conflict, Kamigami no asobi, uta no prince sama, or even diabolik lovers to be brought over?
- Have you played Diabolik lovers and could you ever see a chance that it would be localized some how? I know the company behind it seems pretty against it but I wonder if they’d change their minds with the surge in popularity in the west for otomes.
🔽Answer
- Were there any games from this year you found yourself disappointed in?
🔽Answer
CupiPara SSD. I still enjoyed this title btw, but it was just not as great as its predecessor, that’s why im disappointed.
- How old are you? thanks, love you~
🔽Answer
Same age as Henri in Piofiore 1926.🤭
- I feel like you may have answered this previously, but is it possible to have a page or document where in you list the games you played and how you rank them? I understand that things may have changed over time to determine a game’s ranking, but I respect your opinion so much that it would be helpful to have a list of the rankings on one page. And if you already have such a page, I apologize for completely missing it!
- I also wanted to ask if there is a way to state what languages a game will have (whether it be audio, subtitles, etc.). As someone who cannot speak or read other languages that otome games are produced with, it makes me sad when I buy a game or look into a game, only to find out that it is not in English. I’d rather have the bad news sooner rather than later lol!
🔽Answer
This post has all of the games available in the Switch console and has my ratings for each title that I have played including links to their review articles.
It might not be clear on my reviews because of how I label it lol but the first part of it mentions “Release Date” which I always include whether there’s a western/global release or if it’s just “Japan only”. So that’s one way to see if the game is available in English. I guess I’ll consider adding “Language” option in the future for that section. Thanks for the suggestion!
You might also want to look into VNDB.org to see if a game you’re looking for has English language available.
- What are your personal top 5 favorite otome games?
🔽Answer
Not in any particular order:
- How has your taste and thoughts on otome games changed by the years?
🔽Answer
My ramblings section above explains in detail how my taste have greatly changed over the years.🥹
- Thank you for this great blog! In my recent games, I’ve been complaining a lot about some heroines with as much charisma as an oyster, like the one in “Charade Maniacs”. What’s the worst heroine you’ve ever met in an Otome? (Fortunately, there are also queens in some games <3)
🔽Answer
Nicole, from the game Nicole. If I see another heroine who makes fun of other people’s accents, I will immediately drop it! I’m serious!
- What is your ideal ratio for common route length to LI route length? A lot of fans get really impatient with long common routes but do you feel the same?
- When playing Japanese titles and having to look up words you don’t understand, what is your method? Do you keep notes on hand? Do you ever use third party tools like textractor for convenience?
- What is the worst otome game that you love? (like in the guilty pleasure sense)
🔽Answer
- What inspired you to make this website and keep it going? Do you enjoy your work still as a hobby?
🔽Answer
This site was created initially as just a place for me to yell into the void really!😂 But overtime, blogging about otome games has become a therapy to me as well as a creative outlet. I am a very stressed adult living in a very fast-paced stressful life. And this little online space is the only place I can come back to and be silly and quirky. (It’s kinda sad now that I think about it. lol)😭 So yes, I enjoy this as a hobby and not work; otherwise, I wouldn’t be continuing if I didn’t find it fun and fulfilling anymore!
- Do you have any advice for someone who is using otome games as one way to study Japanese?
🔽Answer
I think it’s a fun way to learn another language, though it might not be the most convenient method for studying Japanese. You should take your time and make sure to go over the basics if you haven’t done so already. It’s helpful to refer to resources like JLPT vocabulary books to look up words and their meanings. I’m definitely not fluent or proficient in JP, so I’m not the best person to give you advice, lol. Learning a new language takes time and dedication. If you have the luxury of both, I think playing otome games can be a fun and motivating way your achieve your goal.
- What was your favorite review of the year?
🔽Answer
Ahh I had a lot of fun writing all my reviews, but I remember giggling a lot while writing my Sympathy Kiss review and Tengoku Struggle review! HAHA
- How in the world do you find the time to play and make guides and reviews for all the games in a year? I’m so glad you do though! ❤
🔽Answer
I have a schedule for everything! I know, its crazy haha! But its been like this since I can remember. I literally can’t function properly without following a schedule or a check list.
- Love interest from this year that you’d most like to have share a room with for a week?
- Love interest from this year that would be most satisfying to blast directly into the sun?
- Love interest from this year you’d most like to see get their own game where they get to romance a bunch of female LIs?
🔽Answer
Otome Kitten 
as a Virche enjoyer, just wanna say you’re completely right about the time travel thing… i love the characters but LOL the story sometimes…
I can’t believe it’s almost the new year! Its sort of a relief to see you say 2024 was ‘unexciting’, since at least that means it wasn’t too bad. No bad surprises or anything, hopefully? Still, here’s hoping 2025 will be better!
Please enjoy the remainder of the holiday season and get plenty of rest and relaxation! Maybe it’s weird for a Random Internet Commenter to say, but I care about your well-being and I’m sure many others do as well. You deserve to feel good and be happy!
I hope your 2025 is pleasant and filled with happy surprises!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🥺💛 I appreciate this comment very much! Likewise, I hope you’re doing good as well and taking care of yourself and getting the relax you deserved and needed! Happy New Year!
LikeLike
oh to be someone who gets the chance to have lunch with Chlo and talk about otome games, that would be the dream but I live in the eu 😆 jokes aside, this was such a fun read! I agree with Yona as best tsundere! I am one of the people who are not into tsunderes but Yona has convinced me to be one one now! There is just something about his route that made me happy!☺️
I also had to look up Henri’s age and we are kind of near range so I’m very happy! Advance happy new year Chlo! While you say your blogging is therapy for you I want to say that reading your posts is therapy for me too so what you do to make yourself happy is also making others happy and I will always appreciate you forever for that! Pls take care of yourself always!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OH NOOO my heart squinted a bit reading your comment! 😭 I am very grateful! tysm! kind and encouraging words like these keeps me going honestly! Also, happy to know Yona has converted you to be a tsundere simp!🥹 Please take care as well! HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
LikeLike
I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you so, so much for all the effort you put into your blog! I started playing otome games in 2022 (so relatively new) and your walkthroughs and reviews have been incredibly helpful. I love reading your thoughts and appreciate the sense of responsibility you carry with your writing–I often find our impressions of various games and LIs differ, but that is also what makes the community so fun and comforting to be part of (´ ∀ ` *) I do feel a bit bad for not being more thoughtful with my own posts (I decided to start a casual otome blog a few days ago), and you inspire me to improve!
This is a bit early, but Happy New Year! I hope you will be able to do something to relax, and take care
♡( ◡‿◡ )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww thank you for this comment. I am genuinely happy to see others starting their own otome blogs because I believe blogs literally keeps this niche genre alive!🩷 If its alright with you, can you share your blog’s link? I would like to follow it if its okay! 🥺 Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your kind words! The link is here: https://pbpotome.wordpress.com/
Unfortunately I am on a free plan so the blog is kind of bland (haha), and it is very casual/journal-like and focused on mostly non-localized games, but hopefully there is something you like! Happy New Year to you as well ( ´ ▽ ` ).｡ｏ♡
LikeLiked by 1 person
I LOVE these rounds-up every year ! I didn’t play yet any of the games you mention but they all are on my to-do list. I can’t wait to discover the soundtracks and the LI you appreciated : it’s always fun to see if I will enjoy a route as much as you did or if I will have a different feeling.Anyway, here are my to best games of the year : Jack Jeanne and Collar x Malice (I finished the main game and jumped immediatly to play the sequel). And of course, the first part of my enjoyment to play these were your amazing reviews. So thank you ! I hope you have a great holiday, with peace of mind and serene time for yourself. Take care !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jack Jeanne and CxM are two different beasts of titles on their own, and I fully agree! Both are amazing as heck! I’m glad you enjoyed them as well! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I hope you can pick up and play more games in your "to-do" list next year! 😆
LikeLike
Thanks for your hard work this year as always! I constantly check your blog and always enjoy your POV, so genuinely thank you for always bringing the quality content!
My Otome journey started in 2012 when Hakuouki made it to 3DS in english and since then I’ve been hooked. It’s crazy to think how we had to scrounge for Otome scraps and now we actually get multiple games a year!
Sometimes I would get too excited for a game and pre-order it, but when I did that with Paradigm Paradox, I had major regrets! When I saw your review (you gave it a 5) that’s when I made the decision not to buy any Otome games before I’d seen your score! If you gave anything less than a 6, I would 100% avoid it! I think your reviews have really helped me save both time and money (I dropped Paradigm paradox, could not get through it). So thanks!
But your reviews have also led me to getting games I normally wouldn’t have considered. For some reason, perhaps that it looked a bit dated, I never picked up Chou no Doku, but when I read your review I decided to give it a shot and seriously enjoyed it so much! It was such a different beast to the more modern otomes, and with a flawed MC I enjoyed much more than I thought I would.
From reading so many of your posts, I’ve been able to make my own judgments about otomes and how your own opinions affect whether I go into a game with high or low expectations. Like for example, you tend to like slice of life more than I do (I’m more into fantasy/historical), so I can mentally adjust whatever score you give those games with that in mind. Meanwhile, we can both be yandere trash when it’s done right lol so I can take that into account when you like or dislike a character.
Long-winded way to say I appreciate your reviews and walkthroughs and most of all your honest feedback, pros and cons, about the titles you play. Helping me save time/money aside, I just enjoy hearing your POVs, they’re always fun! So thanks Chlo! Here’s to an even better 2025! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for this long-winded comment! (I actually enjoy reading long comments, lol) I’m really grateful for your kind words, thank you! It’s great to see another fellow Hakuoki convert from 2012. I believe that was the year that also hooked me and got me really proactive in looking for other otome titles to play, so it’s nice to find a fellow fan with the same experience! 😆 It’s crazy when you think about how little we had back then, and now we’re practically drowning in announcements left and right! Haha 😂
Hope you are relaxing and taking care of yourself! Happy New Year! Cheers to a peaceful 2025!
LikeLike
Nice to see a fellow Yu Watase Fan. I was a teen in the late 90s when I saw Fushigi Yugi images online when the web was still in its infancy lol. In college one of my friends lend me the first volume of the anime to me. It hurt to give it back lol. Eventually I just read the whole manga when it came to the west. Alice 19th though is my fav work by the manga-ka (it deserves its own anime!) But yeah her works are what got me into Reverse Harems too, which did eventually lead me to find out about Otome in the late 2000s, but I didn’t really get into Otome until I learned Code Realize, Amnesia, and Norn 9 were originally Otome games lol. I am of limited means though so I started getting more invested in Indie Otome games in recent years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhh Alice 19th was soooooo good! omg I didn’t think i’d find someone who’d mention it in this blog’s comment section! THANK YOU!😭😭😭 I also really liked some of Watase-sensei’s shorter mangas like Epotoransu Mai (I was legit obsessed with it for weeks when I was a teen lol) I feel like she was the mother of reverse harems honestly, the tropes we all have now started with her creations that even Ruby Party (where the first otoges were created), borrowed Fushigi Yuugi’s plot with their Haruka naru series! I feel you not wanting to give the FS anime back. I got the VHS tapes from a classmate who originally lent them to me, but I eventually managed to convince her to give them to me in exchange for three weeks’ worth of lunch money! GOOD TIMES! 😂
Happy New Year and take care!
LikeLike
your thoughts on LADS being more popular for its fanservice rather than its plot encapsulated my thoughts perfectly! of course i’m glad it’s become well known but i do wish it was for the plot because the lore is genuinely intriguing! anyways, happy holidays!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Im glad to find someone who thought the same too!😅
Happy New Year! Take care! ❤
LikeLike